Signs and symptoms
... General signs and symptoms of the early stages of acute lymphocytic leukemia may mimic signs and symptoms of the flu or other common diseases. These include: Fever Weight loss Loss of appetite Weaknes...

Causes
... The cause of acute leukemia is damage to the DNA of developing cells in the bone marrow. Under normal circumstances, your DNA is like a set of instructions for your cells, telling them how and when to...

Risk factors
... Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the most common cancer in children and adolescents. It''s most common in early childhood, peaking between ages 2 and 5, and it affects more boys than girls. In the United...

When to seek medical advice
... Acute leukemia worsens quickly if not treated. See your doctor if you or your child has any signs and symptoms of acute leukemia so that you can act quickly to destroy the cancer before it spreads or ...

Screening and diagnosis
... If you or your child has signs or symptoms of leukemia, blood and bone marrow tests are in order. These tests can determine if you or your child has leukemia, and if so, what kind. There are four main...