Adult leukemia can take many forms. Common variants include acute lymphoblastic, chronic lymphocytic, acute myeloid and chronic myelogenous leukemia. Rarer variants such as T cell leukemia and hairy cell leukemia are also known. These variants all involve the proliferation of different types of white blood cells in the bone marrow. Most of the symptoms of this disease are caused by this proliferation of cells.
Anemia
Adults with leukemia often become breathless and fatigued. According to the Merck Manual Home Edition, this occurs when the patient becomes anemic because the bone marrow is too packed with immature white cells to produce red blood cells. The Merck Manual indicates that transfusions may be helpful in treating anemia.
Bruising and Bleeding
Patients often bruise easily and may bleed unexpectedly. This occurs because their bone marrow is too packed with white cells to make platelets. Since platelets are involved in the clotting process, blood can pool under the skin or fail to clot quickly when the skin is broken. The National Cancer Institute notes that tiny red spots under the skin called petechiae can also occur.
Bone Pain
The National Cancer Institute reports that pain in the bones is a common symptom of many leukemias. This occurs when the bone marrow because so packaged with lymphoblasts or other cancerous cells that the bones begin to ache. Pain may also occur in the abdominal region.
Swollen Glands
The National Cancer Institute explains that lumps in the groin, stomach, neck or under the arms may appear. These painless lumps are lymph tissues that have become swollen with the proliferating leukemia cells.
Causes
There are many possible causes of adult leukemia. Exposure to radiation can cause leukemia years after the exposure. Previous chemotherapy can bring on subsequent leukemia in later years. Exposure to certain viruses such as HTLV-1 can cause cancer. Lastly, the Merck Manual explains that some hereditary factors such as Down syndrome may increase a patient's risk for contracting leukemia.
