Identifying the Signs and Symptoms of AML

AML, like many different kinds of cancers, can cause many different signs and symptoms. Many of these symptoms may be subtle, or delayed.

It is common for people with AML to feel a general loss of well-being, due to the underproduction of normal bone marrow cells. These kind of symptoms may be to tire easily, or be short of breath after performing normal physical activities.

Symptoms of leukemia are generally non-specific, and include the following:

• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Loss of appetite
• Paleness
• Signs of bleeding causes by a low platelet count, including:
• Black and blue marks or bruising occurring for no reason or because of a minor injury
• The appearance of pinhead-sized red spots on your skin, called “petechiae”
• Prolonged bleeding from minus cuts or scrapes

Unexplained bruising

Paleness of skin

Petechiae

There are also symptoms caused by high numbers of leukemia cells, which may happen in AML:

• Headache
• Weakness in one side of the body
• Slurred speech
• Confusion
• Sleepiness

If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, symptoms of AML may include:

• Headaches
• Weakness
• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Trouble with balance
• Facial numbness
• Blurred vision

https://www.lls.org/content/nationalcontent/resourcecenter/freeeducationmaterials/leukemia/pdf/aml.pdf

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/leukemia-acutemyeloidaml/detailedguide/leukemia--acute-myeloid--myelogenous--signs-symptoms