haem Flashcards
what are the 2 main types of leukaemia?
acute myeloid leukaemia
acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
the acute leukaemia present with signs of what?
bone marrow failure
define neutropaenia
low neutrophil count in the blood
what is thrombocytopaenia?
condition characterized by abnormally low levels of thrombocytes (aka platelets) in the blood
what are signs of bone marrow failure? (3)
anaemia
neutropaenia
thrombocytopaenia
what are the additional signs of acute leukaemia?
high temp
weight loss
sweats
bony pains
headaches
seziures
swelling of lymph glands
list some risk factors of acute leukaemia?
radiation
benzene
smoking
prior blood disorders
genetic conds eg DW
previous chemo/radio
diagnosis of acute leukaemia is mainly based on what?
more than 20% blasts on bone marrow exam
taking which blood test may be all it takes to diagnose leukaemia?
FBC
what does AML stand for?
acute myeloid leukaemia
what is AML?
a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes abnormal myeloblasts (type of WBC), RBC or platelets
what is AML a cancer of
the blood n bone marrow
AML can develop from which cells?
myeloid stem cell or myeloid blast
how can AML be diagnosed?
blood tests or bone marrow aspirate/trephine biopsy
how can AML be treated?
chemotherapy supportive measures
what are some symptoms of lymphomas?
LN enlargement
loss of appetite
loss of weight
night sweats
what are signs of lymphoma?
LN enlargement
hepatosplenomegaly
what are some investigations of lymphoma?
biopsy
blood tests
scan
bone marrow biopsy
what is LN?
lymph node
define lymphoma
a malignant growth of WBC (predominantly in lymph nodes) but also can be in blood/bone marrow, liver, spleen
cancer affecting blood/bone marrow = ?
leukaemia
cancer affecting blood cells = ?
lymphoma
how are lymphomas diagnosed?
blood film n bone marrow or lymph node biopsy (diagnosis is complex)
how do u assess bloods of a lymphoma patient
fbc
u&es
LFT
viral serology (HIV, hep B, hep C)
what are the 2 types of lymphoma
hodgkin’s
NHL
what are the types of NHL
low grade
high grade
v high grade
how can we quantify cancer patients’ general well-being and activities of daily life?
(WHO) performance status
why is performance status used?
to determine whether patient can receive chemotherapy, whether dose adjustment is necessary, and as a measure for the required intensity of palliative care
what are the different categories of performance status?
0 - asymptomatic
1 - symptomatic but completely ambulatory
2 - symptomatic, <50% in bed during the day
3- symptomatic, >50% in bed, but not bed bound
4 - bedbound
5 - death
what is stage 0 of the WHO performance status?
asymptomatic
what is stage 1 of the WHO performance status?
symptomatic but completely ambulatory (restricted strenuous activity but able to carry out work of a light nature)
what is stage 2 of the WHO performance status?
symptomatic, <50% in bed during the day (ambulatory and capable of all self care but unable to carry out any work activities. up n about for more than 50% of waking hrs)
what is stage 3 of the WHO performance status?
symptomatic, >50% in bed, but not bedbound (limited self-care, confined to bed or chair 50%+ of waking hrs)
what is stage 4 of the WHO performance status?
bedbound (cannot carry on any self-care. totally confined to bed or chair)
what is stage 5 of the WHO performance status?
death :/
how many clinical stages in Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
4
what is diff btwn A and B Hodgkin’s lymphoma
A = absence of symptoms
B = presence of ‘B’ symptoms
how do u treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
depends on clinical stage
what are some late effects of Hodgkin’s lymphoma
infertility
second cancers
psych issues
drug side effects
what is non-hodgkin’s lmyphoma like?
more varied
more categories