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Leukemia symptoms

Leukemia is a problem that affects the blood cells. The name comes from a Greek word that means white blood and it usually refers to cancer of the blood.

It is known that blood cells grow old and die in the moment they are not needed any more. The life duration of blood cells varies and we can say that red cells live about 4 months after they leave the marrow while Granulocytes live for only a few hours. To sustain our affirmation we can say that platelets survive only for a few days.

It is very important for these cells to be cleared from the blood at the end of their useful lifespan. If this is done, a proper number of each type of blood cells will be maintained.

For leukemia sufferers it is good to say that normal control mechanisms break down and the marrow starts to produce large amounts of abnormal cells. This is the main cause for disrupting the normal production of blood cells and it may lead to anemia and low platelet counts. It is also good to know that in case of leukemia, the blood cells that are abnormal can not fight the infections like normal white blood cells.

We mentioned about the most common cause of leukemia but we also have to remember about the signs and the symptoms that are experienced by leukemia sufferers. Among the frequently seen symptoms we have to remember excessive tiredness, breathlessness, paleness, pain of the bones and joints, bleeding, excessive bruising, persistent infections, abdominal discomfort, enlarged lymph glands, fever, night sweats or pathological fractures.

These symptoms might not occur in all patients. It is good to remember that many combinations of these symptoms might occur in leukemia sufferers. In some cases symptoms may apparently lead nothing else than a flu. It is recommended for those who develop these symptoms to see a doctor quickly.

Symptoms such as paleness, tiredness, weakness or breathlessness are caused by anemia which is the reduced capacity of the blood to carry oxygen.

Abnormal blood cell production in the marrow can lead to bone pain. Bone pain can also be caused by the damage of the bone in Myeloma. The bone damage in Myeloma can lead to pathological fractures.

A low platelet count can result in bruising or bleeding problems.

Abdominal discomfort is a problem that occurs in leukemic persons that develop conditions such as swelling of the spleen, liver or both.