Can anybody point me to articles about theories on possible causes of AML, like microwave ovens?

Hi:

This is the National Cancer Institute page on causes, potential risks. They do not have an article specific to AML.
http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancer_information/list.aspx?viewid=1fd2529d-0e23-4395-979a-9ec071172f06

However, our doctors [our child had AML, now fine] mentioned the following:

1- benzene and derivatives [gasoline, diesel and other petroleum based products]
2- pesticides, insecticides, herbicides
3- dry cleaning compounds
4- some aldehydes, esp. formaldehyde [used extensively in bio/chem labs]
5- viruses, esp. Epstein-Barr, SV40

In older people, another risk factor or cause is a form of chronic or aplastic anemia, which usually converts to CML, but which can also occasionally show up as AML.

As far as electromagnetic, microwave and electrical fields go - epidemiology suggests that strong and/or prolonged exposure can cause DNA change/damage. Unlike x-rays where the wave lengths and exposures have been compiled and documented, there is still not enough data to determine which wave lengths at what exposures for how long and when [age of subject at time of exposure]. Check the CDC Web site, they're the body officially responsible for tracking this type of information. The FDA and EPA also monitor and report on suspected carcinogens.

Most AML is caused by deletion and/or translocation of certain parts of the DNA on any of about 4 different chromosomes. This can happen spontaneously or be induced. There are several AML subtypes, with some considered more likely to be spontaneous errors, while others more likely to have been induced.

All of the above is for primary AML. Approximately 15% of people who've been treated for cancer before are at risk of developing AML - this would then be a secondary cancer. And, according to available data, occurs about 15+ years later. [Treatment, usually requiring a bone marrow transplant, would be the same as for primary AML.]

The reason this [secondary AML] happens is that most past and current cancer therapy relies on chemo and radiation. Chemo drugs are very toxic and most work by targeting specific processes or cellular structures. Often this means altering those processes or structures at the biochemical level. Since chemo drugs are specifically designed to work on fast-reproducing cells [one of the hallmarks of a cancer], this means it also affects other fast-reproducing cells i.e. bone marrow, hair follicles, corneal cells, sperm, ova, skin etc.

Radiation works somewhat differently but with a similar result. Nearby cells get dosed with high levels of radiation which increases the probability of an undesirable deletion, transposition or other change to the DNA.

Other online journals/resources - check Oncolink [U.Penn.], Nature, Science, Annals of Oncology. There's a lot of research on AML in Japan, so check there in addition to US, Canada, UK, Europe and Australia sources.

I'm not a doctor, so some of my understanding of this may be off or out-of-date.

Hope this helps,
Jay

Thank you so much for the information Jay Tor. My family just can't figure out how my sister, 41 YOA, could be exposed to whatever caused her AML, yet not do the same thing to her husband and daughter (8 yoa). The microwave came up as a possibility b/c she is the primary user of it.

Suggest you visit ACOR [association of cancer online resources], a not-for-profit resource for cancer patients and their families that has email support groups for various cancers, including AML/ALL, BMT and GVHD.

The major U.S. hospitals/centres that have the best online patient information resources for cancer, esp. AML include Johns Hopkins, Fred Hutchison, M.D. Anderson and U. Penn [Oncolink].

Best of luck to you and your family,
Jay

My husband was stricken with AML when he was 55 years old. He was an active and strong man that had never been ill or hospitalized for anything major. He went to France and when he came back he came down with systems that was like the flu. When he finally went into emergency (after a week) they rushed him into critical care. He had a stem cell transplant which did not work ( the cancer cells returned) Then they said he had to have a bone marrow transplant to survive. He had the transplant and had many complications from it. The chemo and radiation left his lungs severly scarred and he has kidney problems as well. He has been bed ridden for years and to add to to it, he fell and broke his hip which had to be replaced. He has gone down hill every since. In fact, he is now in intensive care with severe infections of his lungs, fluid on lungs, kidney problems and on a resperator to breath. His white cell count is at 20, and they have given him six blood transfusions within the last firve days. I know he is tired of fighting and he deserves some peace. He survived each time he had infections. The doctors gave him little chance to survive, however he has outlived all of their predictions. I hope any of you who have AML or have a reletive with it to hang in there. They have better drugs now then they had in 1996. Unfortunately, the drugs they gave him cured him of the AML (past 5 years)however the drugs destroyed his lungs. Good luck and God Bless to all. It will be a tough road to hoe.