Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

AML develops when genetic changes occur in developing blood cells inside the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue inside your bones where blood cells are made. These changes cause abnormal cells to grow quickly and prevent them from developing into healthy blood cells that help fight infection, carry oxygen and control bleeding.

As abnormal cells continue multiplying, they begin taking up space in the bone marrow and bloodstream. This further lowers the body’s ability to produce healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Anyone can develop AML, but certain factors may increase a person’s risk, including:

• Older age
• Smoking
• Previous chemotherapy or radiation treatment
• Frequent exposure to certain chemicals, including benzene
• Certain blood disorders such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
• Some inherited genetic conditions like Down syndrome, Fanconi anemia, Bloom syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, ataxia-telangiectasia and more
• A family history of blood cancers

Having one or more risk factors does not mean someone will develop AML. Some people diagnosed with AML may not have any known risk factors.

Some AML symptoms can appear mild at first and may be easy to overlook, but they can worsen quickly without treatment. As the body’s ability to produce healthy blood cells becomes limited, a wide range of symptoms can develop that may signal an AML diagnosis, such as:

• Fatigue or weakness
• Fever
• Frequent infections
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Shortness of breath
• Pale skin
• Bone or joint pain
• Small red, purple, or brown spots (depending on skin tone), under the skin called petechiae.

Learn more about early warning signs and symptoms of AML

Although AML is more common in older adults, children can also develop the disease. Pediatric AML differs from AML in adults in several ways, including:

• How the disease behaves
• How treatment plans are developed
• How side effects may impact a growing child

Children diagnosed with AML are treated by specialized pediatric cancer care teams that understand the unique physical and emotional needs of children and families navigating treatment.

Learn more about pediatric AML

An AML diagnosis can feel overwhelming, especially because treatment begins quickly after diagnosis. Treatment plans are specialized based on factors such as AML subtype, overall health and how the disease responds to initial therapy.

If you’ve been diagnosed with AML, your care team will explain your treatment options and help you determine the best path forward for your individual situation.

For most patients, the AML treatment options include chemotherapy, a blood or marrow transplant (BMT) or clinical trials.

Learn more about AML treatment options

Chemotherapy uses powerful medicines to destroy leukemia cells and help the body return to producing healthy blood cells. It is often one of the first treatments used for AML and often begins soon after diagnosis.

For many people, chemotherapy is used to help achieve remission, meaning there are no visible signs of leukemia in the body. Chemotherapy may also be used before or after other treatments, including blood or marrow transplant.

If a patient needs blood stem cells from an unrelated donor, their medical team works with NMDP^SM to access a network of donor registries worldwide to find the right donor. NMDP also provides educational resources, support services and guidance at no cost to  patients, their families and caregivers throughout the transplant journey.

Discover how NMDP helps patients affected by AML navigate blood and marrow transplant.

Clinical trials and research collaborations like CIBMTR® (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research®) help scientists discover new treatments and improve existing therapies for AML. Some clinical trials explore new medicines, while others focus on improving treatment outcomes or reducing side effects.

Participation in a clinical trial is always voluntary, and patient safety is closely monitored throughout the process. Depending on a person’s diagnosis and treatment response, clinical trials may be an option at different stages of care.

NMDP’s Patient Support Center can help patients living with AML better understand available clinical trial options and eligibility requirements.

NMDP helps patients and their families navigate an AML diagnosis by:

• Answering questions about your AML diagnosis
• Helping you understand treatment options
• Offering counseling and emotional support through the NMDP Patient and Caregiver Emotional Support program
• Helping patients plan for costs and access financial assistance
• Providing access to free educational resources like fact sheets, booklets and videos
• Answering questions about the transplant process
• Helping you find and join clinical trials
• Connecting you with others who have been through transplant for AML

Having as much information as possible will help you and your doctor make the best treatment decisions for your individual diagnosis. The resources listed below can help you feel confident that you’re making an informed decision about your health care.

✔  Medically reviewed by Dekozlymn Anderson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C 
NMDP Patient Support Center 
Page last medically reviewed: 6/26/2026