Signs and symptoms of leukaemia
Leukaemia can be difficult to recognise because many of its symptoms are similar to those of common, less serious illnesses. This is why it is not always easy to spot and why knowing what to look out for matters. If something feels out of the ordinary for you, speak to your GP and make sure.
Make sure you know the signs
This Blood Cancer Awareness Month, we are raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of leukaemia, as well as what to do if you are unsure.
There are the 3 most commons symptoms of leukaemia
Persistent Fatigue
Unexplained bruising and bleeding
Frequent and repeated infections
What is leukaemia?
Leukaemia is a type of blood cancer. Blood cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer and the third biggest cancer killer in the UK.
In the UK, 28 new patients are diagnosed with leukaemia every day – that’s around 10,000 every year.
Leukaemia starts in the bone marrow with an overproduction of abnormal white blood cells. This crowds out the healthy blood cells and makes it harder to fight infection, carry oxygen and stop bleeding.
There are several types of leukaemia. Some develop quickly (acute leukaemia), while others develop more slowly (chronic leukaemia).
When should you see a GP? 👩🏽⚕️
While these symptoms are often caused by less serious conditions, it’s important to get them checked. Hear from Dr Philippa Kaye, a GP, who explains more.
You should speak to a GP and ask for a full blood count test if you experience symptoms that are persistent, unexplained, or unusual for you, especially if you have more than one of the symptoms.
A full blood count test tells you about the cells in your blood, while other blood tests measure the chemicals, hormones, and substances dissolved in it.
Play Video What are the other symptoms of leukaemia?
This can include being unable to attribute weight loss to diet or exercise. As well as losing weight quickly over a short period of time.
These are enlarged lumps that can be seen or felt underneath the skin, usually in the armpit, neck or groin area. Often, they can be the result of an everyday infection or allergy. However, they might be a sign of leukaemia, particularly if they are painless, last longer than two weeks, are hard or unmovable, or grow in size.
This can include a sharp pain or swelling in the stomach and constantly feeling full.
The temperature at which night sweats occur, and the quantity of sweat lost can help determine if a person’s night sweats are a symptom of leukaemia. If night sweats are regular, drench you in sweat, or occur in cool environments it’s worth visiting your GP.
This can be a sharp pain or a constant dull ache in one or more bones. Bone pain caused by leukaemia is usually felt in the arms and legs, or in the ribs and sternum of the rib cage. Joint pain in ankles or wrists and swelling of large joints like the hips and shoulders can also be experienced.
Symptoms of leukaemia can include breathlessness that comes on suddenly or during activities that would normally be effortless for the person, breathlessness lasting longer than a month and breathlessness that worsens over time.
Skin rashes are likely to be unexplained and often have the appearance of small red and purple spots on the skin.
Nick’s Story
Nick first got diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in 2018. He showed all the symptoms: extreme tiredness, frequent viral infections, and deep bruising.
A stem cell transplant on 25th September 2018, represented a new start in life for Nick. It gave him the opportunity to play in the British Transplant Games where he won Gold in swimming.
Frequently asked questions about leukaemia symptoms
Early signs often include fatigue, frequent infections, and unexplained bruising. These symptoms can be mild at first and may be mistaken for other conditions.
Some symptoms may appear gradually or seem to come and go, particularly in slower developing types of leukaemia.
Children may experience similar symptoms, but bone pain, fatigue, and frequent infections are often more noticeable. You can see more on our page specifically on leukaemia in children.
No. Fatigue is very common and usually caused by less serious conditions. However, persistent or severe fatigue should be checked by a GP.
Together we can stop leukaemia devastating lives
Disclaimer: While we are able to highlight the common signs and symptoms of leukaemia, these symptoms are often caused by other medical conditions. As a charity we are not able to give specific medical advice to patients, but if you have any concerns contact your GP.