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What is Acute Myeloid Leukaemia?
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is a type of blood cancer, and affects the white blood cells, known as myeloid cells.
It’s an aggressive and fast developing form of leukaemia.
AML is a a blood cancer of the bone marrow’s myeloid cells, and it is the most common form of leukaemia in adults.
Dr Paul Ferguson, Clinical Lecturer in Haematology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, describes what leukaemia is.
What causes AML?
It is not 100% clear what causes AML, and there are no proven links to it being inherited or genetic.
However, there are a few factors that can increase someones chances of AML, including:
– Age, AML is more likely to develop in older people
– Blood disorders such as myelodysplasia, myelofibrosis or polycythaemia vera.
What are the symptoms of AML?
Symptoms of AML can include:
- skin looking pale or “washed out”
- tiredness
- breathlessness
- having a high temperature, and feeling hot or shivery (fever)
- losing weight without trying
- frequent infections
- unusual and frequent bleeding, such as bleeding gums or nosebleeds
- easily bruised skin or flat red or purple spots on the skin
- bone and joint pain
You should visit your GP if you are experience these symptoms.
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