This archive report was first published on 3 July 2019.
Published on July 3, 2019, Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of cancer that starts in the bone marrow, the soft inner parts of bones.
Unlike other types of leukemia, AML bone marrow cells don't mature as expected. These immature cells keep building up as they multiply uncontrolled, spreading quickly to the blood and other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, brain, and spinal cord.
Each person is different, and how AML affects them depends on certain factors, including how well the cancer responds to treatment. Your outlook is better if you are younger than 60, have a lower white blood cell count when diagnosed, do not have a history of blood disorders or cancers, and do not have certain gene mutations or chromosome changes.
Signs and symptoms of AML include fever, bone pain, lethargy and fatigue, shortness of breath, pale skin, frequent infections, easy bruising and unusual bleeding, such as frequent nosebleeds and bleeding from the gums.
Doctors often don't know why someone gets AML, but they do know about some of the 'risk factors' for the condition. These include smoking, exposure to certain chemicals such as benzene, pesticides, ionizing radiation, and some chemotherapy drugs used to treat other cancers.
Other risk factors include exposure to high doses of radiation, certain blood disorders such as myeloproliferative disorders, and a family history of AML.
