Customer question:
I suspect I have leukemia - how long can it go undetected while it progresses? Anonymous customer's question
Pharmacist's answer:
How long leukemia can remain undetected while it develops depends on several factors, including the type of leukemia, the stage of disease progression, the presence of symptoms, and other individual factors.
Some types of leukemia, especially acute leukemia, can develop quickly and cause symptoms in a relatively short, late period. Acute leukemia usually affects younger people, including children and young adults. Symptoms of acute leukemia, such as fatigue, paleness, frequent infections, bruising, and bone and joint pain, usually appear within a few weeks or months.
Chronic forms of leukemia, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), however, tend to develop more slowly - and in some cases, they even go without symptoms (in the earlier stages). People with chronic leukemia are often diagnosed with the disease during a routine medical examination or blood tests for entirely different reasons.
It is important to emphasize that the presence of symptoms or signs of leukemia can indicate the development of the disease, but some people discover it even without apparent symptoms. Therefore, regular health monitoring, medical examinations, and laboratory tests, such as a complete blood count, are crucial for the early detection of leukemia or other health problems.
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