What happens if you get leukemia

Exposure to benzene: This is a solvent that manufacturers use in some cleaning chemicals and hair dyes. Some genetic conditions: Children with Down syndrome have a third copy of chromosome Another genetic condition with links to leukemia is Li-Fraumeni syndrome. This causes a change to the TP53 gene.

Family history: Having siblings with leukemia can lead to a low but significant risk of leukemia. If a person has an identical twin with leukemia, they have a 1 in 5 chance of having the cancer themselves.

Inherited problems with the immune system: Certain inherited immune conditions increase the risk of both severe infections and leukemia. These include:. Immune suppression: Childhood leukemia may develop due to the deliberate suppression of the immune system.

This might occur following an organ transplant as a child takes medications to prevent their body from rejecting the organ.

In acute leukemia, developing cells multiply quickly and collect in the marrow and blood. They exit the bone marrow too early and are not functional. Chronic leukemia progresses more slowly. It allows for the production of more mature, useful cells.

Lymphocytic leukemia occurs if cancerous changes affect the type of bone marrow that makes lymphocytes. A lymphocyte is a white blood cell that plays a role in the immune system. Myelogenous leukemia happens when the changes affect bone marrow cells that produce blood cells, rather than the blood cells themselves.

Children under 5 years old are at the highest risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia ALL. However, It can also affect adults, typically over the age of 50 years. Out of every five deaths from ALL, four occur in adults. Read more about ALL. This is most common among adults over 55 years, but younger adults can also develop it. It is more common in men than in women and rarely affects children.

Learn more about CLL here. Acute myelogenous leukemia AML is more common in adults than in children, but overall, it is a rare cancer. It develops more often in men than in women.

It develops quickly, and symptoms include fever , difficulty breathing, and pain in the joints. Environmental factors can trigger this type.

Here, learn more about AML. Chronic myelogenous leukemia CML mostly develops in adults. Children rarely develop this type of leukemia. Treatment options will depend on the type of leukemia a person has, their age, and their overall state of health. The primary treatment for leukemia is chemotherapy.

A cancer care team will tailor this to suit the type of leukemia. Watchful waiting: A doctor may not actively treat slower growing leukemias, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia CLL. Chemotherapy: A doctor administers medications intravenously IV , using either a drip or a needle.

These target and kill cancer cells. However, they can also damage noncancerous cells and cause severe side effects, including hair loss , weight loss, and nausea. Chemotherapy is the primary treatment for AML. Sometimes, doctors may recommend a bone marrow transplant. At Moffitt Cancer Center, we know that leukemia affects patients on more than just a clinical level. Living with cancer can take an emotional toll and present unique challenges that can be difficult to overcome without professional help.

Working together, our experts provide individualized and highly specialized care in one convenient location. Contact Moffitt at or submit a new patient registration form online if you would like to receive a second opinion or discuss your treatment options with an oncologist in our leukemia program. A referral is not required to visit Moffitt. Please call for support from a Moffitt representative.

New Patients and Healthcare Professionals can submit an online form by selecting the appropriate buttonbelow. Existing patients can call Click here for a current list of insurances accepted at Moffitt. Moffit now offers Virtual Visits for patients. It is essential to remember that support is available for everyone from a wide range of sources, including:. A doctor : Asking questions about leukemia, its symptoms, treatment options, stages, and survival rates can help a person understand their condition.

Friends and family : Friends and family can provide intimate and emotional support. They can also help a person with everyday tasks that may become too difficult due to leukemia symptoms or treatment. Support groups : These groups are helpful for meeting other people who can offer advice and support from their own lived experience or expertise. Support groups exist for both people with leukemia and their loved ones.

Charities : Organizations, such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society , are dedicated to providing support to people with a cancer diagnosis. There may also be local charities and online resources that can help a person understand and manage their condition. Individuals with leukemia may have higher levels of uric acid. Learn more about the link between the two here.

There are various tests that can help doctors diagnose leukemia. Learn more. A person can try natural remedies and alternative treatments to help ease the symptoms of leukemia and the side effects of treatment.

Learn more here. There are no foods that can cure or prevent leukemia, but a balanced diet is recommended. What to know about leukemia survival rates.