Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the white blood cells, which are the cells in the blood that fight infections. There are two main types of white blood cells-lymphoid cells and myeloid cells. ALL affects the lymphoid cells.

Some of the common symptoms of ALL include:

• Fever
• Fatigue and excessive sleep patterns
• Frequent infections
• Swollen or tender lymph nodes, liver, or spleen
• Paleness or pallor
• Easy bleeding or bruising
• Tiny red spots under the skin
• Bone or joint pain and paralysis
• Painful swelling in the lower extremities (edema)
• Extreme headaches

Like all blood cells, leukemia cells travel through the bloodstream. Depending on the number of cancer cells and where these cells collect, patients with ALL may have a number of symptoms. Patients with ALL frequently have low amounts of healthy red blood cells and platelets. With low red blood cells (a condition called anemia) patients may look pale and feel weak and tired just like altitude sickness. When there are not enough platelets, patients bleed and bruise easily. The cancer cells may also collect in the brain or spinal cord, also called the central nervous system (CNS). The result may be headaches with or without vomiting.

Much of this information was collected from an article released by the National Cancer Institute. For more information about ALL and other forms of Leukemia and other cancers, please visit the following site: www.cancer.gov.