Introduction

Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells, usually the white blood cells. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the second most common form of leukemia. An estimated 13,290 cases of AML will be diagnosed in the United States in 2008, according to the American Cancer Society. Most people with AML are older adults and the disease is more common in men than in women. Acute myeloid leukemia is also known as AML, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute myoblastic leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, and acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside bones where blood cells are made. AML occurs when the bone marrow makes too many unformed cells called blasts. Blasts normally become white blood cells that fight infection. But in AML, the blasts do not develop and cannot fight infection. Large numbers of these defective cells collect in bone marrow and blood.

AML is an “acute” leukemia because the increase in abnormal cells caused by AML can occur rapidly, in just days or weeks. These abnormal “leukemia cells” crowd out the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets (blood cells that help make blood clot) that the body needs. People with AML have trouble fighting infection and they might have frequent fevers. Low numbers of red blood cells can lead to anemia, or feeling tired or weak. Low numbers of platelets can cause easy bleeding and bruising. People with many leukemia cells may feel pain in the bones or joints.

In most cases, it is impossible to know what caused someone to develop AML. However, certain types of genetic damage do increase the risk of getting the disease. This type of damage to genes can be caused by exposure to radiation and some chemicals. However, it can also happen for no apparent reason. Lifestyle behaviors, such as smoking and poor diet, do not seem to increase the risk of getting AML.