Doctors often can’t explain why one person develops leukemia and another person does not. Research has pointed to certain risk factors that can increase a person’s chances of developing this cancer, even though the exact causes are still a mystery.
- Exposure to high levels of radiation. This includes people who have been exposed to nuclear power plant accidents and atomic bomb detonations. This also includes people who have been exposed to extremely high levels of radiation as part of a medical treatment. Most radiation used for diagnosis is a very low level and is not linked to leukemia.
- Exposure to certain chemicals. Working with high levels of benzene (used in the chemical industry) and formaldehyde can increase your risk of leukemia.
- Exposure to certain cancer-fighting drugs. If you have been treated with drugs known as alkylating agents, you may be at a higher risk for developing leukemia.
- Abnormal chromosomes. Down syndrome and other genetic diseases can increase your risk of developing leukemia.
- Human T-cell leukemia virus-I. This is a virus that causes a rare type of chronic lymphocytic leukemia — known as human T-cell leukemia. (This is the kind of leukemia Mr. T had.) Don’t worry about catching leukemia — the virus does not seem to be contagious.
- If you have a blood disease called myelodyspastic syndrome, you may be at a higher risk for developing acute myeloid leukemia.
- Exposure to electromagnetic fields. Past studies have suggested that exposure to low-energy radiation from power lines and electric appliances can increase your risk of leukemia. However, more recent studies show little evidence that exposure to electromagnetic fields increases cancer risk.
Even if you have these risk factors, don’t assume the worst. Many people with known risk factors for leukemia never develop the disease. And many people with no risk factors develop leukemia. The true causes behind this cancer are still unknown.
If you are concerned about your leukemia risk, talk to your doctor about scheduling regular check-ups and cancer screenings.