Since over 27,000 adults are diagnosed with leukemia in the United States alone each year, it is a cancer that should be dealt with seriously. There are a few different factors that can influence an adult’s acquiring leukemia versus a child’s developing the disease, although a couple of different types of leukemia can affect both adults and children. There are also a few symptoms that may affect adults differently during the development of the disease.

Different Factors

Studies have shown that a few different factors can influence the development of leukemia in adults that children with the disease may not have been exposed to. For example, adults who smoke are at increased risk for developing leukemia. In fact, over 20 percent of adults diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia have reported themselves as smokers. Another interesting fact about adults and leukemia is that a daily regimen of aspirin may help to cut the risk of adult leukemia in half. This has not been reported with other types of over-the-counter medications.

Adults may also work in fields that could increase their risk of developing leukemia. They may be exposed to radiation or other chemicals like benzene that can increase their risk of leukemia. Adults who have developed leukemia may show similar symptoms to other leukemia patients like weakness, fever, loss of weight and appetite, and fatigue. They may also experience a few symptoms differently depending on the type of leukemia they have. Adults with chronic lymphotic leukemia, which causes large amounts of mature white blood cells to become abnormal, may suffer from swollen spleen or night sweats. This type of leukemia usually affects adults in their 60s and over. Although a complete cure is very rare, the disease usually responds well to long-term treatment. But since a cure is unusual, aggressive treatment is usually not recommended.

Adults can acquire any type of leukemia, while some types are rare in children. Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a disease that affects adults. It causes both immature and mature abnormal white blood cells and can become accelerated to the point of reaching a blast crisis, so called by doctors. Adults diagnosed with leukemia should talk to their doctors about what type they have and whether they should seek aggressive treatment –depending on if the disease is chronic or acute, as adults can have either.