What Causes Acute Myeloid Leukemia?

This content has been reviewed and approved by

Hagop M. Kantarjian, MD
Chairman & Professor, Leukemia Department
MD Anderson Cancer Center
University of Texas
 

The causes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are not known. However, certain types of genetic damage do increase the risk of getting the disease. This type of damage to the chromosomes can be caused by exposure to radiation and some chemicals, but it can also happen for no apparent reason. Lifestyle behaviors, such as smoking and poor diet, do not seem to increase the risk of getting AML. In most cases, it is impossible to know what caused someone to develop this disease. 

This content was last modified on August 11, 2007 .
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