Causes of leukemia. What leads to disease?
Leukemia blood cancer is the disease. Put simply, a cancerous tumor that appear in the bone marrow, which is responsible for the formation of new blood cells. There is a mutation of one of the cells, which instead of turning into a Mature white blood cell turns into a cancer cell. Abnormal cell ceases to perform its function and begins to divide uncontrollably. The number of cancer cells increases, they start to crowd normal. Most often with leukemia children and the elderly.
Where does leukemia?
Scientists have long known that exposure to radiation can cause gene mutations and contribute to the development of leukemia. The largest percentage of morbidity, especially among children, in those areas, which are located in close proximity to a nuclear power plant. Nuclear experts claim that the process of generating electricity in this way is absolutely safe, but the numbers the incidence of leukaemia is relentless.
Even such simple and familiar diagnostic procedure like x-rays if she was subjected to a pregnant woman, increases a child's risk of developing blood cancer by half.
So, one of the causes of leukemia is considered to be contaminated. It may be near the plants for the processing of nuclear raw materials, nuclear waste near nuclear plants, as well as accidents in these industries or power stations, in diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
Causes or risk factors?
Not all people exposed to the negative effects, get blood cancer. Sick some other oncological diseases, some remain healthy. Why is this happening? The fact that irradiation, like other effects on the body, it is not the cause of the disease, but only a factor that increases the risk of developing it. Themselves directly the cause of leukemia, that is what causes cells to mutate, unknown. Scientists determined the risk factors.
Other negative factors:
- Smoking,
- Exposure to chemicals,
- Chemotherapy
- Viral infection
- T-cell virus
- Down Syndrome
- Genetic predisposition.
Smoking not always causes the development of leukemia, but among smokers as among those who work in hazardous occupations, far more patients. Among the harmful chemicals most strongly influenced by benzene and formaldehyde. Chemotherapy over other cancer education too can cause mutation in cells of the bone marrow.
With regard to infectious diseases, the picture is quite contradictory. On the one hand, they train the immune system, especially in children. Clash infection stimulates the body resistance and strengthening the immune system. On the other weakens it and contributes to the development of diseases, including leukemia.
Genetic predisposition is normally expressed in the fact that in previous generations was suffering from leukemia. In such families the risk is four times higher than normal. The genes are transmitted mutations that cause the disease. This genetic disorder, like down's syndrome, too, in some cases accompanied by the development of leukemia.
One of the causes of disease leukemia is considered to be T-lymphotropic virus human type 1. This virus directly causes the disease. It enters the body through infected blood during blood transfusions, through infected needles during injections, sexually transmitted. However, the presence of the virus in the body does not mean the development of the disease: only about 5% of those infected actually get sick. T-lymphotropic virus belongs to the same family as the AIDS virus, but it is much less contagious.
Thus,to trigger the development of leukemia may be many factors. It was found that practically healthy people not at risk of developing oncological diseases, because mutations occur in the initially weakened body. In the case of blood cancer the risk factors most often transmitted to the child from the mother in utero. Unfortunately, not all women are aware of their role and responsibility in shaping healthy generation. And it is from their behavior and attention depend on the health of the unborn child.