Causes of acute myeloid leukaemia

Who is more likely to get acute myeloid leukaemia

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is rare, but anyone can get it.

It's not always clear what causes it.

You might be more likely to get it if:

• you're aged 60 or older – your risk of getting it increases as you age
• you have a genetic condition such as Down's syndrome
• you have another kind of blood disorder such as chronic myeloid leukaemia
• you have an autoimmune condition such as rheumatoid arthritis
• you've had chemotherapy or radiotherapy in the past, especially when you were a child
• you've been regularly exposed to high levels of a chemical called benzene – this is more likely in some industries, such as oil refineries
• you smoke