Why Do Leukemia Relapses Occur?
Scientists have not fully understood the underlying mechanisms that lead to a leukemia relapse. Nevertheless, it tends to occur due to certain reasons, such as:
– Cancerous cells may become resistant to the initial treatment.
– The initial treatment did not get rid of all cancerous cells.
– Cancerous cells may have spread to other body parts or was not initially diagnosed.
In addition, certain factors may increase the risk of relapse once you are diagnosed with leukemia. These may include:
– Age: People of different age groups may have different risks of leukemia relapses.
– Blood cell counts: The risk of relapse is higher in those with higher blood cell counts during diagnosis.
– Genetic changes: A major risk factor for leukemia relapse is the presence of certain genetic changes. [8]
