The NHS has issued a warning to the public that appearing "pale" could warrant a visit to your GP if this is not typical for you or if it occurs alongside other concerning symptoms. According to the NHS' information page on acute myeloid leukaemia, this condition "progresses quickly and aggressively, and usually requires immediate treatment."

Health professionalsexplain that acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is categorised based on which white blood cells are affected. The primary categories of white blood cells include monocytes and granulocytes, originating from myeloid stem cells, and lymphocytes, which develop from lymphoid stem cells.

Although AML predominantly affects people aged over 75, it remains a relatively uncommon form of cancer, with approximately 3,100 people receiving this diagnosis annually across the UK. But when should you see a GP?

What signs and symptoms should I look out for?

Symptoms tend to "develop over a few weeks and become worse over time."

Symptoms can include:

• feeling tired or weak


• breathlessness


• frequent infections


• unusual and frequent bruising or bleeding, such as bleeding gums or nosebleeds


• losing weight without trying to


• having a high temperature, or feeling hot, cold or shivery


• night sweats


• easily bruised skin


• flat red or purple spots on the skin


• bone and joint pain


• a feeling of fullness or discomfort in your tummy


• swollen glands in your neck, armpit or groin that may be sore when you touch them

Urging people to make an appointment with their GP if they, or their child, has "possible symptoms of AML" it stressed that whilst it's "highly unlikely that leukaemia is the cause, these symptoms should be investigated."

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Diagnosis

If your GP thinks you may have leukaemia, they may arrange blood tests to check your blood cells. If the tests suggest there is a problem, you will be referred to a specialist in treating blood conditions (haematologist) for further tests and treatment urgently.

What causes it?

It's not clear what the cause it. The NHS noted that in many cases, they find "no identifiable cause." However, there are some things that can increase your risk of getting AML, including:

• previous chemotherapy or radiotherapy


• exposure to very high levels of radiation (including previous radiotherapy treatment)


• smoking and other exposure to benzene, a chemical used in manufacturing that's also found in cigarette smoke


• having a blood disorder or some genetic conditions, such as Down's syndrome