Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in Adults

Cancer Conditions

270 W Peachtree St NW #1300, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA (800) 227-2345 https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in Adults

What Is Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)?

Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. There are many kinds of cancer. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer.
Leukemias are blood cancers. They start in cells that would normally develop into different types of blood cells. Most often, leukemia starts in early forms of white blood cells, but some leukemias start in other blood cell types.

What Is Cancer?
Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer cells. Learn more here.
There are several types of leukemia. They are divided based mainly on whether the leukemia is acute (fast growing) or chronic (slower growing), and whether it starts in myeloid cells or lymphoid cells.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) starts in the bone marrow, the soft inner part of certain bones, where new blood cells are made. Most often AML quickly moves from the bone marrow into the blood. It can sometimes spread to other parts of the body including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and testicles. Sometimes leukemia cells form a tumor called a myeloid sarcoma.
Different types of AML are discussed in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Subtypes and Prognostic Factors.

How is acute myeloid leukemia (AML) different from other leukemias?

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has many other names, including acute myelocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, and acute non-lymphocytic leukemia.

Most often, AML develops in early forms of myeloid cells (see below) that would normally turn into white blood cells. But it can also develop in early forms of other myeloid cells.
AML tends to progress quickly, and it usually needs to be treated right away.
AML is one of the most common leukemias in adults.
There are different subtypes of AML. Most subtypes are classified on how mature (developed) the leukemia cells are, and how different they are from normal cells.

How acute myeloid leukemia (AML) affects normal bone marrow, blood, and lymph tissue

To understand leukemia, it helps to know about the blood and lymph systems.

Bone marrow

Bone marrow is the soft inner part of certain bones. It is made up of blood-forming cells, fat cells, and supporting tissues. A small fraction of the blood-forming cells are blood stem cells.
Inside the bone marrow, blood stem cells develop into new blood cells. During this process, the cells become either lymphocytes (a kind of white blood cell) or other blood-forming cells, which are types of myeloid cells. Myeloid cells can develop into red blood cells, white blood cells (other than lymphocytes), or into the cells that make platelets. Some of these myeloid cells are the ones that are abnormal in AML.

Types of blood cells

There are 3 main types of blood cells:

Red blood cells (RBCs) carry oxygen from the lungs to all other tissues in the body and take carbon dioxide back to the lungs to be removed.
Platelets are small pieces of cells that split off from a type of bone marrow cell called a megakaryocyte. Platelets are important in stopping bleeding. They help plug up holes in blood vessels caused by cuts or bruises.

White blood cells (WBCs) help the body fight infections. There are different types of WBCs, which work in slightly different ways.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

It's important to have open and honest communications with your cancer care team. Ask about anything you don’t understand about acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or want to know more about. For instance, consider these questions:

When you're told you have AML

Can you explain to me what AML is? How is it different from other types of leukemia?
What subtype of AML do I have?
Are there any other factors that might affect my prognosis?
Do I need any other tests before we can decide on treatment?
Will I need to see any other types of doctors?

When deciding on a treatment plan

Do you and this medical center have a lot of experience treating AML?
What are my treatment choices?
Should we consider a stem cell transplant? When?
Which treatment do you recommend, and why?
Should I get a second opinion? Can you suggest a doctor or cancer center?
What should I do to be ready for treatment?
How long will treatment last? What will it be like? Where will it be done?
What are the risks and side effects of treatment? How long are they likely to last?
How will treatment affect my daily activities?
What is my prognosis (outlook)?

During and after treatment

Once treatment begins, you’ll need to know what to expect and what to look for. Not all of these questions may apply to you, but getting answers to the ones that do may be helpful.

How will we know if the treatment is working?
What type of follow-up will I need after treatment?
Is there anything I can do to help manage side effects?
What symptoms or side effects should I tell you about right away?
How can I reach you on nights, holidays, or weekends?
Will I be able to return to work? Should I go on disability?
Do I need to eat a special diet during treatment?
Are there any limits on what I can do?
Should I exercise? What should I do, and how often?
Can you suggest a mental health professional I can see if I start to feel overwhelmed, depressed, or distressed?
What would my options be if the treatment isn’t working?
Where can I find more information and support?

Be sure to write down any questions you have that are not on this list. For instance, you might want specific information about expected recovery times or returning to work. Or you might want to ask if you qualify for any clinical trials.

Remembering what the doctor says

It’s hard to remember all of the things you’re told at each doctor’s visit, especially when you’re anxious or afraid.
Even if the doctor carefully explains things, you might not hear or remember all that’s said or shown to you. Here are some ways to help you remember everything your doctor tells you.

Take notes on what your doctor says.
Ask if you can record your talks.
Take a family member or friend with you. Ask them to remind you of questions you want to ask and ask them to take notes, so you can focus on listening and talking directly with the doctor.

Keep in mind that doctors aren’t the only ones who can give you information. Other health care professionals, such as nurses and social workers, might be able to answer some of your questions. You can find out more about speaking with your health care team in The Doctor-Patient Relationship.

Additional Information

Source: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html