Signs and Symptoms of Leukemia

Signs and symptoms of leukemia can vary from person to person and may be different depending on the type of leukemia. Some common symptoms of leukemia include:

• Excessive sweating: While sweating is normal, night sweats that drench your clothing or bed sheets may be cause for concern. If sweating wakes you up or is accompanied by other symptoms, see a physician.
• Fatigue: While feeling tired on occasion is normal and can have many causes, fatigue refers to feeling exhausted without cause, especially over a prolonged period. Fatigue and weakness that do not go away with rest could be a sign of leukemia.
• Unintentional weight loss: Losing a significant amount of weight in a short period of time unintentionally or without an obvious cause may be a sign of leukemia. If you lose more than five percent of your body weight without cause in six to 12 months, see a physician.
• Swollen lymph nodes: Swollen lymph nodes caused by leukemia are painless and found most commonly in the neck and armpits.
• Enlarged liver or spleen: This is most commonly caused by chronic lymphocytic leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia, but it can occur in other types.
• Bleeding easily, bruising, or red spots on skin: Leukemia can cause you to bleed and bruise more easily due to low levels of platelets, which are cells that form blood clots. Leukemia may also cause petechiae, which are small red spots on the skin from broken capillaries.
• Infections: Bacterial or viral infections may be caught more easily and may take longer to recover from.
• Fever or chills: Fever or chills caused by leukemia may seem similar to flu symptoms but will generally last longer than two weeks. They are also often accompanied by other symptoms.

Many signs and symptoms of leukemia have other causes that are often benign. Experiencing one or more of these symptoms doesn’t mean you have leukemia. However, if you have persistent signs or symptoms, please make an appointment with your doctor to address your concerns.