2. General Etiology

What is the specific cause of leukemia?

Still not known

Higher incidence of Leukemia in:

1. Radiation

2. Alkylating agents

3. Down Syndrome

4. Genetic predisposition

5. Chemicals

RAD is a Good Cure

People with down syndrome have a __X increased risk of leukemia

10-30

What genetic predisposition may cause leukemia

Families where people are born with chromosomal damage, which causes genes that increase chances of leukemia 

The most common chemical exposure linked to leukemia is___, but other chemicals that may cause leukemia are:

Cigarette smoking

Benzene (from PVC pipes)

Organic chemicals

Give an example of ionizing radiation causing leukemia

atomic bomb survivors & people who get high levels of radiation

Difference between acute leukemia and chronic leukemia

Acute leukemia- arises from stem cells that go bad right away

Chronic leukemia- happens when the stem cell defect is not so prominent, and the disease progresses into chronic leukemia

FYI: If there is a malignant transformation of the immature lymphoid, myeloid cells, and it presents as a cancer right away → acute leukemia

If that defect does not turn into a cancer right away, then the immature cells can develop into mature cells and if they turn cancerous, it’s a chronic leukemia

(acute/chronic) leukemias tend to occur in younger patients

acute

(acute/Chronic) leukemia cells cause more symptoms? Why?

Acute, cuz they are larger and stickier cells

FYI: so you can detect it earlier cuz there are more symptoms