Symptoms of Blood Cancer

Leukemia, also known as blood cancer, is a hematologic malignancy caused by the excessive proliferation of abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow. Its symptoms are varied and require prompt attention and medical treatment.

1. General symptoms: In the early stages of leukemia, patients often experience progressive fatigue, weight loss, and a general sense of malaise. They may develop recurrent fever, night sweats, and excessive sweating, which are associated with the overgrowth of abnormal leukemia cells and the release of their metabolic products.

2. Hematologic and bleeding symptoms: Leukemia damages normal blood cells in the bone marrow, commonly leading to anemia, easy bruising, skin petechiae, nosebleeds, and gum bleeding. Thrombocytopenia may result in unexplained bleeding of the skin or mucous membranes.

3. Symptoms involving other organ systems: As leukemia progresses, multiple organ systems may be affected, including lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and bone marrow infiltration. Some patients may develop neurological symptoms such as headache, visual changes, or motor coordination disorders, which are related to leukemia cell infiltration in the central nervous system.

If leukemia is suspected, prompt medical consultation is recommended.