Possible Risk Factors Associated With Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
- People who have undergone chemotherapy and radiation treatments for other cancer types are at higher risk of AML, but a majority of these patients will not be diagnosed
- Familial predisposition is an emerging risk factor associated with AML, which may be a factor in up to 10% of leukemias
Dr. Gail Roboz, a noted AML expert and medical oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, provided her perspective to SurvivorNet about risk factors associated with an AML diagnosis. According to Dr. Roboz, patients who have undergone chemotherapy and radiation for other forms of cancer can be at increased risk of AML, and she encourages all patients to let their doctors know about prior cancer treatments. However, she notes that AML is a rare disease and a majority of cancer patients will not be diagnosed. Dr. Roboz also points out that exposure to organic solvents, such as benzene, are associated with AML, but the association isn’t necessarily clear, and doesn’t affect treatment options overall.
Read MoreRecognizing Symptoms Of AML
As AML is a diagnosis which is often not on the radar for people, and screening tests have not been found helpful in detecting early signs of AML, people should be aware of early signs.
Dr. Roboz tells SurvivorNet that common symptoms of AML include unexplained bruising, shortness of breath, fatigue, or infection. In some cases, symptoms may not present themselves at all, and individuals find out about a possible AML diagnosis during a regular health evaluation. Symptoms of AML can present themselves as a common diseases such as the flu, and AML spreads quickly, so it’s important to let physicians know about them as soon as possible.
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