Blood Cancer Symptoms

Leukemia symptoms often vary, depending on the type and stage of the disease. Common symptoms include:

• Bone pain – Bone pain or tenderness is caused by the accumulation of abnormal leukemia cells in the bone marrow. The pain is often felt in the long bones of the arms and legs. 
• Easy bruising or bleeding – Leukemia can cause a shortage of platelets, leading to easy bruising, frequent nosebleeds, bleeding gums and prolonged bleeding from minor cuts. 
• Fatigue and weakness – Persistent fatigue and generalized weakness are common due to anemia, which results from the lack of healthy red blood cells. 
• Fever and night sweats – Unexplained fevers and night sweats can occur due to the body's response to the abnormal cells. 
• Frequent infections – Due to the decreased production of healthy white blood cells, individuals with leukemia are more susceptible to infections, which may be recurrent and severe. 
• Pale skin – Anemia can also lead to pallor or pale skin. 
• Shortness of breath – Reduced red blood cell count can cause shortness of breath, especially during physical activity.

Lymphoma symptoms typically include a wide range of signs that can vary, depending on the type and location of the lymphoma. Common symptoms include: 

• Chest pain and persistent cough – When lymphoma affects the thymus gland or lymph nodes in the chest, it can cause chest pain, coughing or trouble breathing due to pressure on the airway or lungs. 
• Fatigue and weakness – General fatigue and a feeling of weakness are common as the body's energy reserves are depleted. 
• Fever and night sweats – Recurrent fevers and excessive night sweats, often drenching, are common systemic symptoms. 
• Itchy skin – Persistent itching, known as pruritus, can be a symptom, particularly in Hodgkin lymphoma. 
• Loss of appetite – Reduced appetite and subsequent weight loss can be signs of lymphoma. 
• Swollen lymph nodes – Painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin is the most common symptom. These enlarged nodes can become tender or painful over time. 
• Unexplained weight loss – Significant and unintentional weight loss can occur in advanced stages of lymphoma. 

Myeloma, also known as multiple myeloma, may cause a variety of symptoms due to the proliferation of abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow. Common myeloma symptoms include: 

• Anemia – A shortage of red blood cells can cause persistent fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath. 
• Bone fractures and bone pain – Myeloma often weakens the bones, leading to fractures and severe bone pain, especially in the spine, ribs and pelvis. 
• Bruising and bleeding – Reduced platelet count can cause easy bruising, frequent nosebleeds and bleeding gums. 
• Frequent infections – Similar to other blood cancers, myeloma can impair the immune system, resulting in frequent and recurrent infections. 
• Hypercalcemia – Elevated calcium levels in the blood can occur due to bone breakdown, causing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, constipation and confusion. 
• Kidney issues – Myeloma proteins (M proteins) can damage the kidneys, leading to kidney dysfunction or failure. Symptoms may include frequent urination, excessive thirst and swelling in the legs. 
• Nerve damage – Myeloma can lead to peripheral neuropathy, resulting in numbness, tingling or pain in the hands and feet.