Prevention of Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Executive Summary

Studies are still evaluating the factors accountable for causing childhood acute myeloid leukemia, thereby devising ways to prevent these diseases. Since most people having AML don’t have risk factors that can change, there is no way to prevent most cases of AML. Avoiding known cancer-causing chemicals like benzene might lower the risk of developing AML is one of the preventive measures that one should consider. Treating life-threatening cancers with radiation and chemotherapy must be balanced against the slight chance of getting leukaemia years later.

Prevention of Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia

It’s unclear what causes most cases of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Since most people having AML don’t have risk factors to change, there is no way to prevent most cases of AML.

Treating other cancers with chemotherapy or radiation may cause some people secondary (treatment-related) leukaemia. So, doctors are trying to know how to treat these cancers without raising the risk of secondary leukaemia.

Avoiding known cancer-causing chemicals like benzene might lower the risk of developing AML ^​1​. But most experts agree that exposure to environmental and workplace chemicals seems to account for only a tiny portion of leukaemia.

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