Leukemia is often not easy to diagnose, primarily because the symptoms of the different types of leukemia are quite similar to those of other diseases and illnesses. However, being aware of the symptoms of leukemia can facilitate early diagnosis and timely treatment for the disease.
Common symptoms of leukemia
Some symptoms associated with leukemia that one might experience before the diagnosis are:
- Breathlessness
- Fatigue
- Recurrent infections
- Bone and joint pain
- Bleeding and bruising
- Night sweats
- Fever
In addition, the symptoms of leukemia that are visible less frequently include:
- Discomfort in the stomach
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headaches
- Heart palpitations or rapid heartbeat
- Numbness in the feet or hands
- Lack of concentration
- Inability to sleep
- Unexplained weight loss
- Itchy skin
- Back pain
- Muscular pain
Symptoms of leukemia by age
Primarily, there are four types of this form of cancer that are categorized either by their progression rate (chronic or acute) or by the stem cells that are affected (lymphoid or myeloid). A few types of leukemia are common among people of different age groups, so the symptoms vary between patients of different age groups.
Children below the age of 16
Among children, the most frequent type of leukemia is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). When it comes to the symptoms of different types of leukemia, the common ones among children in this age group are:
- Stomach ache
- Frequent infections
- Bone and joint pain
- Fever
- Bruising and bleeding
- Fatigue
People from 16 to 24 years of age
In this age group, the most commonly diagnosed type of leukemia is ALL, and the common symptoms are:
- Headache
- Breathlessness
- Bone and joint pain
- Fever
- Bruising and bleeding
- Fatigue
People in the age group of 25 to 49
The type of leukemia that affects people in this age group the most is Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). The common symptoms seen in leukemia patients in this age group are:
- Fatigue and breathlessness
- Bone and joint pain
- Fever
- Bruising and bleeding
- Repeated infections
People between 50-64 years
In this age group, the most common types of leukemia are chronic lymphocytic leukemia and AML. The common symptoms that manifest are:
- Fatigue and breathlessness
- Bruising and bleeding
- Fever
- Bone and joint pain
- Recurrent infections
Those over 65 years of age
Among people from this age group, the most common variant of leukemia is CLL. The symptoms commonly seen in people from this age group are:
- Fatigue
- Breathlessness
- Fever
- Unexplained weight loss
- Bruising and bleeding
- Swollen lymph nodes
If a person experiences more than one of the symptoms of the different types of leukemia listed here, it’s best to visit a doctor at the earliest. One should always remember to consult the doctor at an early stage as it makes treatment more effective and increases the success rate.
