Potential signs of leukemia

People with leukemia (a type of cancer involving the blood and bone marrow) may not know until they have a blood test. Here are 10 common signs of this disease.

1. Red spots under the skin Red or burgundy hemorrhagic spots usually appear in clusters on the chest, back, face and arms of the patient. It is a symptom that the blood is not clotting. This sign can be confused with a rash, but they are actually broken blood vessels caused by thrombocytopenia.
2. Sore bones, joints Pain deep in the bones is one of the hallmarks of leukemia because it doesn't overlap with many other diseases. The pain occurs when the bone marrow expands due to an abnormal accumulation of white blood cells. The pain may be sharp or dull, depending on where the pain is. The long bones in the legs and arms are the most common sites of pain.
3. Headache One of the less frequently mentioned signs of leukemia, especially acute leukemia, is frequent headaches. The pain is often long-lasting and intense. Some patients report waking up with headaches, sweating, and body aches. This is because blood flow to the brain and spinal cord is limited. When a headache occurs, blood vessels are compressed. In some cases, the patient may have a stroke.

4. Abnormal lymph node appearance Leukemia reduces the production of healthy red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Therefore, leukopenia will cause the body to gradually lose its ability to respond to infections and injuries, leading to the appearance of small lymph nodes. They usually appear on the neck, abdomen, or underarms.
5. Feeling sick, tired Because the number of healthy red blood cells decreases, they cannot perform the task of carrying oxygen throughout the human body. As a result, the patient will become anemic and experience symptoms such as muscle weakness and lack of mobility. Frequently sitting, resting, and not being able to exercise as usual are signs you need to look for. Some patients also report problems with balance.
Frequent headaches are one of the signs of leukemia.
6. Easy bleeding, bruising All types of unexplained bleeding can be a sign of leukemia because then, thrombocytopenia will prevent the blood from clotting. Bruises can suddenly appear when you remember that you didn't bump into anything. Moreover, they are also present in strange places such as fingers, hands, abdomen, back. Problems related to bleeding include: Broken hands that are difficult to heal, frequent nosebleeds, or abnormally long menstrual periods in women.

7. Frequent fever, infection Acute or chronic leukemia both reduce the body's resistance, causing prolonged fever. Also, you may get infections more often than usual. The reason for this sign is because the cancer cells have pushed out healthy white blood cells, preventing them from doing their job.
8. Weight loss Loss of appetite is a common sign in leukemia. This can happen so slowly that the person may lose weight without realizing it.
9. Abnormal breathing When there is not enough oxygen circulating in the blood, you will feel short of breath like when you are at high altitude. Many people say they can't catch their breath while others say no matter how deeply they breathe, they still feel inadequate.
10. Abdominal pain As leukemia progresses, it can cause swelling in your liver or spleen that makes you feel sick or full. However, some people experience low back pain. Nausea or loss of appetite is often associated with this sign.
According to Phuong Thanh (Knowledge)