Can Your Environment Cause Acute Leukemia?

Please Bookmark:

Leukaemia is a type of cancer that affects bone marrow. As a result of being affected with leukaemia, the bone marrow starts forming while blood cells that are not normal. These cells start circulating in the body and weaken immune system. These abnormal white blood cells may start building up in lymph nodes and spleen and can casue swelling. Liver, spinal cord or brain can also be adversely affected by Leukaemia.

Leukaemia is of two types, Acute Leukaemia and Chronic Leukaemia. In Acute Leukaemia cells divide and spread faster than Chronic Leukaemia. Again Acute Leukaemiais of two types.

Acute myeloid leukemia: In Acute Leukaemia lump of cells may get collected outside the bone marrow and it’s called granulocytic sarcoma. These cells can form in any part of patient’s body.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: In this type of Acute Leukaemia mass (lump) of leukemia cells form in the middle of the chest, this area is called mediastinum.

Causes of Acute Leukemia

If in your workplace or residential environment you are exposed to benzene for a long period of time you are likely to develop the risk of Acute Leukemia. Smoking - as researchers have found can double your risk of getting Acute Leukemia. There is benzene in cigarette smoke also which can be a major factor. You can inherit Acute Leukemia from your parents. Down syndrome in children can cause Acute Leukemia. It fan be hereditary but not necessarily so. Its been observed in many cases that people affected with Acute Leukemia had no family history of cancer.

Some studies have shown that people with family history of breast cancer were more likely and at the risk of getting Acute Leukemia. Exposure to electromagnetic field in the work environment and the radiation caused by it can also result in Acute Leukemia. A virus called HTLV-1 is also the cause of rare form of Leukemia. Blood disorders and past history of chemotherapy can also cause Acute Leukemia.

There can be many other causes of Acute Leukemia. Chance is on of them. One can get it by chance also without any family history or blood disorder etc.  All we can do is make an effort to keep away from the likely causes and reduce the risk.