Symptoms of Blood Cancer

Executive Summary

Blood cancer is diagnosed based on signs and symptoms. The most common sign and symptom of blood cancer is the occurrence of leukemia. Fever or chills, weakness and fatigue, excessive weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, easy bruising and bleeding, frequent nosebleed, tiny red spots on the skin, excessive sweating, especially at night, bone tenderness and pain are the common symptoms of leukemia. The most common symptoms of lymphoma for blood cancer include fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss and itchy skin. Also, the common symptoms of myeloma include bone pain, nausea and stomach pain, excessive thirst and urination, constipation, loss of appetite, and weakness.

Signs and Symptoms of Blood Cancer

The symptoms of blood cancer depend on what type of cancer a person is affected. The most common symptoms of leukemia include ​1​:

  • Fever or chills
  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Excessive loss of weight
  • Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged spleen
  • Easy bruising and bleeding
  • Frequent Nosebleed 
  • Tiny red spots on the skin
  • Excessive sweating, especially at night 
  • Bone tenderness and pain 

The most common symptoms of Lymphoma for blood cancer include ​2​: 

  • Fever
  • Night sweats
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Itchy skin 

The most common symptoms for Myeloma include ​3​: 

  • Bone pain    
  • Nausea and stomach pain
  • Excessive thirst and urination
  • Constipation
  • Loss of appetite 
  • Weakness 

References

  1. 1.
    Davis A, Viera A, Mead M. Leukemia: an overview for primary care. Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(9):731-738. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24784336
  2. 2.
    Lewis W, Lilly S, Jones K. Lymphoma: Diagnosis and Treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2020;101(1):34-41. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31894937
  3. 3.
    Howell DA, Smith AG, Jack A, et al. Time-to-diagnosis and symptoms of myeloma, lymphomas and leukaemias: a report from the Haematological Malignancy Research Network. BMC Hematol. Published online October 31, 2013. doi:10.1186/2052-1839-13-9