What are the causes of myelodysplastic syndromes?
The use of DNA-damaging drugs, exposure to radiation, and contact with benzene are all possible causes of MDS, aplastic anemia, and acute myelogenous leukemia. DNA-damaging drugs include those used to treat breast, ovarian, or other types of cancer. Radiation exposure may occur during treatment for lymphoma. The people most likely to come into contact with benzene are those who work in industrial settings. Although benzene is more strictly regulated now than before its cancer-causing properties were known, exposure to benzene still accounts for some new cases of MDS, aplastic anemia, and leukemia.
