Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is cancer that starts inside bone marrow, the soft tissue inside bones that helps form blood cells. The cancer grows from cells that would normally turn into white blood cells.

Acute means the disease develops quickly.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common types of leukemia among adults. This type of cancer is rare under age 40. It generally occurs around age 65. (This article focuses on AML in adults.)

AML is more common in men than women.

Persons with this type of cancer have abnormal cells inside their bone marrow. The cells grow very fast, and replace healthy blood cells. The bone marrow, which helps the body fight infections, eventually stops working correctly. Persons with AML become more prone to infections and have an increased risk for bleeding as the numbers of healthy blood cells decrease.

Most of the time, a doctor cannot tell you what caused AML. However, the following things are thought to lead to some types of leukemia, including AML:

• Radiation
• Certain chemicals (for example, benzene)
• Certain chemotherapy drugs, including etoposide and drugs known as alkylating agents

Problems with your genes may also play a role in the development of AML.

You have an increased risk for AML if you have or had any of the following:

• Exposure to radiation and chemicals
• A weakened immune system (immunosuppression) due to an organ transplant
• Blood disorders, including:
  • Polycythemia vera
  • Essential thrombocythemia
  • Myelodysplasia (refractory anemia)

• Abnormal menstrual periods
• Bleeding from the nose
• Bleeding gums
• Bruising
• Bone pain or tenderness
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Paleness
• Shortness of breath (gets worse with exercise)
• Skin rash or lesion
• Swollen gums (rare)
• Weight loss

The doctor will perform a physical exam. There may be signs of a swollen spleen, liver, or lymph nodes.

A complete blood count (CBC) shows anemia and a low number of platelets. A white blood cell count (WBC) can be high, low, or normal.

Bone marrow aspiration will show if there are any leukemia cells.

If your doctor learns you do have this type of leukemia, further tests will be done to determine the specific type of AML. There are eight sub-types of AML. They range from M0 to M7, based on which blood cells are abnormal.