Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) symptoms and tests
AML can cause lots of different symptoms, but not everyone will get all of them. There are several tests to diagnose AML and to help doctors plan treatment.
Funding information
The following pharmaceutical companies and charitable organisations helped fund this information, but had no influence over it: Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Incyte, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Kyowa Kirin, Roche, Sobi UK, The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Steel Charitable Trust and The Grace Trust.
Symptoms of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
There are many possible symptoms of AML, but not everyone will get every symptom. Many AML symptoms are caused by not having enough healthy blood cells of each type.
Tests for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
If your doctor thinks you might have AML, you’ll have several tests to confirm whether you have AML or not. If you’re diagnosed with AML, you’ll have further tests to help plan the right treatment for you.
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If you have questions or worries, ask a blood cancer nurse. Our specialist nurses can help you make sense of things. So you can talk to your hospital team with confidence.
This information about AML is accredited with the PIF TICK, the UK's only quality mark for trusted health information.
Last full review April 2026. Next full review due April 2029. We may make factual updates to the information between reviews.
We would like to thank Consultant Haematologist Dr Richard Dillon for checking the clinical accuracy of this information, and Advanced Nurse Practitioner Kirsty Crozier for her guidance and support. Thank you also to Anna, Bav, Graeme, Yvonne, Josh, Marie, Rebecca and Stephen for supporting this project and sharing their experience of living with AML.