Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Symptoms and Causes

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the bone marrow and blood, is known to affect white blood cells, which help the body fight off infections. This cancer type spreads quickly and thus gets its name, “acute lymphoblastic leukemia.”

Thus, doctors often recommend keeping an eye on acute lymphoblastic leukemia symptoms, if any, for an early diagnosis. Remember, an early diagnosis implies timely treatment and an increase in survival rates.

Most Common Symptoms of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Here are some of the most common acute leukemia symptoms that a person should keep an eye on and consult a doctor if any of them appear. These signs and symptoms of acute lymphoblastic leukemia should not be ignored and should be checked as soon as possible.

Anemia

Anemia is one of the most common acute lymphoblastic leukemia symptoms. The bone marrow fails to produce sufficient red blood cells as it gets overcrowded with leukemia cells.
Those suffering from anemia experience frequent tiredness and heart palpitations.

Bleeding, such as frequent nosebleeds or heavy menstrual periods

Frequent bleeding is one of the most common acute lymphocytic leukemia symptoms. Patients with ALL may have nosebleeds or heavy menstrual periods. This happens because ALL affects the bone marrow’s ability to produce platelets, which are responsible for clotting.

Cough

Chronic coughing is also one of the most common signs and symptoms of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Since it is also one of the early signs of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, it should not be ignored.

Dizziness

Low red blood cell count, anemia, and low count of blood platelets caused by ALL lead to dizziness in some ALL patients.

Fatigue

One of the important acute leukemia symptoms is extreme tiredness as the bone marrow fails to produce red blood cells at optimum levels.

Bone pain

Bone pain caused by the overcrowding of abnormal cells in the bone marrow is also one of the most common acute lymphoblastic leukemia symptoms.

Recurrent fevers/infections

Those with acute lymphocytic leukemia symptoms may sometimes show non-specific signs in the form of recurrent fever or infections. Due to the abundance of abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow, the patient may find it difficult to recover from infections.

Joint pain

Joint pain is also one of the signs of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which is caused by the overcrowding of abnormal cells in the bone marrow. At times, these abnormal cells press on the nerves or joints and cause pain.

Loss of appetite

Loss of appetite is also one of the acute lymphoblastic leukemia symptoms. This is because ALL cells often accumulate in the spleen, causing it to enlarge. The enlarged spleen presses on the stomach, which, in turn, gives the brain a false sense of fullness.
ALL patients may also lose their appetite because of stress, depression, and pain associated with the disease.

Abdominal pain

When ALL cells accumulate in the spleen, it leads to the enlargement of the organ. This, in turn, causes pain in the abdomen region. This is one of the lymphoblastic leukemia symptoms that is easily ignored. Any pain that lasts for more than two weeks should not be ignored.

Night sweats

Night sweats are common in ALL patients as the body is constantly trying to fight the disease.

Unexpected weight loss

With the loss of appetite due to the accumulation of leukemia cells in the liver, spleen, and kidney, ALL patients experience unintended weight loss.

Weakness

The shortage of normal cells and the overgrowth of abnormal white blood cells can cause extreme weakness in ALL patients.

Swollen lymph nodes

When ALL cells spread further to other body parts, the disease causes swelling in the lymph nodes, the glands responsible for capturing bacteria and viruses.

Difficulty breathing

In patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, especially T-cell ALL, the cancerous cells can cause the enlargement of the thymus, which further presses on the trachea. This can cause difficulty breathing.