Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
Mobile, Alabama
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, often caused by exposure to toxic chemicals, such as benzene and those used in chemotherapy, or high levels of radiation.
Other names
AML is sometimes referred to as:
- Acute myeloid leukemia
- Acute myeloblastic leukemia
- Acute granulocytic leukemia
- Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia
How AML affects your body
Your blood is produced by your bone marrow. AML causes your bone marrow to produce immature, abnormal white blood cells, interfering with the production of healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and/or platelets.
Without enough healthy white blood cells, your immune system cannot function properly, leaving your vulnerable to infection.
A deficiency of red blood cells is called anemia. Red blood cells carry oxygen, so without enough of them your body is deprived of oxygen making your easily tired and short of breath.
Platelets are necessary for clotting. A shortage of platelets can cause excessive bleeding, easy bruising, and nose bleeds.
Symptoms
AML is often misdiagnosed as common and fairly harmless illnesses such as cold or flu. Sometime no symptoms appear until the disease is advanced. Symptoms include:
- Fever
- Bone pain
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Bruising
- Bleeding
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Weakness abnormal menstrual periods
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Seizures
Benzene
Since the late 1800's there has been a known connection between benzene exposure and AML, yet the highly toxic chemical is still in wide use today. It is even in the unleaded gasoline that most of us use in our cars. Some of the products which contain benzene today include:
- Plastics
- Rubber
- Resins
- Dyes
- Paints
- Detergents
- Pesticides
- Solvents
- Synthetic fibers
- Cigarettes
- Denture adhesives
Long term exposure to benzene greatly increases your rick of developing AML. People who work with benzene are at the highest risk. Workers likely to develop AML include:
- Painters
- Refinery workers
- Gasoline distributors
- Chemical workers
- Rubber workers
- Leather workers
- Diamond workers
- Printers
If you or a loved one lives in Mobile or anywhere in Alabama, and you have developed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), please call or email our injury lawyers today for your free consultation. We'll review your case at no charge and if you do have a benzene exposure claim, we'll help you get the compensation you deserve.