Leukemia-What Increases Your Risk Some things can increase your chances of getting leukemia. These things are called risk factors. But many people who get leukemia don't have any of these risk factors. And some people who have risk factors don't get this cancer.

General risk factors for leukemia

• Exposure to high levels of radiation.
• Chemotherapy or radiation used to treat a previous cancer.
• Conditions caused by abnormal chromosomes, such as Down syndrome.

Other risk factors for AML

• Exposure to chemicals, such as benzene and formaldehyde.

Other risk factors for CLL

• Your family history. In some cases, CLL runs in families.
• Being middle-aged or older, male, and white.
• Being infected with a virus known as HTLV-1.

Other risk factors for CML

• Having a gene change (mutation) called the Philadelphia chromosome.

In this article