Leukemia Symptoms in Women

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the bone marrow and lymphatic system of the body. There are four types of leukemia. Most of these leukemia affect children and few affects adults. Leukemia affects the white blood cells of the body that help protect the body from infections. However, in people with leukemia, these white blood cells grow and divide abnormally that increases their number. If a blood test shows abnormal increase in the white blood cells, it is termed as a characteristic of leukemia. In the following paragraphs, we shall see some information on leukemia symptoms in women.

Information on Symptoms of Leukemia in Women
There are many vague and non-specific leukemia symptoms. Women and men tend to have more or less similar symptoms. If you are a woman, then you should become very serious about your health. Many women are at risk of developing breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and leukemia. Women should be aware of the subtle signs their bodies give out indicating an abnormal cell growth within their body. The following symptoms of leukemia in women will help you catch cancer early and get treated for it as soon as possible.

Chronic Cough
One of the early symptoms of leukemia in women is chronic cough or chest pain. You should watch out for persistent cough or repeated cycles of coughing without any apparent reason. Also, if you experience a pain radiating from the chest down towards your arm or shoulder, visit a doctor for a check up. A bad cough or bronchitis can be a sign of leukemia or lung cancer.

Frequent Infections
Are you falling sick all the time and experiencing recurring fevers? This can be a sign of leukemia as your white blood cells are beginning to be produced abnormally. Abnormal blood cells cannot fight infections and make a person vulnerable to different infections. If you are forever complaining of fever, aches, flu-like symptoms occurring out of the blue, speak to your doctor and get yourself examined for leukemia symptoms in women.

Swollen Lymph Nodes
As explained earlier, leukemia is a cancer of bone marrow and lymph nodes. If one is developing leukemia, she will suffer from an enlarged or swollen lymph node under the arm, neck, abdominal and groin area. These swollen lumps are painless and if the lump persists for more than 6 weeks, indicates warning sign of leukemia. You need to visit the doctor as soon as possible.

Unexplained Bruising
If you observe unexplained black and blue marks on your body it may suggest something is wrong with your platelets and red blood cells. If you get easily bruised in odd places like your fingers and hands, it may be one of the symptoms of leukemia.

Excessive Bleeding
Unusual and excessive bleeding of gums or heavy flow during your menstrual cycles may suggest leukemia. This means, that the leukemia cells are increasing in number quickly and out numbering the red blood cells and platelets. This decreases the blood's ability to clot and even carry oxygen.

Petechiae
Strange red spots or lines on your face, neck and chest popping up? Well, this could very well be a condition called petechiae. This condition is a sign of leukemia and you should get this checked out by a qualified medical professional.

Weakness
Getting tired more than usual? Do you feel fatigued even after a good night's sleep? The signs of generalized weakness and fatigue are a symptom of cancer. If you are feeling unusually tired and your body does not respond to more sleep and rest, then you should get yourself checked for leukemia. Also, lethargy can be a sign of different types of cancers other than leukemia.

Abdominal Pain
The leukemia cells can cause the enlarged spleen that leads to abdominal pain. If you experience pelvic pain, it is a red alert sign of leukemia or even other cancers including ovarian cancer, fibroid, etc. Get yourself examined by a doctor as pelvic and abdominal pain may be one of the many symptoms of leukemia.

Other Symptoms of Leukemia in Women
Apart from the above leukemia symptoms in women, you should watch out for other signs as well. If you experience unusual loss of appetite, weight loss, bleeding gums, etc. get yourself examined. Joint pain, bone tenderness are chronic leukemia symptoms. The abnormal white blood cells attack the bones and bone marrow making them weak and brittle. Excessive sweating, especially at night can be an early symptom of leukemia in women. Shortness of breath and long periods of coughing are also signs of leukemia. Acute symptoms of leukemia in women include headaches, vomiting, confusion, loss of muscle control and even seizures. The number of red blood cell count decreases due to the increase in abnormal white blood cells. This can lead to anemia indicating development of leukemia.

Causes of Leukemia in Women
Leukemia can occur due to different factors. These factors are usually associated with ones lifestyle or genes. Some of the causes include:

• One of the prominent risk factors for leukemia is smoking. It has been seen more number of smokers are prone to leukemia and other cancers than non-smokers. However, non-smokers too are at risk of developing leukemia.
• Those who work around chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene or are exposed to these chemicals are at risk of developing leukemia. However, the risk is considered to be minimal.
• Exposure to X-ray, CT scan or other radioactive rays, increases the chances of developing leukemia.
• Those who undergo chemotherapy as well as radiation therapy to cure other cancers, can develop leukemia in the long run.
• Infection with human T-cell leukemia virus 1 (HTLV-1) increases the risk of leukemia.
• Those who develop a rare blood disorder called myelodysplastic syndrome can develop leukemia.
• Those who have a close relative suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukemia are 4 times the risk of those who do not have a family history of leukemia.

This was some information on leukemia symptoms in women that one should be aware of. Women should go in for routine full body check up, pap smear and mammogram to protect their bodies from cancer. If you are experiencing either of the above symptoms of leukemia, speak to your doctor. These early signs and symptoms of leukemia could be an indication of another health disorder. The only way to nip off cancer in the bud is to listen. Listen to your body when it is sounding the subtle signs of trouble before it is too late.

DISCLAIMER
The information offered on this site is not to be used as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis or treatment. The reader is advised to consult with a medical consultant before taking any home remedies, supplements or following any treatment advised by anyone on this site. A medical consultant will be able to provide the reader with advice that is safe and effective for an individual's specific needs and diagnose a particular health problem based on their personal medical history.