Leukemia and Myelodysplatic Syndromes Stories from Patients

What is leukemia? Leukemia is a broad term for cancers of the blood cells, most often occurring in adults over 55, but also a common cancer in children under 15.

The type of leukemia depends on the type of blood cell that becomes cancer and whether it grows quickly or slowly. (NCI)

Explore below for leukemia stories from real patients, from symptoms, diagnosis, to treatment.

Myelodysplatic Syndromes (MDS) Stories
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Stories
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Stories
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Stories
Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Stories

Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of rare blood cancers related to leukemia that affect the bone marrow’s ability to produce healthy blood cells, leading to symptoms like fatigue, frequent infections, and anemia. While not a leukemia, some forms of MDS can progress to acute myeloid leukemia over time.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) often develop slowly, and symptoms can be subtle at first. Many are tied to low blood counts (anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia).

Hosted by The Patient Story Team | 57m 46s

Move from overwhelmed to empowered as you listen to leading MDS expert Dr. Mikkael Sekeres discuss the latest in lower-risk MDS treatments, what’s coming, and what they might mean for your care.

Learn more

From Short of Breath to a Rare Blood Cancer! Jim’s Myelodysplastic Syndrome Story

Nicole’s Myelodysplastic Syndrome & Acute Myeloid Leukemia Story

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Common symptoms: Fatigue, weakness, drenching night sweats, fever, easy bleeding or bruising, shortness of breath, loss of appetite or weight loss, bone or stomach pain, pain or feeling of fullness below ribs, painless lumps in neck, underarm, stomach, groin, lots of infections

Ciara T., Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Symptoms: Fatigue, shortness of breath, night sweats, petechiae

Treatments: Chemotherapy, monoclonal antibody

Veronica B., Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Symptoms: Mild shortness of breath, palpitations
Treatments: Chemotherapy, targeted therapy, double cord transplant

Casey H., Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Symptoms: Lump on the throat, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, bruising easily

Treatments: Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, stem cell transplant

Evan L., Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Symptoms: Extreme fatigue, easily bruised
Treatments: Chemotherapy, spinal taps, cranial radiation

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Acute Myeloid Leukemia is a cancer in which the bone marrow makes immature white blood cells, known as myeloblasts. AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia is one of our newest conditions to get it’s own page – come help us build it. Visit the AML Homepage.

Michele G., Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Symptoms: Bruising, tiredness, shortness of breath, itching

Treatments:Chemotherapy, stem cell transplants, targeted chemotherapy

McKenzie R., Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL)

Symptoms: Repeat sinus infections, abnormally heavy menstrual cycle

Treatment: Chemotherapy (ATRA oral pill & Arsenic trioxide infusions)

Leslie T., Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL)

Symptoms: Fatigue, joint paint, migraines, bruising easily, trouble breathing

Treatment:Chemotherapy (Atra & arsenic)

Mary Clare B., Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

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

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

CLL is the most common form of leukemia in the U.S. It’s a cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell).

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (also called CLL) is a blood and bone marrow disease and usually progresses slowly as opposed to acute leukemias. It is the most common type of chronic leukemia in adults.

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)

Michele T., Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)

Symptoms: Trouble breathing, rash, bruising

Treatments: Sprycel and Bosulif

Mark K., Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)

Symptoms: Weight loss, low energy, night sweats, enlarged spleen, elevated WBC count, frequent need to urinate

Treatment: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs)

Jannette J., Thyroid Cancer & Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Symptoms: (thyroid cancer) recurring sore throat, worsening throat pain, difficulty swallowing, swelling in the neck; (chronic myeloid leukemia) fatigue, nausea, vomiting, blood with bowel movements
Treatments: Surgery (thyroidectomy), radiation, chemotherapy