Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, is a rare form of leukemia in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphoblasts (a type of immature white blood cell).
Every person’s disease is different, with individually unique genes and molecules driving that disorder. At the OSUCCC – James, our Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia specialists and subspecialists are world-renowned experts who focus solely on blood and bone marrow disorders and who reach across multiple medical disciplines (hematologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, molecular and biological pathologists, genetic scientists and more) to design the very best treatment plan and therapies to target each patient’s specific leukemia.
And by receiving access to the country’s most advanced clinical trials right here at the OSUCCC – James, patients know that additional options, when needed, are always available for their treatment and care.
What Is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia?
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a rare form of leukemia in which too many bone marrow stem cells become a certain kind of white blood cell called lymphoblasts.
When too many lymphoblasts develop, they become leukemia cells (also known as blasts). These leukemia cells do not fight infection as well as normal white blood cells do, and as the number of leukemia cells increases in the blood and bone marrow, there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets to grow. This can cause low blood counts that lead to infection, anemia and easy bleeding.
Each year, about 6,000 new cases of ALL are diagnosed in the United States. Children under five years old are at highest risk for the disease, and boys and men are at slightly higher risk for ALL than girls and women.
If you’ve been diagnosed with leukemia, would like a second opinion or would like to speak with a leukemia specialist, please call The James Line at 800-293-5066 or 614-293-5066 to make an appointment.
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Symptoms
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can progress quickly if it is not detected and treated. The disease may spread to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
ALL symptoms include:
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Shortness of breath
- Unusual or easy bleeding or bruising
- Unexplained loss of appetite or weight loss
- Bone or stomach pain
- Frequent infections
- Tiny, dark red spots under the skin
- A feeling of pain or fullness below the ribs
ALL patients are prone to infections too, so when designing a targeted treatment plan for each patient, the OSUCCC – James experts will weigh a number of factors, including whether or not the patient has low blood cell counts (called cytopenia) that cause anemia or other problems. Learn more about Acute lymphoblastic leukemia prevention.
Having symptoms does not necessarily mean you have ALL. But if you have symptoms, you should tell your doctor, especially if symptoms are severe or have continued for longer than a few weeks.
If you’ve been diagnosed with leukemia, would like a second opinion or would like to speak with a leukemia specialist, please call The James Line at 800-293-5066 or 614-293-5066 to make an appointment.
Related Resources
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Risk Factors
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Screening and Diagnosis