How Can Fanconi Anemia Be Prevented?

Fanconi anemia (FA) is an inherited disease and can't be prevented. If a child receives the same defective genes linked to FA from both parents, he or she will have the disease.

You can prevent certain complications linked to FA. Pneumonia, hepatitis, and chicken pox can occur more often and more severely in people with FA. Make sure you or your child is vaccinated for these diseases.

If you or your child has FA, you're more likely to develop certain cancers than people who don't have FA. These include leukemia (a type of blood cancer), myelodysplastic syndrome (abnormal levels of all three types of blood cells), and liver cancer. Screening and early detection are important to manage these life-threatening diseases.