The first signs of leukemia usually include excessive tiredness and swelling in the neck and groin is very common. However, the symptoms of leukemia may vary slightly, according to the evolution of the disease and the type of cells affected and the patient's age.
Therefore, the first symptoms can often be mistaken for a simple flu or cold, especially when they start suddenly. So, if you think you may have leukemia, choose your symptoms to find out what your risk of having the disease is:
- 1. Fever above 38ยบ C Yes No
- 2. Pain in bones or joints Yes No
- 3. Purple spots or red spots on the skin Yes No
- 4. Frequent tiredness for no apparent reason Yes No
- 5. Neck, armpit or groin tongue Yes No
- 6. Weight loss for no apparent reason Yes No
- 7. Frequent infections, such as candidiasis or urinary tract infection Yes No
Although there are two main types of leukemia, the symptoms are always the same, the main difference being in the progression of symptoms. Understand more about the difference between the two main types of leukemia.
Symptoms of childhood leukemia
Symptoms in children can manifest at any stage. In this case, the baby or child can always look tired, not wanting to crawl or walk, and have a tendency to get purple marks on the skin easily. Despite frightening parents, leukemia in children has a good chance of cure when the treatment is done properly, so it is always important to immediately consult the pediatrician whenever there are changes in the child's behavior.
How to make the correct diagnosis
It is important that the diagnosis of leukemia be made early to prevent the progression of the disease and improve the patient's quality of life, and it is recommended that people who have signs and symptoms suggestive of leukemia be subjected to various tests.
The main test to diagnose leukemia is the blood count, in which a change in the amount of leukocytes is verified, with or without a reduction in the amount of red blood cells and platelets. Through microscopic analysis of blood, it is also possible to verify changes in leukocytes indicative of changes in the functioning of bone marrow.
In addition to the complete blood count, the doctor may order biochemical tests and coagulograms to investigate leukemia. The confirmation of the diagnosis is usually made through the myelogram, in which the bone marrow is collected and sent to the laboratory for evaluation and confirmation of the diagnosis. Understand what myelogram is and how it is made.
How the treatment is done
Treatment should be started as soon as possible to increase the chances of a cure and may vary according to the type of leukemia. In the case of acute leukemias, chemotherapy is usually recommended, while in chronic cases the use of specific medications may be indicated.
Regardless of the type of leukemia, according to the severity and stage of the disease, the doctor may recommend immunotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. See more about treatment for leukemia.
