Can anemia cause leukemia?
Disease description:
My son was diagnosed with anemia at the hospital, and the doctor only mentioned that his body is too weak. However, I have learned about the symptoms of leukemia, and I am very concerned that it might be caused by leukemia. May I ask, can anemia lead to leukemia?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng
Anemia does not directly cause leukemia. Anemia and leukemia are two distinct disease conditions; although they may coexist in certain situations, anemia itself is not a cause of leukemia.
1. Nature of anemia: Anemia refers to a decrease in the total number of red blood cells below normal levels, characterized by reduced red blood cell content in the blood, but without changes in cell structure.
2. Causes of leukemia: The causes of leukemia are complex and mainly include viral infections, radiation exposure, genetic factors, and chemical influences, which are not directly related to anemia.
3. Relationship between anemia and leukemia: Although individuals with leukemia may exhibit symptoms of anemia, this does not mean that anemia triggers leukemia. Instead, anemia in leukemia patients results from the excessive proliferation of leukemia cells in the bone marrow, which suppresses the production of normal red blood cells.
