“Can leukemia be genetic?”
My brother had leukemia when he was a child, but the cancer went into remission. Now, he's 28 years old, and his wife is about to have a family history. But now her OBGYN is saying that, because my brother had leukemia, there is a slight chance that he could pass down the gene. Is leukemia genetic? If it is, is there a chance that his child wouldn't have it?
2 Answers
What is the type of Leukemia?
Hereditary leukemia
About 5–10% of leukemia cases are linked to an inherited genetic disorder. These disorders can cause different types of leukemia, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphoblastic leukemia (CLL), and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
Hereditary leukemia
About 5–10% of leukemia cases are linked to an inherited genetic disorder. These disorders can cause different types of leukemia, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphoblastic leukemia (CLL), and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
If you brother's leukemia was not linked to a genetic disease, the risk to his child would be negligible. If linked to a genetic disorder the nature of the disorder will determine the risk for his unborn child.
