Leukemia Screening & Diagnosis
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Doctors may find chronic leukemia in a routine blood test before symptoms begin. If this happens, or if you have signs or symptoms that suggest leukemia, your AtlantiCare physician or oncologist may recommend one of these common diagnostic options:
- Physical exam: Your doctor will look for physical signs of leukemia, such as pale skin from anemia, swelling of your lymph nodes and/or enlargement of your liver and spleen.
- Blood tests: By looking at a sample of your blood, your doctor can determine if you have abnormal levels of red or white blood cells or platelets — which may suggest leukemia.
- Bone marrow test: Your doctor may recommend a procedure to remove a sample of bone marrow from your hip bone. The bone marrow is removed using a long, thin needle and sent to a laboratory to look for leukemia cells. Specialized tests of your leukemia cells may reveal certain characteristics that are used to determine your treatment options.
Details revealed through analysis in our pathology lab, plus any recommended radiology scans such as CT or MRI, can help us quickly diagnose leukemia or another blood disorder and create a personalized treatment plan.