Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a rapidly progressing form of cancer in the bone marrow and blood. AML affects white blood cells, termed myeloid cells, and it affects underdeveloped blood cells. Although AML is quite serious, the National Institutes of Health reports that it often may be cured through various treatments, including radiation, chemotherapy and transplantation of stem cells.
Blood
Because acute myelogenous leukemia affects your blood system, it can cause symptoms associated with this. For example, you may experience abnormal bleeding, such as nosebleeds that are frequent when you rarely had them before. It also may present as bleeding from your gums in your mouth. Another such symptom is bruising more easily than normal. Bruises occur when very small blood vessels are damaged and the blood wells up or pools when you are injured. Typically, these occur when you injure yourself, but if you have acute myelogenous leukemia, they may happen when the injury is not as severe as you would be associated with the bruise.
Fatigue
Without the proper amount of red and white blood cells in your body, you can experience a symptom of acute myelogenous leukemia that makes you feel as if you had been strenuously exercising when you have not. Fatigue can occur for many reasons and is associated with many illnesses. It also can be a side effect of medications, so if you feel fatigued, you may not have AML. If it occurs regularly, however, or continuously, it may be time to see your physician.
Other Symptoms
Acute myelogenous leukemia also may cause a variety of other symptoms. These may include a fever, infections that occur in your body frequently, pain in your bones, skin paleness and shortness of breath. The Mayo Clinic recommends seeing a physician if you have any of these symptoms of acute myelogenous leukemia as soon as possible because the disease progresses quickly.
