Leukemia is a cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. It usually involves the white blood cells (WBCs), which are potent infection fighters.
The WBCs normally grow and divide in an orderly way, as your body needs them. But in people with leukemia, the bone marrow produces an excessive amount of abnormal WBCs, which don't function properly.
Early detection of leukemia is key, which can be critical to successful treatment and management. While little is known about what exactly causes leukemia, researchers are learning more about the disease, and hope to establish leukemia prevention guidelines.
The following risk factors can sometimes play a role in the development of leukemia:
Previous cancer treatment
Tobacco
Genetic disorders
Long-term chemical exposure
Family history of leukemia
However, most people with known risk factors don't get leukemia. And many others with leukemia have none of these risk factors.
Although it is not known what exactly causes leukemia, it is always good to take steps to lower your overall risk through lifestyle modification. The following are practical ways to prevent leukemia:
Be a non-smoker
Avoid excessive alcohol intake
Maintain a Body Max Index below 25
Be physically active every day
Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables
Minimize red and processed meat
Avoid breathing in, and long-term contact with benzene and formaldehyde
This Cancer Awareness Month, we hope for more advances in cancer research to improve how the world prevents, detects, diagnoses, treats and survives all forms of cancer, including leukemia and other blood diseases and disorders.
Be informed about leukemia. Scan the LeukemiaQR for timely and relevant information. Visit our EPCALM website to know more about our programs and services: https://www. epcalmfoundation.org.
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