Leukemia Flashcards

1
Q

What is leukemia?

A
  • a type of cancer
  • there is proliferation of malignant leukocytes
  • malignant leukocytes appear in circulation, can infiltrate tissues also
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2
Q

What are the four classifications of leukemia?

A

1) acute lymphocytic
2) chronic lymphocytic
3) acute myelogenous
4) chronic myelogenous

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3
Q

What does the lymphocytic classification of leukemia refer to?

A

affects lymphoctyes

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4
Q

What does the myelogenous classification of leukemia refer to?

A

affects the monocytes and granulocytes (eosinophils, neutrophils, basophils)

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5
Q

What does the term acute mean in relation to leukemia?

A

the cancer is usually more aggressive and usually affects more immature (blast) cells

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6
Q

What does the term chronic mean in relation to leukemia?

A

the cancer is usually less aggressive (you will live longer) and affects mature cells

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7
Q

What causes leukemia?

A

a mutated gene but we don’t know which one… idiopathic

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8
Q

What are the risk factors for leukemia?

A
  • genetic predisposition
  • excessive exposure to radiation (frequent exposure to low dose)
  • immunodeficiency (genetic)
  • T-cell leukemia virus (virus incorporates genome into DNA of host to replicate viral DNA… alters host DNA = mutation)
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9
Q

Does leukemia affect the production of non-malignant blood cells? If yes, why and what affect would this have?

A

Yes! The proliferation of malignant cells takes up space in the bone marrow and also takes up nutrients. This causes impaired immune response due to a decrease in leukocytes and decreased oxygen supply due to decreased erythrocytes.

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10
Q

What are the manifestations of leukemia?

A
  • anemia (reduces oxygen carrying capacity)
  • thrombocytopenia (decreased platelets… problem clotting)
  • leukopenia (decreased leukocytes mean problem with immune response)
  • bleeding gums
  • fever (either from infection from decreased leukocytes, or from rapid proliferation and hypermetabolism of leukemic cells)
  • generalized pain
  • fatigue
  • weakness
  • bruising
  • recurrent infections
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11
Q

Who does leukemia often affect?

A

leukemia is the most common cancer in children and young adults

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12
Q

How is leukemia treated?

A
  • radiation (lots of SE because need to radiate lots of areas… not localized radiation)
  • chemotherapy
  • blood transfusion
  • antimicrobial drugs to deal with recurrent infections or act as prophylaxis
  • colony stimulating factors to enhance the proliferation of normal cells
  • if all else fails… bone marrow transplant
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13
Q

What are the phases involved in the treatment of leukemia?

A

1) induction - elicit remission
2) intensification - further reduce leukemic cells after remission achieved
3) maintenance - maintain remission, decrease dose

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