What are the Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia?

The signs and symptoms of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) can differ from person to person, but they often result from the overproduction of abnormal white blood cells called monocytes. These cells crowd out healthy blood cells in the bone marrow and bloodstream, causing a variety of complications. Often these symptoms can mimic other illnesses, so it's important to stay aware of how you are feeling and seek medical attention promptly if you are concerned about anything.

The Most Common Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia include:

Fatigue: This is a common symptom in many types of cancer, including CMML. It is often due to the body's increased need for energy as it fights off the disease.
Fever: A persistent or recurrent fever can be a sign of CMML. This is due to the body's immune response to the disease.
Weight loss: Unexplained weight loss can be a sign of many types of cancer, including CMML. This is often due to a decreased appetite and changes in metabolism related to the disease.
Easy bruising or bleeding: This can occur due to a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood, a condition known as thrombocytopenia, which is common in people with CMML.
Shortness of breath: This can occur due to anemia, a condition characterized by a lack of red blood cells, which is common in people with CMML.
Infections: People with CMML may be more prone to infections due to a decrease in the number of healthy white blood cells.
Enlarged spleen: An enlarged spleen, a condition known as splenomegaly, can occur in people with CMML. This can cause discomfort or pain in the left upper abdomen.

Seek Care For Your Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia

Seeking medical attention promptly if you are experiencing symptoms related to your CMML is of utmost importance. Prompt initiation of treatment is essential to achieve the best possible outcomes. Delaying treatment can allow the leukemia to progress, making it more challenging to achieve remission.

Medical attention can help manage and alleviate your symptoms and side effects and allow doctors to tailor an CMML treatment plan that allows you to live as comfortably as possible. Doctors can adjust treatment as needed and provide supportive care to manage treatment-related side effects and complications. Coping with a cancer diagnosis is emotionally and psychologically challenging. You don't have to deal with side effects alone. In addition to discussing with your medical team, if you are experiencing CMML symptoms and want to know what has worked for other blood cancer patients, visit HealthTree's Side Effect Solutions tool. Here you can search for the symptoms you are experiencing and read about what's worked (and what hasn't worked) for patients just like you.

Side Effect Solutions

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