Risk Factors
A risk factor is a characteristic, behavior, or condition that increases the possibility of getting a disease. Here are some risk factors for developing ALL:
Gender
Males are at a slightly greater risk for ALL than females.
Race
Caucasian are at a slightly greater risk for ALL than African-Americans.
Chemical Exposure
Exposure to certain industrial chemicals may increase your risk for ALL.
Radiation Exposure
You are at high-risk for developing ALL if you have ever been exposed to nuclear radiation from an accident.
Previous Chemotherapy
You may be at an increased risk for ALL if you have ever been treated with chemotherapy in the past. Certain chemotherapy drugs used to treat other cancers have been linked with the development of ALL.
Inherited Syndromes
Certain inherited syndromes like Down syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, Fanconi anemia, and Bloom syndrome have genetic abnormalities that may increase your risk for ALL.
Viral Infections
Certain viral infections like the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and the human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) may increase your risk for ALL.
