It’s important to note that certain types of leukemia occur without distinct signs or symptoms. In some cases, these signals may develop too slowly to be noticed. Symptoms can also differ according to the category of leukemia. However, there are certain early warning signs of leukemia that have been established and early intervention can make all the difference to the patient.

What is leukemia?
When the body’s blood-forming tissues such as the bone marrow and lymphatic system are attacked by cancer, it is known as leukemia. The disease affects the white blood cells and the word “leukemia” originated from the Greek words “leuco” (white) and “haima” (blood).

There are several types including acute lymphocytic, chronic myelogenous, acute myelogenous, and chronic lymphocytic. Some occur in children, others only in adults and some in both.

Signs and symptoms

• Excessive sweating at night
  waking up with body, clothes and bed-linen damp with sweat. Night sweats have been observed to be early symptoms of leukemia and some other cancers. Though this is not a definitive symptom, when taken in combination with others, it is an important one.
• Anemia
  Reduced level of red blood cells with low levels of hemoglobin is an important symptom of leukemia. It may be accompanied by a feeling of malaise, pallor, fatigue, etc.
• Increased vulnerability to infections
  Constant susceptibility to sore throat, pneumonia, headaches, rashes on the skin, mouth sores, mild fever are common early signs to be noted.
• Weight loss
  Sudden unexplained weight loss accompanied by reduced appetite with no other known cause could be an important sign. Fatigue and tiredness that do not get relieved even after rest are important signals.
• Frequent bleeding
  Nosebleeds that occur without any immediate or known cause may be an early symptom of certain types of leukemia. Bleeding from the gums and blood in the urine or stools, and unexplained bruising are other signs.
• Pain
  Tenderness and swelling of joints and bone pain characterized by extreme sensitivity and discomfort that occur even while the person is resting are signs of structural weakness of the skeletal structure. Since leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow, the bones gets weakened, especially the leg bones.
• Lymph nodes
  Swelling in the lymph nodes can be observed, though it is usually painless. These nodes are located in the armpits, under the jaws, both sides of the neck and groin and just above the collar-bones. They usually get swollen due to an infection and in the case of leukemia, since lymph nodes are areas that store white blood cells they become affected by the cancer.

Other symptoms may include pain under the ribs due to swelling of the spleen, feeling of fullness due to enlargement of the liver and an abnormal accumulation of blood cells in these organs. Shortness of breath may be noticed in certain types of leukemia, accompanied by sudden, unexplained fevers and chills. In some cases, red spots or petrichiae may be noticed on the surface of the skin.