Risk factors for different types of cancer are those traits that increase the likelihood that an individual will develop disease. Risk factors include certain kinds of behavior, such as smoking, inherited (genetic) traits, and exposure to cancer-causing agents in the environment. The few known risk factors for myelodysplastic syndrome are outlined below.
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People who have received previous chemotherapy treatment for cancer have an increased risk of developing MDS, as chemotherapeutic agents and radiation therapy target rapidly dividing cells, such as those of the bone marrow. These agents can cause mutations (or changes) in a cell's DNA that may lead to later malignancies, including MDS and leukemia. When chemotherapeutic drugs are combined with radiation therapy, a patient's level of risk of developing MDS and leukemia is heightened.
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People who are exposed to high levels of benzene or radiation over long periods of time are also at greater risk of developing MDS.
The majority of people who develop MDS have no identifiable risk factors. Scientists do know that many cases of MDS are associated with specific gene mutations, but in most cases it is not clear what causes those mutations. MDS is not one disease but a syndrome, and it is likely that there are many different underlying genetic causes of MDS.
