Symptoms
Some symptoms of leukemia include:
Anemia
Anemia is a condition that results from a deficiency in red blood cells or hemoglobin. Since leukemia causes a rapid growth and division in defective white blood cells, red blood cells are crowded out of the bone marrow. This reduces the amount of red blood cells in the plasma which results in anemia therefore if a person has anemia, they could possibly have leukemia.
Poor blood clotting
Poor blood clotting can cause easy bruising and profuse bleeding. This results in petechiae which are small red to purple spot found on the body caused by hemohorrage.
Leukemia causes rapid growth and division in defective white blood cells which also crowd out platelets. Platelets help with blood clotting. Reduced amounts of platelets can affect blood clotting making it easier for a person to bruise as well as cause a person to bleed more from a minor cut. If a person has poor blood clotting, he/she could possibly have leukemia.
Frequent Infections
White blood cells help fight infections. Leukemia causes the white blood cells to be ineffective which prevents them from functioning properly. This leaves the body defenseless against infections thus making the patient more susceptible to infections. If a person frequently gets infections, he/she could possibly have leukemia.
Enlarged lymph nodes
Lymph nodes are were lymphocytes are produced. In acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, there is an increased production of lymphocytes which causes the lymph nodes to swell. Lymph nodes can be found near the neck, underarms, groin and collarbone. If a person has enlarged lymph nodes, he/she could possibly have leukemia.
Anemia
Anemia is a condition that results from a deficiency in red blood cells or hemoglobin. Since leukemia causes a rapid growth and division in defective white blood cells, red blood cells are crowded out of the bone marrow. This reduces the amount of red blood cells in the plasma which results in anemia therefore if a person has anemia, they could possibly have leukemia.
Poor blood clotting
Poor blood clotting can cause easy bruising and profuse bleeding. This results in petechiae which are small red to purple spot found on the body caused by hemohorrage.
Leukemia causes rapid growth and division in defective white blood cells which also crowd out platelets. Platelets help with blood clotting. Reduced amounts of platelets can affect blood clotting making it easier for a person to bruise as well as cause a person to bleed more from a minor cut. If a person has poor blood clotting, he/she could possibly have leukemia.
Frequent Infections
White blood cells help fight infections. Leukemia causes the white blood cells to be ineffective which prevents them from functioning properly. This leaves the body defenseless against infections thus making the patient more susceptible to infections. If a person frequently gets infections, he/she could possibly have leukemia.
Enlarged lymph nodes
Lymph nodes are were lymphocytes are produced. In acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, there is an increased production of lymphocytes which causes the lymph nodes to swell. Lymph nodes can be found near the neck, underarms, groin and collarbone. If a person has enlarged lymph nodes, he/she could possibly have leukemia.