AML is a kind of leukemia that is also known as acute myeloid leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia and acute myelocytic leukemia. It starts in the bone marrow and the cells that turn into various types of blood cells, according to the American Cancer Society. From the bone marrow, it usually spreads to the blood, and can further spread to the lymph nodes, spleen, brain and spinal cord.
Significance
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2009, approximately 12,810 new cases of AML were diagnosed in the United States, and nearly 9,000 individuals died from the disease. It is more commonly diagnosed in men than women, and the average age at diagnosis is 67 years old.
Symptoms
Although there is no definitive diagnostic test for AML, there are symptoms that can guide a clinical diagnosis. Weight loss, fatigue, night sweats, fever and loss of appetite can be symptoms of AML, according to the American Cancer Society. Some of these symptoms come from abnormal blood cell counts; a shortage of red blood cells can lead to anemia and fatigue, and a lowered white blood cell count can lead to increased infections. While many people with leukemia have a high number of white blood cells, these cells are immature and don't function like healthy white blood cells. Bone or joint pain, abdominal swelling and swollen lymph nodes can also be symptoms of AML.
Diagnosis
Tests that can help guide a diagnosis of AML include blood samples, a bone marrow biopsy, a lumbar puncture, a CT scan and an MRI. These tests can find abnormal blood cell counts, swollen lymph nodes and organs, leukemia cells in cerebrospinal fluid, and whether leukemia is in the bone marrow.
Treatment
Treatment for AML can vary, depending on the subtype and its prognosis, according to the American Cancer Society. The main kind of treatment is chemotherapy, which is the use of medications to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy medications for AML are given intravenously or into the cerebrospinal fluid, and the treatment consists of two phases: remission induction and consolidation (post-remission therapy). Bone marrow or stem cell transplants can also be used to treat AML. While radiation therapy is not a main treatment for this cancer (it can be used before a stem cell transplant), it can reduce bone pain caused by the leukemia if it has not responded to chemotherapy, and it can be used to treat leukemia that has spread to the brain or testicles.
Recurrence
When AML recurs, the National Cancer Institute describes several treatments that may be done. These include combination chemotherapy, which consists of more than one drug given at a time; targeted therapies with drugs called monoclonal antibodies; and stem cell transplant. Clinical trials may also be available, depending on your location, type of leukemia, and inclusion criteria for the trial. If you are interested in clinical trials, talking to your doctor about them can be helpful.
