Possible Risk Factors for Acute Myeloid Leukemia

By National Cancer Institute
 

Smoking, previous chemotherapy treatment, and exposure to radiation may affect the risk of developing adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Possible risk factors for AML include the following:

  • Being male.
  • Smoking, especially after age 60.
  • Having had treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy in the past.
  • Having had treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the past.
  • Being exposed to atomic bomb radiation or the chemical benzene.
  • Having a history of a blood disorder such as myelodysplastic syndrome.
This content was last modified on August 11, 2007 .
Latest Acute Myeloid Leukemia News
Sparing leukemia patients from unnecessary chemo

July 29, 2008 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Nearly one-third of leukemia patients do not respond to chemotherapy, but this is not typically discovered until they have already endured a week-long course of chemotherapy and waited even longer to see if the chemotherapy worked.

Nexavar shows promise in acute myeloid leukemia

January 30, 2008 — CHICAGO (Reuters) - The kidney cancer pill Nexava, know generically as sorafenib, has shown promise in treating a small number of people with a type of blood cancer known as acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

Leukemia in Down's kids linked to parental factors

December 20, 2007 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - There appears to be a relationship between infertility or infertility treatments in the parents and a risk of developing acute leukemia in children with Down's syndrome, researchers report.

Select news items provided by Reuters Health