Causes of Leukemia

Researchers have not yet identified the exact causes of leukemia; however, research has shown that there are certain risk factors for leukemia. While these risk factors increase a person's chances of developing the disease, they are not causes of leukemia. Examples of risk factors for leukemia include being exposed to very high levels of radiation (such as those associated with an atom bomb explosion), receiving chemotherapy, and having Down syndrome.

 

Causes of Leukemia: An Introduction

No one knows the exact causes of leukemia, and doctors can seldom explain why one person will get this disease and another person will not. However, leukemia research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop leukemia. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of developing a disease.
 

Causes of Leukemia: Know the Risk Factors

 
  • Exposure to very high levels of radiation
  • Working with certain chemicals
  • Receiving chemotherapy
  • Having Down syndrome and other genetic conditions
  • Having human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1)
  • Having myelodysplastic syndrome.
 
Exposure to Very High Levels of Radiation
People who are exposed to very high levels of radiation are much more likely than others to develop leukemia.
 
Very high levels of radiation can be caused by:
 
  • Atomic bomb explosions (such as those in Japan during World War II)
  • Nuclear power plant accidents (such as the Chernobyl accident in 1986)
  • Medical treatment that uses radiation.
 
However, radiation that is used for diagnostic purposes exposes people to much lower levels of radiation and is not linked to leukemia.
(Causes of Leukemia Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD