Other possible signs of leukemia Because some conditions occur as side effects of the disease, the following may be signs of leukemia: Anemia: A low red blood cell count. Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body. This condition may contribute to weakness, fatigue or shortness of breath.
“Often, if the leukemia cells are growing in the bone marrow, it can crowd out production of the other types of cells. According to Dr. Wetmore, leukemia can resemble anemia when red blood cells are affected by cell crowding − causing a below-normal number of red blood cells in the bloodstream.
Anemia is a common condition of cancer patients. This is because cancers cause inflammation that decrease red blood cell production. In addition, many chemotherapies are myelosuppressive, meaning they slow down the production of new blood cells by the bone marrow. In other cases, anemia is caused by kidney disease.
Common leukemia signs and symptoms include: Fever or chills. Persistent fatigue, weakness. Frequent or severe infections.
A hormone from the kidneys, called erythropoietin, tells your body when to make more red blood cells. Damage to either the bone marrow or the kidneys can cause anemia. Anemia can be caused by cancer, cancer treatment, or related side effects. It can also be caused by factors unrelated to cancer.
Anemia is often one of the first signs of cancer, especially colon cancer or blood-related cancer such as leukemia or lymphoma. If you have anemia without a known cause (such as heavy menstrual bleeding), your healthcare provider may talk to you about screening for colon cancer or other tests.
Not everyone with cancer has anemia or will develop it. In fact, anemia is more likely to be caused by other factors than cancer, say specialists. Cancers that involve the bone marrow, like leukemia or lymphoma, can cause anemia because red blood cells are produced in the marrow.
Severe iron deficiency anaemia may increase your risk of developing complications that affect the heart or lungs, such as an abnormally fast heartbeat (tachycardia) or heart failure, where your heart is unable to pump enough blood around your body at the right pressure.
Anemia and leukemia are both conditions that affect a person's blood. Although there is no evidence that anemia can cause leukemia, people with leukemia are more likely to develop anemia. This could be because leukemia, a form of blood cancer, causes anemia, which involves a reduction in red blood cells.
Laboratory tests, and specifically blood tests, are among the most important diagnostic tools for leukemia. For some types of leukemia, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia, blood tests may be the only test needed to confirm the diagnosis (but other tests may be used to find out more about the cancer).
Your doctor will conduct a complete blood count (CBC) to determine if you have leukemia. This test may reveal if you have leukemic cells. Abnormal levels of white blood cells and abnormally low red blood cell or platelet counts can also indicate leukemia.
People who do not get enough iron or certain vitamins and people who take certain medicines or treatments are also at a higher risk. Anemia may also be a sign of a more serious condition, such as bleeding in your stomach, inflammation from an infection, kidney disease, cancer, or autoimmune diseases.
Circulating tumor cell tests detect cancer cells in your blood. The cells might be in the blood if they've broken away from where they started and are spreading to other parts of the body. Circulating tumor cell tests are mostly used after a cancer diagnosis.
In a minority group, when no etiology is identified, it is classified as unexplained anemia (UA) or clonal cytopenia of unknown significance (CCUS). The underlying cause of anemia remains unexplained in 30% of cases, and a great part of unexplained cytopenia may account for myeloid neoplasms.
Anemia can be an early warning sign of colon cancer. It is caused when the tumor starts to bleed, reducing the levels of red blood cells (RBCs) and an iron-rich protein called hemoglobin needed to deliver oxygen and nutrients to tissues.
Stage 1 – A patient has high levels of white blood cells and enlarged lymph nodes. Stage 2 – A patient has high levels of white blood cells and is anemic. He or she may also have enlarged lymph nodes. Stage 3 – A patient has high levels of white blood cells and is anemic.
Many people don't have any symptoms for at least a few years. In time, the cells can spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen.