Acute myelogenous leukemia

• Fever
• Weight loss
• Bone pain
• Lethargy and fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Pale skin
• Frequent infections
• Easy bruising
• Unusual bleeding, such as frequent nosebleeds and bleeding from the gums

Causes

Acute myelogenous leukemia is caused by damage to the DNA of developing cells in your bone marrow. When this happens, blood cell production goes awry. The bone marrow produces immature cells that develop into leukemic white blood cells called myeloblasts. These abnormal cells are unable to function properly, and they can build up and crowd out healthy cells.

It's not clear what causes the DNA mutations that lead to leukemia. Radiation, exposure to certain chemicals and some chemotherapy drugs may play a role. It's believed that most cases of acute myelogenous leukemia aren't inherited.

What are the Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of acute myelogenous leukemia include:

• Increasing age. Acute myelogenous leukemia is most common in adults age 60 and older.
• Your sex. Men are more likely to develop acute myelogenous leukemia than are women.
• Previous cancer treatment. People who've had certain types of chemotherapy and radiation therapy or treatment for childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) may have a greater risk of developing AML.
• Exposure to radiation. People exposed to very high levels of radiation, such as survivors of an atomic bomb blast or a nuclear reactor accident, have an increased risk of developing AML.
• Dangerous chemical exposure. Exposure to certain chemicals, such as benzene — which is found in unleaded gasoline and used by the chemical industry — also is linked to greater risk of AML.
• Smoking. AML is linked to cigarette smoke, which contains benzene and other known cancer-causing chemicals.
• Other blood disorders. People who've had another blood disorder, such as myelodysplasia, polycythemia vera or thrombocythemia, are at greater risk of developing AML.
• Genetic disorders. Certain genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome, are associated with an increased risk of AML.

Treatments and drugs

Treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia depends on several factors, including the subtype of the disease, your age, your overall health and your preferences. In general, treatment falls into two phases:

• Remission induction therapy. The purpose of the first phase of treatment is to kill the leukemia cells in your blood and bone marrow. However, remission induction usually doesn't wipe out all of the leukemia cells, so you need further treatment to prevent the disease from returning.
• Consolidation therapy. Also called post-remission therapy, maintenance therapy or intensification, this phase of treatment is aimed at destroying the remaining leukemia cells. It's considered crucial to decreasing the risk of relapse.

Therapies used in these phases include:

• Chemotherapy.  Chemotherapy is the major form of remission induction therapy, though it can also be used for consolidation therapy. Chemotherapy uses chemicals to kill cancer cells in your body. People with AML generally stay in the hospital during chemotherapy treatments because the drugs destroy many normal blood cells in the process of killing leukemia cells. If the first cycle of chemotherapy doesn't cause remission, it can be repeated.
• Other drug therapy. Arsenic trioxide (Trisenox) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) are anti-cancer drugs that can be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy for remission induction of a certain subtype of AML called promyelocytic leukemia. These drugs cause leukemia cells with a specific gene mutation to mature and die, or to stop dividing.
• Stem cell transplant. Stem cell transplant, also called bone marrow transplant, may be used for consolidation therapy. Stem cell transplant helps re-establish healthy stem cells by replacing unhealthy bone marrow with leukemia-free stem cells that will regenerate healthy bone marrow. Prior to a stem cell transplant, you receive very high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy to destroy your leukemia-producing bone marrow. Then you receive infusions of stem cells from a compatible donor (allogeneic transplant). You can also receive your own stem cells (autologous transplant) if you were previously in remission and had your healthy stem cells removed and stored for a future transplant.
• Clinical trials. Some people with leukemia choose to enroll in clinical trials to try experimental treatments or new combinations of known therapies.

Coping 

Acute myelogenous leukemia is an aggressive form of cancer that typically demands quick decision making. That leaves people with a new diagnosis faced with important decisions about a disease they don't yet understand. Here are some tips for coping:

Learn enough to make decisions about your care. The term "leukemia" can be confusing because it refers to a group of cancers that aren't all that similar except for the fact that they affect the bone marrow and blood. You can waste a lot of time researching information that doesn't apply to your kind of leukemia. To avoid that, ask your doctor to write down as much information about your specific disease as possible. Then narrow your search for information accordingly.

Lean on family and friends. It can be tough to talk about your diagnosis, and you'll likely get a range of reactions when you share the news. But talking about your diagnosis can be helpful. So can the outpouring of practical help that often results.

Take care of yourself. It's easy to get caught up in the tests, treatments and procedures of therapy. But it's important to take care of yourself, not just the cancer. Try to make time for yoga, gardening, cooking or other favorite diversions.

References:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/acute-myelogenous-leukemia/DS00548

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/adultAML/Patient/page1

http://bethematch.org/Patient/Disease_and_Treatment/About_Your_Disease/AML/Acute_Myelogenous_Leukemia_(AML).aspx

http://www.webmd.com/cancer/acute-myeloid-leukemia-symptoms-treatments

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Leukaemiaacutemyeloid/AML.aspx

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/leukemia-acutemyeloidaml/

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/acutemyeloidleukemia.html