Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Patient Stories on AML Diagnosis, Treatment & Side Effects

Acute myeloid leukemia or AML is one type of leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that happens when the bone marrow makes an abnormal type of white blood cell called myeloblasts, red blood cells, or platelets. It’s the most common type of acute leukemia in adults.

Explore below to find more about first symptoms, different treatments, side effects and tips on getting through them, as well as impact to quality of life in our in-depth stories spotlighting our incredible AML patients, survivors, thrivers, and caregivers.

Background

Risk Factors of AML

According to the National Cancer Institute, there are certain factors that may increase the risk of getting acute myeloid leukemia, which does not mean that someone will get cancer or that not having any of the risk factors means someone will not get cancer. Possible AML risk factors include:

• Being male
• A history of smoking, especially age 60+
• A history of undergoing chemotherapy or radiation
• Previously treated for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
• Having a history of a blood disorder such as myelodysplastic syndrome or MDS
• Exposure to radiation from an atomic bomb or to the chemical benzene

AML Symptoms

The following is a list of potential early AML signs and symptoms provided by the NCI. You may check with your doctor if you have:

• Fever
• Weakness or fatigue
• Weight loss or loss of appetite
• Shortness of breath
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Petechiae (flat, pinpoint spots under the skin caused by bleeding)

AML Patient Stories

Sasha T., Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)



Symptoms: Easily bruised and swollen, painful hip
Treatments: Chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant

Luisa L., Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) with FLT3 Mutation



Symptoms: Painful hives on legs, migraines
Treatments: Chemotherapy, total body radiation, stem cell transplant

Hayley A., Acute Monocytic Leukemia (AML-M5)



Symptoms: Severe fatigue, excessive bleeding after oral surgery
Treatments: Chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant

Nicole T., Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)



Symptoms: Severe itchiness, night sweats, fatigue
Treatments: Chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant

Mary Clare B., Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)



Symptoms: Extreme fatigue, upset stomach, bad & persistent headaches
Treatments: Chemotherapy, radiation, bone marrow transplants

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Rafael Fonseca, MD



Role: Interim executive director, hematologist-oncologist
Focus: Multiple myeloma, new drug development
Institution: Mayo Clinic
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Farrukh Awan, MD



Role: Hematologist-oncologist, associate professor
Focus: Leukemias, Lymphomas, BMT
Institution: UT Southwestern
...

Nina Shah, MD



Role: Hematologist-oncologist, researcher
Focus: Multiple Myeloma
Institution: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
...