Leukemia Signs and Symptoms

Leukemia is a cancer that originates in the bone marrow, which produces red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The cancer results from genetic mutations in the DNA of blood-forming cells, causing the cells to grow and divide uncontrollably. The abnormal cells, typically white blood cells, do not function properly and begin to outnumber healthy blood cells, disrupting normal blood production and function.

The exact cause of leukemia is not well understood. Known risk factors include genetic predisposition, previous cancer treatment and exposure to certain harmful chemicals. Leukemia is relatively common in children and older adults, though it is considered rare overall compared to other types of cancer.

How does leukemia affect the body?

Leukemia disrupts the body’s ability to produce normal blood cells, causing an overproduction of abnormal white blood cells that crowd out healthy blood cells. This imbalance can impair the body’s ability to fight infection, carry oxygen and control bleeding.

Does leukemia cause anemia?

Anemia is a blood disorder that occurs when the body does not produce enough healthy red blood cells. These vital cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that transports oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues to ensure proper function. As leukemia causes abnormal white blood cells to build up in the bone marrow, those cells may begin to outnumber healthy red blood cells, causing a reduction in red blood cells that leads to anemia.

Does anemia cause easy bruising?

Bruising occurs when small blood vessels (capillaries) under the skin’s surface are broken, usually due to the impact of a blow. The injury causes blood to leak out of the capillaries and seep into the surrounding soft tissues, creating a visible dark mark on the skin. Over time, the bruise will gradually fade and eventually disappear as the body reabsorbs the blood.

Leukemia-related anemia is often accompanied by a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Because platelets are essential for proper blood clotting, thrombocytopenia can lead to easy bleeding and bruising.

Does anemia cause joint pain?

Joint pain and inflammation can occur with leukemia-related anemia as the cancer causes abnormal white blood cells to accumulate in the joints and bone marrow. Additionally, anemia can reduce blood oxygen levels, which can contribute to body aches and general discomfort, including joint pain.

Does anemia lead to leukemia?

Usually, anemia is a symptom of an underlying condition, such as iron deficiency, chronic kidney disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis or cancer. Anemia does not lead to leukemia. However, aplastic anemia—a rare and serious type of anemia that causes the body’s immune system to attack the bone marrow—can increase the risk of leukemia.

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Does cancer cause bruising?

In general, cancer may cause bruising, particularly if it affects the bone marrow or platelet production. Additionally, cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma can lead to thrombocytopenia, impairing the blood’s ability to clot and making bruising more likely.

Does leukemia cause low iron?

Leukemia can interfere with the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow, resulting in anemia. Over time, anemia can lower iron levels, especially if there is chronic blood loss or poor iron absorption. However, leukemia does not directly cause low iron.

Do you bruise easily with low iron?

Low iron itself does not directly cause bruising. However, leukemia-related anemia and low iron may be accompanied by thrombocytopenia, which can lead to easy bleeding and bruising

Does low iron cause joint pain?

Leukemia-related anemia and low iron can contribute to joint pain indirectly. Anemia, especially when severe, can reduce the oxygen supply to tissues throughout the body, which can lead to general body aches, including joint pain. Additionally, leukemia can cause inflammation in the bone marrow and joints, further contributing to the discomfort.

Does abnormal bone marrow mean cancer?

Abnormal bone marrow does not necessarily indicate cancer. Changes in bone marrow structure and function can result from a variety of conditions in addition to leukemia and lymphoma, such as infections, autoimmune diseases, nutritional deficiencies and noncancerous bone marrow disorders. Therefore, any bone marrow abnormalities warrant further investigation to determine the underlying cause.

Does a low blood cell count mean cancer?

A low blood cell count can be a sign of various medical conditions, including certain types of cancer that affect the bone marrow. For instance, leukemia and lymphoma often cause low blood cell counts. However, many noncancerous conditions—such as infections and nutritional deficiencies—can also lead to low blood cell counts unrelated to cancer.

Does a high white blood cell count mean cancer?

A high white blood cell count can be a sign of cancer, such as leukemia or lymphoma. However, this symptom is not specific to cancer and can occur for many other reasons, such as infection, inflammation, stress, allergies and immune disorders. Therefore, a high white blood cell count typically requires further testing and evaluation by a physician to pinpoint the underlying cause.

Does a low white blood cell count make you feel tired?

A low white blood cell count (leukopenia) can cause fatigue. White blood cells play a crucial role in the immune system, and when their numbers are low, the body may be more susceptible to infections. Fighting infections can drain the body’s energy, leading to tiredness.

What are the early warning signs of leukemia?

Leukemia symptoms often develop suddenly within a few days or weeks. Early indicators can be difficult to recognize because they often mimic the symptoms of influenza and other more common, less serious conditions. Additionally, in cases of chronic myeloid leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the leukemia cells can function almost as well as normal white blood cells. As a result, many cases are diagnosed through routine blood work or medical care provided for an unrelated reason.

What are the symptoms of leukemia?

Leukemia symptoms can vary based on several unique factors, including the type of leukemia and the patient’s age and overall health. That said, several common leukemia symptoms can be seen or felt.

