Chronic myelogenous leukemia

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Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Factors that increase the risk of chronic myelogenous leukemia:

  • Older age
  • Being male
  • Radiation exposure, such as radiation therapy for certain types of cancer

Family history is not a risk factor
The chromosome mutation that leads to chronic myelogenous leukemia isn't passed from parents to offspring. This mutation is believed to be acquired, meaning it develops after birth.

References
  1. Chronic myelogenous leukemia. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/cml.pdf. Accessed Sept. 11, 2008.
  2. Chronic myelogenous leukemia treatment (PDQ) patient version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/CML/patient/allpages/patient. Accessed Sept. 11, 2008.
  3. Chronic myelogenous leukemia and related disorders: An overview. In: Lichtman MA, et al. Williams Hematology. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2148618. Accessed Sept. 11, 2008.
  4. Leukemia - chronic myeloid - CML. Cancer.Net. http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Leukemia+-+Chronic+Myeloid+-+CML. Accessed Sept. 17, 2008.
  5. Integrative medicine and complementary and alternative therapies as part of blood cancer care. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/attachments/National/br_1150734030.pdf. Accessed Sept. 17, 2008.
  6. Questions about treatment. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/graphics/National/Allquestionsworksheets/QuestionsabouttreatmentPS172R.pdf. Accessed Sept. 16, 2008.
  7. Kantarjian H, et al. Chronic myeloid leukemia. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:2279-2291.
  8. SEER stat fact sheets - chronic myeloid leukemia. Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/cmyl.html. Accessed Sept. 19, 2008.
  9. Tasignia (prescribing information). East Hanover, N.J.: Novartis; 2007.
  10. Gleevec (prescribing information). East Hanover, N.J.: Novartis; 2007.
  11. Sprycel (prescribing information). Princeton, N.J.: Bristol-Myers Squibb; 2007.

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Nov. 13, 2008

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