Many people think of leukemia as a childhood cancer—and while it is the most common type in children under 15, it actually occurs most often in adults older than 55, per the National Cancer Institute. That’s why it’s worth keeping an eye out for the number-one sign of leukemia, particularly for those over 50.
Meet the experts: David Yashar, M.D., a hematologist-medical oncologist at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, CA; Adeel Khan, M.D., M.P.H., a hematologist-oncologist and epidemiologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Essentially, the term leukemia encompasses all cancers of the blood cells. “Leukemia is a broad terminology that can include both acute and chronic types, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML),” explains David Yashar, M.D., a hematologist-medical oncologist at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, CA. No matter how quickly or slowly they progress, “leukemia and really all hematological malignancies are often silent until they very much are not,” says Adeel Khan, M.D., M.P.H., a hematologist-oncologist and epidemiologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
So how exactly do they manifest? Dr. Yashar and Dr. Khan both say that the number-one sign of leukemia is constant and simultaneous “B symptoms.” “These include persistent fevers, chills, night sweats, and weight loss,” says Dr. Yashar. “If any of these symptoms are present in a persistent fashion, this should prompt immediate medical attention.” According to the National Library of Medicine, B symptoms are technically categorized by a fever above 100.4°F, drenching night sweats, and weight loss of more than 10% of your body weight over six months.
Dr. Khan said that unrelenting, unexplained fatigue should also prompt a call to your doctor, especially if it accompanies B symptoms. “Here we are specifically speaking of not mere tiredness from a long day or busy week but ongoing, merciless fatigue that robs one of their previous wellness,” he explained. Swollen, prominent, and painless lymph nodes round out the trifecta of symptoms Dr. Khan says would warrant testing for leukemia and other blood cancers.
Ultimately, if you feel like anything is unusual or off with your health, give your physician a call. They can help you determine the next steps.
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