Symptoms of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are not always obvious at first and can be similar to other conditions.
They usually appear quite quickly over a few weeks.
The main symptoms include:
- feeling very tired or weak
- looking more pale than usual – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or the inside of the eyelids
- shortness of breath
- bleeding or bruising easily or for no reason
- getting ill a lot or taking longer than usual to recover from illnesses
- a high temperature
- pain in the bones or joints
- a swollen tummy – your tummy may feel painful, uncomfortable or full
- swollen glands – usually in the neck, armpits and the top of your inner thigh (groin)
Acute myeloid leukaemia can be diagnosed at any age, but it is more common in older people.
If you have symptoms of acute myeloid leukaemia, it's important to get them checked by a GP.
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
- you have symptoms of acute myeloid leukaemia
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
Important
These symptoms are very common and can be caused by many different conditions.
Having them does not definitely mean you have acute myeloid leukaemia. But it's important to get them checked by a GP.
This is because if they're caused by cancer, finding it early means treatment is more likely to be successful.
The GP will usually arrange for an urgent blood test if they think there's a chance you could have acute myeloid leukaemia.
They may also check your blood pressure and temperature.
They may refer you for more tests or to see a specialist in hospital.
Sometimes you might have to go to hospital straight away. This does not mean you definitely have cancer.
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