Signs and symptoms of leukemia are:
- Fatigue malaise
- loss of appetite weight loss
- fever anemia
- weakness dizziness
- red spots on the skin frequent infections
- lungs (pneumonia) urinary tract
- gums around the anus cold sores vomiting
- headache sore throat
- swelling of the testicles
- bleeding frequent or severe nose bleeds
- bleeding gums mid-cycle or heavy menstrual flow
- Physical exam. Your doctor will look for physical signs of leukemia, such as pale skin from anemia and swelling of your lymph nodes, liver and spleen.
- Blood tests. By looking at a sample of your blood, your doctor can determine if you have abnormal levels of white blood cells or platelets — which may suggest leukemia.
- Bone marrow test. Your doctor may recommend a procedure to remove a sample of bone marrow from your hipbone. The bone marrow is removed using a long, thin needle. The sample is sent to a laboratory to look for leukemia cells. Specialized tests of your leukemia cells may reveal certain characteristics that are used to determine your treatment options.