Acutemyeloidleukemia (AML) is a rare blood cancer.
It begins whenbone marrowcells that make blood cells start producing immature white blood cells calledmyeloblasts.
The leukemia cells eventually may travel outside the blood system and can form solid tumors.
Md Babul Hosen / Getty Images
Md Babul Hosen / Getty Images
Types of AML
AML is classified into a number of subtypes.
Most often, these symptoms are seen in other, more common diseases.
Often, the earliest sign of AML is feeling fatigued.
These complications can also cause symptoms.
It can then form tumor-like collections of leukemia cells calledchloroma,granulocyticsarcoma, or myeloid sarcoma.
Risk Factors for AML
Its hard to knowwhat causes AML.
However, certain factors can increase a persons risk of developing this cancer.
These include:
Several factors increase your risk of developing AML.
Its more common in older people, males, and those with a family history of AML.
(Note that the terms for sex or gender from the cited source are used in this article.)
Smoking and chemical exposures, including benzene, formaldehyde, chemotherapy drugs, or radiation, also increase risk.
Theyll also ask about or look for bruising or bleeding and ask about infections you have had recently.
Theyll look at what percentage of bone marrow cells are myeloblasts.
For a diagnosis of AML, the blood or bone marrow needs to be at least 20% myeloblasts.
In normal bone marrow, they are 5% or less.
They may also analyze the samples using dyes and antibodies to classify the cancer.
Treatment Options for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia is treatedwith a combination of medicines and procedures.
These includechemotherapy,radiation therapy,stem cell transplants, andtargeted therapies.
Treatment is typically done in two phases.
Targeted treatments used alongside chemotherapy act to destroy specific types of cancer cells.
AML is the 14th deadliest cancer.
One subtype, acute monocytic leukemia, is even more deadly and is the 13th most fatal cancer.
If left untreated, AML can quickly spread.
It primarily affects older adults over the age of 65.
The symptoms of AML are often mistaken for other illnesses.
Treatment for AML typically involves chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplants, and targeted therapies.
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