Many of the symptoms of AML are related to the way leukaemia affects the production of healthy blood cells in the body. These include:
- Feeling tired and lethargic - this is due to anaemia, which is caused by a lack of red blood cells.
- Bruises - you may bruise more easily and it could take longer for bleeding to stop, as there are fewer platelets in the body which normally help our blood to clot.
- Prone to infection - this is due to low numbers of mature white blood cells, which help us fight infection. You may have a fever and sweats. This can be due to an infection or to the leukaemia itself.
- Aches and pains in your limbs - you may also have swollen glands in the neck, under the arm or in the groin.
- Symptoms similar to a viral infection - you may feel generally unwell and run down. This feeling may last for several weeks.
If you have any of these symptoms, or are worried that you may have AML, the first thing to do is see your family doctor (GP). They'll examine you and refer you onto a hospital if they think you need to see a specialist doctor.
