This is due to the varying ways to acquire leukemia, usually it is found to be a genetic factor in almost all four forms of leukemia, and however other factors can also cause leukemia to develop in both newborns and adults. The causes of ALL in children and adults include; being exposed to x-rays prior to being born, previous chemotherapy treatments, and having certain genetic conditions such as Down syndrome, Shwachman syndrome, Bloom syndrome, Ataxia-telangiectasia (Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®) 1). Causes associated with the diagnosis of AML include; smoking (mainly after the age of 60), previous rounds of chemotherapy, a previous diagnoses and treatment for childhood ALL, being exposed to nuclear radiation, as well as having a genetic blood disorder (Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®) 1). ALL and AML share similar causes as ALL can precede AML if the patient has been previously diagnosed with the former. On the other hand the contributing factors to the diagnosis of CLL include being of Eastern Jewish heritage, and or Russian Jewish heritage as well as a history of CLL in the patient’s family. Males tend to be diagnosed more often than females, this is also affected by their race (Caucasian males are more frequently affected than other races), as well as age when being diagnosed (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®) 1). CML …show more content…
However even though medical research is funded heavily, it is not recession proof as evidenced by the NIH’s report on the Estimates of Funding for Various Research, Condition, and Disease Categories (RCDC) in which it shows not only that leukemia received low funding, but also that it was some of the lowest funding in years. Other cancers that are currently being researched have significant amounts of money from both the government as well as the charities that contribute to the search for various cures. An example of this would be breast cancer which not only received $559,172,103 from the government but also received $58 million in donations from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in the fiscal year of 2012 (Guided By Hope 2011-2012 Annual Report 4). Although cancer is important in all forms that it occurs the amount of money provided for a specific type of cancer should not completely over shadow another form of cancer, as they are equally important not only for the patients of various types of cancers but also future patients that may be