Anemia is a condition in which your body does not make enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and carry oxygen throughout your body. When your red blood cells are very low, your organs and body tissues don't get enough oxygen and can't function properly. This is what causes the symptoms of anemia, such as headaches and fatigue. Your doctor will monitor your blood counts with regular blood tests, and prescribe transfusions and medications to increase your red blood cell count if needed.

Neutropenia is a shortage of neutrophils, a specific type of white blood cell that destroys bacteria and protects you from infection and disease. Neutropenia can increase your risk for infection, because there are not enough bacteria fighting cells in your body. Your doctor will closely monitor your condition with routine blood tests and can prescribe medication to increase your white blood cells if needed.

Thrombocytopenia is a disorder in which your body does not make enough blood platelets. Platelets stop bleeding by helping your body form clots on your wounds. A low platelet count may cause easy bruising or bleeding as well as cause petechiae, which are small red spots on your skin. Your doctor will closely monitor your platelets with routine blood tests.

Your spleen is an organ above your stomach that is a part of your lymphatic system and filters your blood. The spleen's functions include storing your white blood cells and platelets and recycling old red blood cells. In leukemia, the malignant blast cells may accumulate in your spleen, causing it to swell and enlarge. An enlarged spleen may take up space in your abdomen and give you a feeling of fullness and discomfort. In severe cases, if your swelling is out of control and your spleen is in danger of rupturing, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove your spleen (splenectomy).

Thrombocytosis is a condition in which your body makes excess platelets. The average platelet range is 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter. People with thrombocytosis may have anywhere from 500,000 to over 1,000,000 platelets per microliter. Often, a high platelet count does not cause any signs or symptoms. Thrombocytosis may be caused by infection or inflammation of body tissues. A splenectomy (removal of the spleen) carries an increased risk of thrombocytosis, because the spleen plays a major role in regulating and storing your platelets. When the spleen is removed, there will be more platelets in your blood. Thrombocytosis is a serious and life-threatening condition that may lead to a stroke or heart attack. Your doctor will closely monitor your platelets with routine blood tests.

White blood cells are less flexible than red blood cells, but are normally found in the blood in small amounts. In leukemia, an extremely high number of white blood cells can build up in your capillaries and impair normal circulatory function, preventing your red blood cells from transporting oxygen to your organs. Malignant white blood cells are even bigger than normal white blood cells and can make this problem even worse. In severe cases, leukostasis can lead to a stroke, and must be treated immediately with leukapheresis or induction chemotherapy.

Leukemia cells can build up in your bone marrow and create pressure inside your bones, causing bone and joint pain. Bone pain most often occurs in the long bones of the arms and legs, and may later develop into joint pain or swelling. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication if your pain is bad enough. Here are some other things you can do to manage bone pain from leukemia.