“What causes a child to develop leukemia?”
My 12 year old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. What causes a child to develop leukemia?
3 Answers
Hematologist-OncologistHematologist-Oncologist
Acute leukemia in a child happens because of genetic mutations. Hopefully she will do well with treatment.
Hello. You are asking a very important question. All of us who are parents fear when our children develop serious illnesses. Many times, all that can be done is to consult an expert physician and understand and take their advice regarding treatment. Pediatric leukemia is a cancer of the blood-producing organs in which abnormal clones of these cells overgrow the blood producing bone marrow material. Some forms grow abnormally in lymph nodes or other organs in the body and produce symptoms related to abnormal functions of the involved organs. I am assuming that you have consulted an expert pediatric hematologist for consultation and advice.
Good references available online include the Guidelines published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN.org). Look under guidelines for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (adult and pediatric) and Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. The discussion published at the end of the guidelines provides much information, much of which is medical in nature. Another article online is authored by Martin Belson. (Https://dci.org/10.1289/wha.9023). This is data from the Center For Disease Control (CEDC) and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health in Atlanta, GA. The article in entitled “Risk Factors for Acute Leukemia in Childhood: A Review. January, 2007.
This article is a review of data looking at various risk factors for leukemia development in children and young adults. Of many risk factors, only exposure to ionizing or non-ionizing radiation has been implicated. Other risk factors have not been found to be statistically valid.
Good references available online include the Guidelines published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN.org). Look under guidelines for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (adult and pediatric) and Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. The discussion published at the end of the guidelines provides much information, much of which is medical in nature. Another article online is authored by Martin Belson. (Https://dci.org/10.1289/wha.9023). This is data from the Center For Disease Control (CEDC) and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health in Atlanta, GA. The article in entitled “Risk Factors for Acute Leukemia in Childhood: A Review. January, 2007.
This article is a review of data looking at various risk factors for leukemia development in children and young adults. Of many risk factors, only exposure to ionizing or non-ionizing radiation has been implicated. Other risk factors have not been found to be statistically valid.
While a few leukemia cases may be related to bone marrow damage from radiation or drugs the majority of the causes are not known.
