Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects developing blood cells. In people with leukemia, abnormal white blood cells are produced, affecting the body’s ability to produce healthy new blood cells and effectively respond to infections.

Types of leukemia can be grouped in several different ways. These can include how quickly it’s progressing (acute versus chronic), and what type of cells are affected (lymphocytic versus myeloid).

The common symptoms of leukemia in adults can be very similar to other illnesses and include things like fatigue and fever. Because of this, leukemia can sometimes be difficult to diagnose.

Continue reading as we break down the various symptoms of leukemia, as well as which types most commonly affect different age groups, and more.

Some of the most common leukemia symptoms that adults experience prior to diagnosis include:

  • fatigue
  • fever and night sweats
  • easy bruising or bleeding
  • aching in joints or bones
  • frequent infections
  • unexplained weight loss
  • shortness of breath

Fatigue

Fatigue is an extreme form of tiredness. We all experience fatigue from time to time. But fatigue caused by leukemia or other types of cancer is persistent and can affect your ability to keep up with daily activities.

Leukemia can interfere with the body’s ability to produce new blood cells. This can include red blood cells, which are important for carrying oxygen throughout the body.

Fatigue from leukemia often happens due to anemia, which is a shortage of red blood cells. In this case, fatigue occurs because the organs and tissues of the body aren’t receiving the oxygen they need to function effectively.

Fever and night sweats

People with leukemia can often experience fever, which is when body temperature is higher than normal. This can also lead to night sweats, which is when noticeable sweating occurs during sleep.

Fever is one of the body’s ways of responding to infection, so it’s possible that it’s the body’s way of trying to kill leukemia cells. Leukemia also raises the risk of getting infections, which can lead to fever and night sweats as well.

Easy bruising or bleeding

The effects of leukemia can also lead to lower levels of platelets, which are important for blood clotting. Because of this, some people with leukemia can experience:

Aching in bones or joints

In some cases, leukemia cells can begin to build up in joints or close to the surface of the bone. When these cells accumulate in these areas, pressure can build up and aching pain can be felt.

Frequent infections

Leukemia can affect the number of healthy white blood cells in the body. Because these cells are important for responding to an infection, a person with leukemia may find that they experience more frequent or recurring infections.

Unexplained weight loss

If you’ve lost weight without trying, this can be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as leukemia. This may be due to a couple of factors.

First, producing large amounts of leukemia cells can use up energy that would normally be stored as fat. Second, leukemia can cause loss of appetite, which can cause you to eat less than normal

It’s a good idea to talk with a healthcare professional if you’ve lost more than 5 percent of your body weight over a period of 6 months to a year.

Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath is another leukemia symptom that’s related to anemia. Since anemia causes a shortage of red blood cells, less oxygen is being carried throughout the body.

This can lead to shortness of breath. It’s your body’s way of trying to take enough oxygen into the lungs.

Additional symptoms

Some additional symptoms that an adult with leukemia may experience include:

The most common type of leukemia in children and young adults is acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). According to the American Cancer Society, the risk of ALL is highest when a child is under age 5 and slowly declines until the mid 20s.

In ALL, the bone marrow makes too many white blood cells, called lymphocytes. While healthy lymphocytes are important for responding to infections, the abnormal ones don’t function as effectively.

Increasing numbers of abnormal lymphocytes also mean that healthy blood cells get crowded out. ALL is an acute type of leukemia that can quickly worsen if not detected and treated.

Some common signs of ALL in young adults include:

  • headaches
  • feelings of fatigue or weakness
  • easy bruising or bleeding
  • shortness of breath
  • fever or night sweats
  • aching in bones or joints

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common type of leukemia in adults ages 25 to 49. However, the American Cancer Society notes that it’s still generally uncommon before age 45.

In AML, the bone marrow makes too many of an immature type of blood cell called a myeloblast. These myeloblasts don’t go on to develop into healthy blood cells.

The effects of AML can affect the production of healthy blood cells, which can include red blood cells and platelets. The increasing numbers of myeloblasts can also begin to crowd out healthy blood cells. Like ALL, AML can rapidly progress without treatment.

