Can Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Be Prevented?

It’s not clear what causes most cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Many people with AML don’t have risk factors that can be changed.

Some people might have been treated for other cancers with chemotherapy or radiation that may cause secondary (treatment-related) AML. Doctors are trying to figure out how to treat these cancers without raising the risk of secondary AML.

But for now, the obvious benefits of treating life-threatening cancers with chemotherapy and radiation must be balanced against the small chance of getting leukemia years later. But for AML not caused by a cancer treatment, there might be some things you can do to help lower your risk.

Avoid smoking

Smoking is by far the biggest controllable risk factor for AML, and quitting offers the best chance to reduce a person’s risk of AML. People who don't smoke are also much less likely to develop many other cancers, as well as heart disease, stroke, and some other diseases, than people who do.

Avoid exposure to cancer-causing chemicals

Avoiding known cancer-causing chemicals, such as benzene and formaldehyde, might lower the risk of getting AML. But overall, exposure to workplace and environmental chemicals seems to account for only a small portion of leukemias.