Leukemia Flashcards
What is leukemia?
- a type of cancer
- there is proliferation of malignant leukocytes
- malignant leukocytes appear in circulation, can infiltrate tissues also
What are the four classifications of leukemia?
1) acute lymphocytic
2) chronic lymphocytic
3) acute myelogenous
4) chronic myelogenous
What does the lymphocytic classification of leukemia refer to?
affects lymphoctyes
What does the myelogenous classification of leukemia refer to?
affects the monocytes and granulocytes (eosinophils, neutrophils, basophils)
What does the term acute mean in relation to leukemia?
the cancer is usually more aggressive and usually affects more immature (blast) cells
What does the term chronic mean in relation to leukemia?
the cancer is usually less aggressive (you will live longer) and affects mature cells
What causes leukemia?
a mutated gene but we don’t know which one… idiopathic
What are the risk factors for leukemia?
- 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)
Does leukemia affect the production of non-malignant blood cells? If yes, why and what affect would this have?
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.
What are the manifestations of leukemia?
- 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
Who does leukemia often affect?
leukemia is the most common cancer in children and young adults
How is leukemia treated?
- 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
What are the phases involved in the treatment of leukemia?
1) induction - elicit remission
2) intensification - further reduce leukemic cells after remission achieved
3) maintenance - maintain remission, decrease dose