All the systems of the human body are intricately connected with each other. The digestive system, the respiratory system and the circulatory system in particular have to work in perfect harmony for proper assimilation and growth. When there is an excess of white blood cells, the RBC count automatically falls. Along with it falls the ability of the body to respire and digest food. Thus, a patient of acute myeloid leukemia loses all appetite. There is no hunger and therefore, weight loss is inevitable. In the beginning, this weight loss may seem and feel good but in course of time, it gets dangerous.

Acute myeloid leukemia also exhibits with the symptoms of arthritis or gout. While these conditions are caused by the accumulation of urate crystals in between the joints and the connective tissues, the joint pains in AML are due to the accumulation of the white blood cells in the above mentioned spaces. The joints get sore and there is a severe pain. In extreme cases, the joints may even seem to be grating against each other. All the joints get affected and the pain is not localized.

The excess white blood cells produced are on a constant lookout for space where they can lodge themselves. And they cause edema and swellings wherever they get lodged. An so, one sees an AML patient suffering from an enlarged spleen. In contrast to acute lymphoblastic anemia, there is no swelling of the lymph nodes. However, AML patients may experience swollen and painful gums which occur due to the infiltration of leukemic cells into the gum tissue. Chloromas, which are solid leukemic masses or tumors outside the bone marrow, also occur in later stages of acute myeloid leukemia.

It is very easy to understand how anemia becomes a symptom of acute myeloid leukemia. The marrow is over populated with the white blood cells. They even populate the blood stream. Thus, there is a drastic reduction in the other blood cells. When the RBC count falls, the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood also falls. Anemia is the result. This anemia causes improper oxygenation and respiration in the body. So, a patient of AML can often be seen getting breathless and feeling very tired too. The slightest of activities seem to become very tough tasks.

This is a condition that seems similar to that of a highly diabetic patient. The smallest of the wounds seem to bleed a lot. And even a tiny scratch will leave a bruise that will take a very long time to heal. Healing and clotting of blood need fibrin generating cells to be present in the blood. Else, there is no clotting. Since the whole blood volume is filled with myeloid cells, the white blood cells in particular, the body loses its ability to repair and heal the wounds and injuries.

This is one of the foremost symptoms of acute myeloid leukemia. Infections may seem as strange symptoms because the cancer in itself is about the over production of the white blood cells (WBCs) which are capable of fighting infection. The WBCs produced by this cancerous growth are immature. Thus, they are absolutely incapable of fighting infections. Since all these white blood cells are leukemic the patient has reduced immunity as a result. This will also exhibit as unexplained fevers that last for a very long time. These fevers will be both, consistent and persistent.