Leukemia
Leukemia is a cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. There were 487,294 new leukemia diagnoses worldwide in 2022.1 It’s estimated that 66,890 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed in 2025.2 There are different types of leukemia that are defined by whether they’re fast growing (acute) or slow growing (chronic), and whether it begins in myeloid or lymphoid cells. These include acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).3
In Western countries, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is the most frequent type of leukemia, accounting for 25% of cases. Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) accounts for 20% of leukemia cases, and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) makes up 20% of cases.2
A few risk factors for leukemia include4, 5, 6, 7
- Age: ~ 90% of people with CLL are >50, and the average age at diagnosis is 70. ALL is more likely to occur in children <5 and adults >50. The average of people with AML is 69 and 64 in people with CML.
- Sex: Leukemia is more common in men than women.
- Race/Ethnicity: ALL and CLL are more common in White people.
- Family History: This is a risk factor for AML, CLL, and ALL.
- Certain Blood Disorders: For AML specifically, if you have chronic myeloproliferative disorders such as polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and idiopathic myelofibrosis, increase risk of AML. Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) may later develop into AML.
- Genetic Syndromes: If you have Fanconi anemia, Bloom syndrome, ataxia-telangiectasia, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, or Down syndrome, your risk for AML and ALL is increased. Your risk for AML risk is also increased if you have Diamond-Blackfan anemia, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, severe congenital neutropenia (Kostmann syndrome), or Trisomy 8. Klinefelter syndrome can raise your risk of ALL.
- Smoking: This increases your risk of developing AML.
- Radiation Exposure
- Exposure to Certain Chemicals: Long term exposure to benzene and certain chemotherapy drugs can increase your risk for both AML and ALL, while exposure to Agent Orange and radon can increase your risk for CLL.
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