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Cancer
Are you at risk from Thyroid Cancer?
Are you at risk from Thyroid Cancer? Find out more at this infographic!
The infographic also provides information on hypothyroidism and hyperthroidism. So check it out!
From Visually.
Acute myeloid leukaemia – what are the signs and symptoms of acute myeloid leukaemia
Leukaemia is cancer of the white blood cells. Acute leukaemia means it progresses rapidly and aggressively, and usually requires immediate treatment.
Signs of acute leukaemia
Acute leukaemia is classified according to the type of white blood cells affected. The two main types of white blood cells are:
- lymphocytes – mostly used to fight viral infections
- myeloid cells – which perform a number of different functions, such as fighting bacterial infections, defending the body against parasites and preventing the spread of tissue damage
This topic focuses on acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), which is an aggressive cancer of the myeloid cells. The following types of leukaemia are covered separately:
Signs and symptoms of AML
The symptoms of AML usually develop over a few weeks and become increasingly more severe. Symptoms can include:
- pale skin
- tiredness
- breathlessness
- frequent infections
- unusual and frequent bleeding, such as bleeding gums or nosebleeds
In more advanced cases, AML can make you extremely vulnerable to life-threatening infections or serious internal bleeding.
Read more about the complications of AML.
Seeking medical advice
You should see your GP if you or your child have possible symptoms of AML. Although it’s highly unlikely that leukaemia is the cause, these symptoms should be investigated.
If your GP thinks you may have leukaemia, they’ll arrange blood tests to check your blood cell production. If the tests suggest there’s a problem, you’ll be urgently referred to a haematologist (a specialist in treating blood conditions) for further tests and any necessary treatment.
Read more about diagnosing AML.
What causes AML?
AML occurs when specialised cells called stem cells, which are found in the bone marrow (a spongy material inside the bones), produce too many immature white blood cells. These immature cells are known as blast cells.
Blast cells don’t have the infection-fighting properties of healthy white blood cells, and producing too many can lead to a decrease in the number of red blood cells (which carry oxygen in the blood) and platelets (cells that help the blood to clot).
It’s not clear exactly why this happens and, in most cases, there’s no identifiable cause. However, a number of factors that can increase your risk of developing AML have been identified. These include:
- previous chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- exposure to very high levels of radiation (including previous radiotherapy treatment)
- exposure to benzene – a chemical used in manufacturing that’s also found in cigarette smoke
- having an underlying blood disorder or genetic disorder, such as Down’s syndrome
Read more about the causes of AML.
Who’s affected
AML is a rare type of cancer, with around 2,600 people diagnosed with it each year in the UK.
The risk of developing AML increases with age. It’s most common in people over 65.
How AML is treated
AML is an aggressive type of cancer that can develop rapidly, so treatment usually needs to begin soon after a diagnosis is confirmed.
Chemotherapy is the main treatment for AML. It’s used to kill as many leukaemia cells in your body as possible and reduce the risk of the condition coming back (relapsing).
In some cases, intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be needed, in combination with a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, to achieve a cure.
Read more about treating AML.
Outlook
The outlook for AML largely depends on the specific type of AML you have, as well as your age and general health.
There are many subtypes of AML, which are classified according to various features – such as the specific genetic changes in the leukaemia cells. Some types of AML are more challenging to treat than others.
Even if treatment is initially successful, there’s still a significant risk that the condition will return at some point during the next few years. If this happens, treatment may need to be repeated.
A number of medical trials have suggested that almost half of those aged under 60 diagnosed with AML will live for at least five years, and in some types of AML, such as acute promyeloid leukaemia (APML), around 85% will live for at least five years.
In general, the outlook for children with AML tends to be better than that of adults diagnosed with the condition.
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – what are the signs and symptoms of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?
Leukaemia is cancer of the white blood cells. Acute leukaemia means the condition progresses rapidly and aggressively and requires immediate treatment.
Signs of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Acute leukaemia is classified according to the type of white blood cells affected by cancer. There are two main types:
- lymphocytes, which are mostly used to fight viral infections
- neutrophils, which perform several functions, such as fighting bacterial infections, defending the body against parasites and preventing the spread of tissue damage
These pages focus on acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, which is cancer of the lymphocytes. The following other types of leukaemia are covered elsewhere:
Warning signs of acute leukaemia
Symptoms of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia usually begin slowly before rapidly getting severe as the number of immature white blood cells in your blood increases (see below for an explanation of this). Symptoms include:
- pale skin
- tiredness
- breathlessness
- having repeated infections over a short space of time
- unusual and frequent bleeding
Read more about the symptoms of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
What happens in acute leukaemia
All of the blood cells in the body are produced by bone marrow – a spongy material found inside bones.
Bone marrow produces specialised cells called stem cells which have the ability to develop into three important types of blood cells:
- red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body
- white blood cells, which help fight infection
- platelets, which help stop bleeding
Usually the bone marrow produces stem cells which are allowed to fully develop before being released into the blood. But in acute leukaemia, bone marrow starts releasing large numbers of immature white blood cells known as blast cells.
As the number of blast cells increases there is a drop in the number of red blood cells and platelet cells. This drop causes the symptoms of anaemia, such as tiredness, and increases the risk of excessive bleeding.
Also, blast cells are less effective than mature white blood cells at fighting bacteria and viruses, making you more vulnerable to infection.
How common is acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?
Around 8,600 people are diagnosed with leukaemia each year in the UK. In 2011, 654 people were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Despite being uncommon overall, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is the most common type of cancer to affect children. Approximately one in every 2,000 children will develop it. About 85% of cases occur in children aged under 15, mostly between the ages of two and five years old.
The cause or causes of acute leukaemia are uncertain, but known risk factors include:
- exposure to high levels of radiation
- exposure to benzene, a chemical used in manufacturing that is also found in cigarettes
Read more information about the causes of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Outlook
The outlook for children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is usually good. Almost all children will achieve a remission (a period of time where they are free from symptoms) from their symptoms, and 85% will be completely cured.
The outlook for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is less promising as only 40% of people with the condition will be completely cured.
Treatments for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia usually involve a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In some cases, a bone marrow transplant may also be needed to achieve a cure.
Read more about the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
If a cure is not possible, there is a risk that the lack of healthy blood cells can make the person extremely vulnerable to life-threatening infections (due to the lack of white blood cells) or uncontrolled and serious bleeding (due to the lack of platelets).
What are the warning signs of stomach cancer?
I would like to share this with because just over 20 years ago my closed friend at university dies of stomach cancer at the age of 29.
One of the big issues with stomach cancer is the need for early diagnosis. Indeed it has been suggested that an early diagnosis can give a person a 80% survival rate. This show just how important it is for all of us to recognise the signs and symptoms of stomach cancer.
I would ask all of you to read and share this infographic with family and friends. Let’s hope it can save a life.
Many thanks in advance!
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From Visually.