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When a serviceman in Ohio developed a conceited puffiness on his fundament , he think it was just a especially painful and obstinate bug morsel . So he was stunned to find out that it was in reality a sign ofleukemia , fit in to news reports .

The human being , 46 - yr - old Mike Balla , first notice the lump on his foot last August , allot toNBC Today . He thought it was a mosquito orspider bite , but presently , it beat magnanimous and more uncomfortable . After pass away to the doctor , he was say the lump was likely an infected bug bite , and treated with antibiotic .

In Brief

But the discussion did n’t seem to work , so he was kick in another antibiotic . When that give out as well , Balla ended up in the emergency room ( ER ) .

Related:5 Weird Effects of Bug insect bite

That ’s when an ER medico came into his room and tell him they were wait for a consult from an oncologist . Balla at first take they had him mixed up with another patient .

A chemotherapy IV infusion

" I said , ' I think you have the untimely soul . I have a collation on my foot that ’s infected , ' " Balla told Today .

But medico told him that descent trial revealed he had acute myeloid leucaemia , a cancer of the bloodline and bone marrow prison cell . It is a apace progressing malignant neoplastic disease that ask quick treatment .

Symptoms can admit fatigue duty , off-white pain , light bruising and hemorrhage and an increase susceptibility to infections , according to theMayo Clinic .

an image of a person with a skin condition showing parasites under their skin

It is rarified for leukemia to bet like a bug bite , Dr. Alice Mims , a hematologist at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center who was n’t involve with Balla ’s caseful , toldPrevention mag . But sometimes , Crab cellular phone can get into the skin and leave in something that see like a germ bite , Prevention reported .

Balla was treated with chemotherapy and a bone marrow organ transplant . He afterwards experienced a cancer relapse , but is now in remittance again , according to astatement from the Cleveland Clinic , where Balla was deal .

Balla now advises man not to put off going to the doctor if they cogitate something might be awry . " The hour it fill to go get a checkup could help prevent months of health problem , " he articulate in the instruction . " You may believe you do n’t have time for that . But it ’s not true . If you do n’t go to the doctor , you may have a much handsome problem . "

Researcher examining cultures in a petri dish, low angle view.

Originally publish onLive Science .

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