Causes of Leukemia Disease Chronic Lymphatic or CLL
There are different causes of leukemia as there are different types of leukemia. What will be discussed here are risk factors for the chronic lymphatic type. A known major risk factor for chronic lymphatic or CLL is age. A possible cause is your genetic make-up. But some chemicals that are in the environment can also increase risk for the CLL type.
The various causes of leukemia can either start chronic leukemic cells on their own or they can work together to trigger abnormalities in the blood cells of your bone marrow. Immediate treatment is needed if warning signs of leukemia like fever and night sweats are present.
The other types of leukemic cancer also have different risk factors. If you would like to read about them, check out this article: Other Causes of Leukemia
The probable and known causes of CLL leukemic disease are . . .
1. Aging
Human aging is one of the known major causes. In fact, 60 to 70% of leukemic cases develop among adults 55 years old and above. It rarely develops if you're below 40 years of age. The chronic lymphatic type is common among adults and extremely rare among children.
For the type that commonly affects children, see ALL Leukemia.
Damage to your cells accumulate as you age and especially if you indulge in unhealthy habits like smoking. Cigarettes contain plenty of toxic chemicals that can lead to rapid aging of your cells and that can harm your immune system.
2. Chemicals
Exposure to cancer causing agents such as benzene is another one of the probable CLL causes. Benzene is one of the chemicals found in cigarette smoke.
Risk for chronic lymphatic leukemic cells is 20 times more among those who have been exposed to benzene for long periods.
Other chemicals that are known causes of CLL leukemia include . . .
solvents,
dioxin,
styrenes,
butadienes, and
ethylene oxide.
Agricultural chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides are also linked to a higher risk for CLL. But more in-depth studies are recommended to establish the exact connection between the lymphatic type of cancer and chemicals.
3. Family History
CLL is a hereditary type of cancer. If you have a parent or a sibling who had the chronic lymphatic type, you face a greater risk of getting sick with CLL as well.
Awareness of your family history with it is important because many patients diagnosed with it didn't experience any early leukemia symptoms.
4. Gender
Chronic lymphatic leukemic disease occurs more frequently among men than women.
5. Race
CLL disease is found to be more common among Europeans and North Americans compared to Asians. The chronic lymphatic type is a rare cancer in Japan.
6. Genetics
As I have said, your genetic make-up can influence your risk for certain types of leukemic cells.
For instance, the chronic lymphatic type is rare among those of Asian descent but CLL especially common among those that belong to the Jewish race.
Other rare blood disorders such as Bloom's syndrome and Fanconi's anemia are passed on genetically. Bloom's and Fanconi's disorders are also risk factors for chronic lymphatic leukemic cells.
Prevention tip: Phytochemicals called saponins are very effective in killing leukemic cells. A huge amount of Phytochemicals is one of the benefits of a healthy vegetarian diet.
