A risk factor is something that increases a person's chance of getting a disease. Some risk factors, like smoking, can be controlled. Others, such as a person's age, can't be changed. But risk factors don't tell us everything. Having a risk factor, or even many risk factors, does not mean that you will get the disease. And many people who get the disease do not have any known risk factors. Even if a person has a risk factor and gets cancer, it is often very hard to know how much that risk factor may have contributed to the cancer.

Risk factors for chronic lymphocytic leukemia

There are very few known risk factors for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Certain chemical exposures: Exposure to Agent Orange, an herbicide used during the Vietnam War, has been linked to an increased risk of CLL. Some studies suggest that farming and long-term exposure to pesticides may be linked to an increased risk of CLL, too. More research in this area is needed.

Family history: First-degree relatives (parents, siblings, or children) of CLL patients have an increased risk for this cancer.

Gender: CLL is slightly more common in men than women, although the reasons for this are not known.

Race/ethnicity: CLL is more common in North America and Europe than in Asia.

There are no other proven risk factors for CLL. The risk of getting CLL does not seem to be affected by smoking, diet, radiation, or infections.

Can chronic lymphocytic leukemia be prevented?

Although many types of cancer can be prevented by lifestyle changes to avoid certain risk factors, there are no known risk factors for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that a person can change. So right now there is no way to prevent CLL.

Last Medical Review: 08/13/2009
Last Revised: 08/13/2009