Getting diagnosed

Screening for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)

There is no national screening for AML in the UK. This is because there isn’t a test that can pick up AML at an early stage.

What is cancer screening?

Screening means testing people for early stages of a disease. This is before they have any symptoms. For screening to be useful the tests:

need to be reliable at picking up cancers
overall must do more good than harm to people taking part
must be something that people are willing to do

Screening tests are not perfect and have some risks. The screening programme should also be good value for money for the NHS.

Why there isn’t a screening programme for AML in the UK?

There is no national screening programme for AML in the UK at the moment because:

doctors wouldn't find many cancers because it's rare
there is no suitable test to use for AML screening
current tests have risks that outweigh the benefits for most people
the cost of screening would be high

With rare cancers, it is more cost effective to screen people who are thought to be at a higher risk. Talk to your GP if you think you are at a higher than average risk of AML. If your doctor agrees that you are at a higher risk, they may be able to give you regular check ups.

Find out about the risks and causes of AML

For information about AML, you can call the Cancer Research UK information nurses on freephone 0808 800 4040. The lines are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Last reviewed: 27 Sept 2023

Next review due: 27 Sept 2026

Symptoms of AML

Symptoms of AML can include tiredness, breathlessness, high temperature, frequent infections, bruising or bleeding easily and others. Find out more.

Seeing your GP when you have symptoms AML

You usually start by seeing your GP if you have symptoms. Find out what happens and how to get the most out of your appointment.

Referral to a specialist for symptoms of AML

Your GP should arrange for you to have a blood test or see a blood specialist (haematologist) if you have symptoms that could be due to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

Tests for AML

Find out about tests to diagnose acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and other tests you might have through your treatment

What is AML?

AML is a type of blood cancer that starts from young white blood cells in the bone marrow. Find out how common it is and who might get it.

AML main page

AML starts from young white blood cells called granulocytes or monocytes in the bone marrow. Find out about symptoms, how it is diagnosed and treated, and how to cope.