Some common signs of AML in adults are:

  • frequent infections
  • feelings of fatigue or weakness
  • easy bruising or bleeding
  • shortness of breath
  • fever or night sweats
  • aching in bones or joints

AML is also common in this age group. Additionally, another type of leukemia that can be common in this age range is chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

CLL is similar to ALL in that the bone marrow produces too many abnormal lymphocytes. However, CLL progresses more slowly. Because of this, many people with CLL won’t experience significant symptoms at the time of their diagnosis.

Some common signs of AML or CLL in adults ages 50 to 64 are:

  • feelings of fatigue or weakness
  • easy bruising or bleeding
  • shortness of breath
  • fever or night sweats
  • aching in bones or joints
  • frequent infections

CLL is also one of the most common types of leukemia in adults ages 65 and older. In fact, according to the American Cancer Society, the average age of CLL diagnosis is 70 years old.

Another type of leukemia that may be seen in this age group is chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). While the average age of diagnosis is 64, the American Cancer Society notes that almost half of cases are diagnosed in individuals ages 65 and older.

In CML, too many developing blood cells become a type of cell called a granulocyte. Similar to the other types of leukemia we’ve discussed, these abnormal granulocytes can crowd out healthy blood cells.

Like CLL, CML progresses slowly. It’s possible that people with CML may have no symptoms or only vague, nonspecific symptoms at the time of diagnosis.

Some common signs of leukemia in adults ages 65 and older can include:

  • unexplained weight loss
  • swollen lymph nodes
  • feelings of fatigue or weakness
  • easy bruising or bleeding
  • shortness of breath
  • fever or night sweats

In addition to the symptoms that we’ve discussed above, there are also certain symptoms for women to be aware of. If leukemia is a concern, it’s important that any of these symptoms be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

Because leukemia can affect platelet production, people with leukemia can bleed more easily. Women with leukemia may find that they experience:

Additionally, it’s important to note that some leukemia symptoms can be similar to those of menopause. These can include things like:

Pregnancy can also mask some of the potential symptoms of leukemia. For example, fatigue is very common during pregnancy but can also sometimes be a possible sign of leukemia.

There are several risk factors that are linked to developing leukemia. These can include:

  • Physical sex. Males are more likely to develop leukemia than females.
  • Age. With the exception of ALL, the risk of getting other types of leukemia increases as a person gets older.
  • Family history. Having a close family member, such as a parent or sibling, with leukemia can increase a person’s risk.
  • Previous cancer treatment. It’s possible that people who’ve had chemotherapy or radiation therapy for another type of cancer can be at an increased risk of developing leukemia.
  • Smoking. Smoking cigarettes can be a risk factor for developing AML.
  • Environmental exposures. Exposure to radiation or industrial chemicals like benzene raise a person’s risk of leukemia.
  • Certain blood disorders. Certain types of blood disorders, such as myelodysplastic syndromes, can raise your leukemia risk.
  • Some genetic disorders. Having some types of genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome or Fanconi syndrome, can increase the risk of leukemia.

The symptoms of leukemia can be similar to those of other more common health conditions. Because of this, it can sometimes be difficult to know when to schedule a medical appointment.

Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional if you notice concerning symptoms that could indicate leukemia, particularly if you have any of the risk factors listed above.

Here are some signs that it could be time to schedule a medical appointment:

  • Persistent symptoms. Some symptoms of leukemia can be persistent, meaning that they don’t really go away or recur frequently. Some examples include fatigue, shortness of breath, and infections.
  • Unexplained symptoms. Several leukemia symptoms can happen without an obvious cause or explanation. Examples include things like fever, night sweats, and unintended weight loss.
  • New changes. It’s possible that leukemia can cause new, noticeable changes in a person’s body. Examples include easy bruising, heavier periods in people who have vaginas, or swollen lymph nodes.

A healthcare professional can perform a physical examination and blood tests to help get an idea of what may be causing your symptoms. If leukemia is suspected, they’ll order additional tests such as a bone marrow biopsy.

There are different types of leukemia. Most of them are more common in older adults than they are in younger individuals. However, some types of leukemia, such as ALL, are more common in children and young adults.

Many of the symptoms of leukemia are similar to those of other health conditions, like fatigue, fever, and shortness of breath. It’s also possible that symptoms can vary based on the type of leukemia or your age.

Talk with a healthcare professional if you have symptoms that are consistent with leukemia — especially if they’re persistent or can’t be explained by another condition. Specific tests can be done to find out what may be causing them.