Leukemia is a cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. Although, many types of leukemia exist, some are quite common in children yet they also occur in adults.

Leukemia develops when the DNA in blood cells changes or mutates, creating an inability to control growth and division. Sometimes these mutated cells escape the immune system and grow out of control, crowding out healthy cells in the bloodstream.

What exactly causes leukemia? Unlike other types of cancer, a clear cause of leukemia is relatively unknown making it to be unpreventable, but there are some factors that can trigger it. People who have it have certain unusual chromosomes, yet ironically the chromosomes does not cause leukemia. However, some risk factors have been identified that could increase an individual’s risk of having it, and they include:

Age: Although leukemia can be down streamed to different ages, but it is more common among children and young adults with an average age of 15 years.

Certain Blood Disorders: Some blood disorders such as polycythemia vera, idiopathic myelofibrosis and essential thrombocytopenia can increase the risk of developing leukemia especially acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).

Family History of Leukemia: According to past research on leukemia, it has shown that leukemia does not necessarily have any family trait. But that does not debunk that when certain close family members such as one’s nuclear family, aunt and/or uncle are diagnosed with leukemia, an individual may have an increased risk of having leukemia.

Gender: Men are more likely than woman to develop leukemia. Although this fact remains rather unexplainable, yet it could be as a result of a sex-determined linked to the ABO blood groups.

Genetic Disorders: Genetic disorders or congenital syndromes including Down syndrome, Fanconi anemia, Bloom syndrome, ataxia-telangiectasia and Blackfan-Diamond syndrome seem to create a dysfunctional part in the body system that could lead to leukemia.

Smoking: Although the effect of smoking is not a direct cause of leukemia, yet it can increase the risk of developing acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)

Radiation: People who are exposed or lives around low energy radiation from electromagnetic fields such as power lines are at an increased risk of developing leukemia especially Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) than others who don’t. Also exposure to high-energy radiation such as atomic bomb can also cause a reaction to the body system.

Exposure to Certain Chemicals: Long-term exposure to certain pesticides or industrial chemicals like benzene is considered a risk for leukemia.

Previous Cancer Treatment: People who have undergone some type of cancer treatment plans such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy needs to get themselves screened for a leukemia possibility.