Reasons For Leukemia

Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cell or bone marrow. It is estimated that 200.000 people are infected every year worldwide and only 10% of them would survive.

 photo credited to: Wikimedia

Leukemia is caused by the abnormalities of the white blood cells. Usually blood dies after their task is done and replaced by the new one that are being produced by the bone marrow. However, the abnormal blood cells doesn’t die after their task is done and they simply grow and multiply themselves. In the end the abnormal blood cells would overcrowd the healthy blood cells making the person sick.

So what reasons can be the cause of leukemia? What can trigger the blood cell to become abnormal? Scientist has been studying this cancer disease for years and they still can’t find the exact cause of it.

Even thought we couldn’t be sure what causes it, we can minimize the risk of getting it by:

 

Stay away from radiation. People that are exposed to high level radiation are more likely to get leukemia.

  • Computer and handphones expose small amount of radiation, even though it is still debate-able if those things contribute to cancer or not it would be best to limit the exposure to those items.
  • Radiation from nuclear bomb emit high radiation and those who live or survive nuclear bomb explosion have higher risk for developing leukemia.
  • X-rays also emit radiation. Exposure for too many times can increase the risk.

Stop smoking. Even though smoking is more related to lung cancer than leukemia, it is said that smoking can also increase the risk of getting acute myeloid leukemia.

Avoid exposure to benzene. It can cause acure chronic myeloid, chronic myeloid leukemia or acute lymphocytic leukemia. Benzene is a chemical compound that are commonly used as intermediate to make other chemical.

Avoid AIDS? Retrovirus that are relative to the AIDS virus that are called HLTV-I can cause abnormalities in the blood DNA and thus create leukemia in your body. HLTV-1 spread just like HIV virus do, so don’t do share needles and always have protected sex.

posted: 11 November 7
under: Medical information

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