Looking Out for Leukemia

There are several types of leukemia. It can be confusing to understand the differences, but many of the early symptoms are the same.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia is a specific form of cancer that starts in the white blood cells (called lymphocytes) in the bone marrow. The cancer can then invade the blood and spread to other parts of the body, including the liver, spleen, brain, and spinal cord. Similarly, acute myeloid leukemia starts in cells called myeloid cells that include types of both white and red blood cells. The key word here is acute—untreated leukemia can spread quickly and it can be fatal, but if it’s caught early, many people recover and lead full lives.

Acute leukemia symptoms include:

• Anemia—a lack of enough red blood cells, which can cause fatigue
• Swollen lymph nodes (specifically the sides of the neck, under the arms, or in the groin area)
• Fullness or enlargement of the belly (due to swelling of the liver and spleen)
• Other symptoms include weight loss, appetite loss, and fever, but they aren’t unique to leukemia