Acute Myeloid Leukemia Also called: AML, ANLL, Acute myelogenous leukemia Summary Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells. White blood cells help your body fight infection. Your blood cells form in your bone marrow. In leukemia, however, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells. These cells crowd out the healthy blood cells, making it hard for blood to do its work. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), there are too many of a specific type of white blood cell called a myeloblast. AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. This type of cancer usually gets worse quickly if it is not treated. Possible risk factors include smoking, previous chemotherapy treatment, and exposure to radiation. Symptoms of AML include: Fever Shortness of breath Easy bruising or bleeding Bleeding under the skin Weakness or feeling tired Weight loss or loss of appetite Tests that examine the blood and bone marrow diagnose AML. Treatments include chemotherapy, other drugs, radiation therapy, stem cell transplants, and targeted therapy. Targeted therapy uses substances that attack cancer cells without harming normal cells. Once the leukemia is in remission, you need additional treatment to make sure that it does not come back. NIH: National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute Start Here Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research AML Guide: Information for Patients and Caregivers Leukemia & Lymphoma Society General Information about Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia National Cancer Institute What Is Acute Myeloid Leukemia? American Cancer Society What You Need to Know about Leukemia National Cancer Institute Array Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) — children Acute myeloid leukemia After chemotherapy – discharge Bone marrow transplant Bone marrow transplant – discharge Find an Expert American Cancer Society American Cancer Society Find a Cancer Doctor American Society of Clinical Oncology Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Leukemia & Lymphoma Society National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute NCI Designated Cancer Centers National Cancer Institute Treatments and Therapies Blood Transfusion Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Immunotherapy Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Integrative Medicine and Complementary and Alternative Therapies Leukemia & Lymphoma Society MedlinePlus: Bone Marrow Transplantation National Library of Medicine Treatment of Acute Promyelocytic (M3) Leukemia American Cancer Society Treatment Option Overview (Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia) National Cancer Institute Treatment Options for Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia National Cancer Institute Understanding Side Effects of Drug Therapy Leukemia & Lymphoma Society What If the Leukemia Doesn’t Respond or Comes Back After Treatment? (AML) American Cancer Society Encyclopedia Bone marrow biopsy Bone-marrow transplant – slideshow Cryoglobulins Fibrinopeptide A blood test Prevention and Risk Factors Can Acute Myeloid Leukemia Be Prevented? American Cancer Society What Are the Risk Factors for Acute Myeloid Leukemia? American Cancer Society Statistics and Research Cancer Statistics: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) National Cancer Institute What Are the Key Statistics about Acute Myeloid Leukemia? American Cancer Society What’s New in Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia Research and Treatment? American Cancer Society NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Cancer Strikes Out!/Definitions/ Glossary/ Common Types Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute National Institutes of Health Types of Treatment: Clinical Trials Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Genetics Do We Know What Causes Acute Myeloid Leukemia? American Cancer Society Genetics Home Reference: 8p11 myeloproliferative syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: acute promyelocytic leukemia National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: core binding factor acute myeloid leukemia National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: familial acute myeloid leukemia with mutated CEBPA National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Fanconi anemia National Library of Medicine Diagnosis and Tests How Is Acute Myeloid Leukemia Classified? American Cancer Society How Is Acute Myeloid Leukemia Diagnosed? American Cancer Society Lab and Imaging Tests Leukemia & Lymphoma Society MedlinePlus: Blood Count Tests National Library of Medicine Stages of Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia National Cancer Institute What Are Bone Marrow Tests? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Seniors Leukemia National Cancer Institute Journal Articles Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient Handouts Understanding Chemotherapy National Cancer Institute What to Know about External Beam Radiation Therapy National Cancer Institute
