which are very important to the diagnosis, prognosis (predicted outcome), and treatment of leukemia. (A biomarker is a particle in the blood that can be measured to see how well the body responds to treatment.) These groupings help guide clinicians and researchers on how best to treat the different types of AML. Some gene changes are linked with a higher risk for disease and may require more intensive treatment. Be sure to discuss your child’s specific gene changes with the treatment team so you know the classification of your child’s AML and how it impacts your child’s treatment. n WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF AML? Signs and symptoms of AML vary in severity from patient to patient. Symptoms often result from overcrowding in the bone marrow by abnormal leukemia cells. When this happens, there is little room in the bone marrow for normal cells (RBCs, WBCs, and platelets) to develop. As a result, your child is at risk for anemia, infection, and bleeding. In addition, the leukemia cells circulate in the blood stream and settle into other parts of the body,
causing infiltration (congestion) or swelling in these areas. Some of the common signs and symptoms of AML include • fatigue (becoming tired easily) • shortness of breath during physical activity • paleness
• easy bruising or bleeding • mild fevers or night sweats • recent infections • bone and joint pain • swollen gums • weight loss or anorexia (loss of appetite)
• swollen lymph nodes • swollen liver or spleen • pinpoint red spots on the skin • headaches.
n WHAT CAUSES AML? We do not know what causes AML, but we do know that some things may increase the risk of developing AML. These include • previous exposure to certain chemotherapy agents (alkylating agents or topoisomerase inhibitors) and radiation therapy • certain genetic disorders, including Down syndrome, Fanconi anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, monosomy 7, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, Bloom syndrome, and severe congenital neutropenia • exposure to tobacco smoke. AML is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another.
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