Yes, a routine blood test, especially a Complete Blood Count (CBC), can often indicate the possibility of leukemia by showing abnormal levels of white blood cells, platelets, or red blood cells, but it cannot definitively diagnose it; further tests like a bone marrow biopsy are needed for confirmation. Abnormal CBC results might also suggest other conditions, so follow-up with a specialist (hematologist/oncologist) and more specialized blood tests (like flow cytometry or peripheral blood smear) are necessary to determine the type and presence of leukemia.
A bone marrow biopsy is often done at the same time. This second procedure removes a small piece of bone tissue and the enclosed marrow. Doctors may find chronic leukemia in a routine blood test, before symptoms begin.
Common leukemia signs and symptoms include:
Yes, it's possible to have cancer even when you get normal blood test results. This is because blood work alone can't detect most types of cancer. Certain blood cancers — like leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma — are exceptions to this rule.
Leukemia in children is most often diagnosed based on blood or bone marrow results. In rare cases, a large lymph node may be the main symptom of a new leukemia. In these cases, a lymph node biopsy may be done to make a diagnosis.
Symptoms of childhood leukemia
Coughing or trouble breathing. Headaches, seizures, balance problems, visual changes, or vomiting (if the leukemia spreads to the brain and spinal cord) Loss of appetite or weight. Pain in the bones and joints.
A bone marrow biopsy remains one of the most important tools for confirming leukemia. The sample is examined by a pathologist to check the number and types of abnormal cells. In some cases, biopsies may also be taken from enlarged lymph nodes or other tissues to rule out other conditions.
Early detection can dramatically improve cancer outcomes, but some cancers remain stubbornly difficult to diagnose at early stages. Pancreatic, ovarian, lung, liver, and kidney cancers present unique challenges that often delay diagnosis until the disease has advanced.
Not all children with leukemia have abnormal blood counts, but they may have other signs of leukemia found through a physical exam or by looking at their blood cells under a microscope.
Twenty potential signs of cancer include **unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue, unusual lumps or swelling, skin changes (sores that don't heal, new moles, color changes), changes in bowel/bladder habits, persistent cough or shortness of breath, hoarseness/voice changes, difficulty swallowing, persistent indigestion, unexplained pain, night sweats, unusual bleeding/bruising, mouth sores that won't heal, loss of appetite, fever, changes in vision/headaches, swelling in lymph nodes, nipple changes, painful urination/ejaculation, and swelling in the face/neck; these warrant a doctor's visit if they last more than a few weeks.
In the initial stages of diagnosing acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), your GP will check for physical signs of the condition and arrange for you to have blood tests. A high number of abnormal white blood cells, or a very low blood count in the test sample, could indicate leukaemia.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is often a silent disease during the initial stages, with many patients having no noticeable symptoms. CLL is commonly detected by accident when routine blood testing reveals an elevated lymphocyte count (lymphocytosis).
Some people with leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes have bone or joint pain. This bone pain is most often felt in the long bones of the arms and legs, in the ribs, and in the breastbone.
Leukemia symptoms include: Weakness, tiredness and fatigue. This can be caused by the leukemia itself or by the low levels of hemoglobin seen in many leukemia patients. Fever and frequent infections due to low counts of healthy white blood cells.
If you have leukemia, your bone marrow produces an excessive amount of abnormal WBCs that don't function properly. The key takeaway is that in leukemia the number of WBCs is excessive, and the WBCs that are produced are genetically damaged.
Leukemia symptoms don't tend to come on suddenly; while some may develop over the course of a few weeks, others can take years to manifest. Unfortunately, many symptoms are vague and difficult to diagnose. They also can vary depending on type of leukemia and type of blood cells affected.
Acute myeloid leukemia
People are usually diagnosed after age 45. AML is most common in people after age 65.
More information about the symptoms
A leukemia rash called leukemia cutis typically appears as bumpy or rubbery, flesh-colored, red or purple nodules on the legs, arms, back, chest, scalp or face. Leukemia cutis is caused by the disease, appearing when white blood cells grow out of control and begin to invade the skin.
Pancreatic cancer symptoms
For that reason, pancreatic cancer is known as a “silent killer”. Knowing the symptoms associated with pancreatic cancer can help earlier diagnosis. Some examples are [3, 4]: Jaundice.
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What are the most curable cancers? Although there are no curable cancers, melanoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and breast, prostate, testicular, cervical, and thyroid cancer have some of the highest 5-year relative survival rates.
Leukemia starts in the soft, inner part of the bones (bone marrow), but often moves quickly into the blood. It can then spread to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, central nervous system, and other organs.
A CT scan can show enlarged lymph nodes and organs, pockets of infection in your organs, and large clusters of leukemia cells.
If your GP suspects you have leukaemia, they will refer you to a doctor who specialises in blood conditions. This is a doctor called a haematologist. This is usually quite quick and you might have to go there straight away.