Causes
Although there are no known causes of leukemia, there are risk factors that increases the chance of a person getting the cancer such as:
Benzene
Although it is not known why, benzene increases the count of white blood cells produced in the bone marrow which result in leukemia.
Smoking
Cigarettes contain benzene which increases the count of white blood cells therefore causing leukemia.
Radiation
Radiation can damage cells as it causes mutations in DNA. If the mutation occurs in lymphocytes or myelocyctes, it can give rise to leukemia.
Viral infections such as T-cell lymphoma/leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
Both HTLV-1 and EBV damage lymphocytes, HTLV-1 particularly damages T-cells, which can give rise to lymphocytic cancer.
Benzene
Although it is not known why, benzene increases the count of white blood cells produced in the bone marrow which result in leukemia.
Smoking
Cigarettes contain benzene which increases the count of white blood cells therefore causing leukemia.
Radiation
Radiation can damage cells as it causes mutations in DNA. If the mutation occurs in lymphocytes or myelocyctes, it can give rise to leukemia.
Viral infections such as T-cell lymphoma/leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
Both HTLV-1 and EBV damage lymphocytes, HTLV-1 particularly damages T-cells, which can give rise to lymphocytic cancer.