What does leukemia feel like?

Leukemia symptoms that can be felt include:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Excessive sweating, especially at night
• Fever and chills
• Frequent infections
• Loss of appetite
• Heightened sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures due to low red blood cell counts
• Tenderness just below the ribcage on the left side of the body due to liver or spleen enlargement

What does leukemia bone pain feel like?

Another common symptom of leukemia is bone pain and tenderness. Is it similar to joint pain or a muscle ache? Does leukemia bone pain come and go? Is it easy to recognize?

A key feature that distinguishes leukemia bone pain from a muscle ache is that the former tends to linger during rest, while the latter usually comes and goes, flaring after physical activity. The nature of the discomfort can vary; some patients report sharp pain while others liken it to a dull, continuous ache. Therefore, it is not always easy to recognize.

What bones hurt with leukemia? Bone pain symptoms tend to develop in areas of the body with bones that contain a large amount of bone marrow, such as the:

• Breastbone (sternum)
• Arms
• Ribcage
• Hips
• Legs

What does leukemia look like?

Visible symptoms of leukemia can include:

• Pale skin due to low blood cell counts (aplastic anemia)
• Unintended weight loss
• Painless lumps (swollen lymph nodes) in the neck, armpits, abdomen or groin
• Swelling in the midsection
• Easy bruising and bleeding (including chronic nosebleeds) due to a shortage of blood-clotting platelets

Additionally, leukemia can cause a distinctive skin rash known as petechiae. What exactly are these pinpoint-sized skin spots, and how are they related to leukemia?

Petechiae develop when a capillary breaks open under the skin’s surface. Normally, platelets help the blood clot and therefore would prevent blood from escaping a broken capillary. However, because leukemia lowers platelet counts, it can interfere with the blood clotting process. Instead, blood can escape a broken capillary and rise toward the surface of the skin, forming tiny red spots.

What do leukemia spots look like?

Petechiae can be red, purple or brown and are often found on the:

• Arms
• Midsection
• Buttocks
• Legs

Petechiae from leukemia often resemble a common skin rash, such as atopic dermatitis. However, leukemia rashes have a distinguishing characteristic: When pressure is applied, the spots will retain their red, purple or brown color. Conversely, when pressure is applied to any other type of rash, the skin will turn white.

Petechiae are not exclusively a leukemia skin rash. For instance, in addition to leukemia, tiny red spots on the skin are associated with strep throat, scarlet fever, scurvy and sepsis. Additionally, petechiae can be a side effect of certain medications, such as blood thinners, sedatives and antidepressants. Finally, a leukemia-like skin rash may develop if a blood vessel in the face, neck or chest is strained and tears. This can occur during coughing, vomiting or weightlifting.

Does a leukemia rash come and go?

A leukemia-related skin rash may come and go. Some patients experience a rash due to the infiltration of leukemia cells into the skin or as a side effect of leukemia treatment, such as chemotherapy. The rash may be persistent or flare up intermittently, depending on factors such as the progression of the cancer, the chosen treatment approach and the patient’s response to therapy.

Does a leukemia rash itch?

A leukemia rash can itch, although not all rashes associated with leukemia are itchy. Itching can result from inflammation, dryness or irritation of the skin.

Does itching cause bruising?

Itching itself does not directly cause bruising. However, intense scratching due to itching can lead to skin damage, which may cause capillaries under the skin to break, resulting in bruising. This is more likely if the skin is already sensitive or fragile due to an underlying health condition, skin disorder or medication.

Why does leukemia cause bruising?

What is the relationship between leukemia and bruising? Leukemia can affect the body’s blood-clotting ability; therefore, easy bruising is a common symptom. Even a seemingly minor incident, such as bumping a shin against a table, can cause a visible bruise to form. Additionally, many people experience random bruising from leukemia that cannot be traced to a specific incident. While leukemia bruises can form anywhere on the body, they are most commonly found on the arms and legs.

What are the symptoms of advanced leukemia?

Leukemia symptoms tend to become more frequent and severe with time. This is especially true with acute myeloid and acute lymphocytic leukemias, which tend to be faster-growing and more symptomatic than chronic leukemias.

What to do if you have leukemia symptoms

It is important to keep in mind that leukemia symptoms do not conclusively indicate cancer in every case. So, how do you know if you have leukemia? An experienced physician can recommend appropriate diagnostic testing and, if necessary, refer you to an oncologist for a more detailed assessment.

Benefit from world-class care at Moffitt Cancer Center

Moffitt’s renowned Malignant Hematology Program is home to a team of respected oncologists who specialize in diagnosing and treating all types of leukemia and other blood and bone marrow cancers. As the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Florida, Moffitt is proud to have a robust clinical trials program through which our patients can benefit from groundbreaking new treatment options that are not yet available in other settings.

If you would like to discuss your leukemia symptoms with a specialist at Moffitt, you can request an appointment by calling 1-888-663-3488 or submitting a new patient registration form online. We do not require referrals.

References:

MyLeukemiaTeam.com: Leukemia Rash and Bruises