Week 11 - Leukemia Flashcards
what is leukemia
- group of malignant diseases that affect the blood and blood-forming tissues of the bone marrow, lymph system, and spleen
what is leukemia characterized by
- loss of regulation = accumulation of dysfunctional blood cells in bone marrow & lack of production of normal ones
what does leukemia lead to (3)
- decreased # and function WBC
- decreased plts
- leukemic cells infiltrate organs
what does the infiltration of leukemic cells to organs cause (6)
- splenomegaly
- hepatomegaly
- lymphadenopathy
- bone pain
- meningeal irritation
- oral lesions
what are clinical manifestations of leukemia caused by (2)
- bone marrow failure
- formation of leukemic inflitrates
bone marrow failure w leukemia results from
- overcrowding by abnormal cells
- inadequate production of normal marrow elements
what is used to diagnose leukemia (4)
- bone marrow exam
- peripheral blood evaluation
- CT
- lumbar puncture
what is the goal of collab care for leukemia
- attaining remission
what is included in treatment for leukemia (4)
- chemo (mainstay)
- radiation
- colony stimulating factors
- bone marrow & stem cell transplant
what is included in treatment for leukemia (4)
- chemo (mainstay)
- radiation
- colony stimulating factors
- bone marrow & stem cell transplant
what do colony stimulating factors do? what are 2 examples?
- stimulates the production of blood cells
ex. neupogen, epogen
describe how bone marrow & stem cell transplant works (4)
- bone marrow harvested before chemo/radiation
- pt then received high doses of chemo & radiation –> this leads to eradication of the pt’s hematopoeitic cells
- harvested bone marrow cells are admin to the blood IV w large bore needle (central line) to replace the destroyed marrow
- stem cells rescure the hematopoietic system
what is the goal of bone marrow & stem cell transplantation
- totally eliminate leukemic cells using combo of chemo with or without radiation
how long does it take for new blood cells to develop w bone marrow & stem cell transplant
- 2-4 weeks
what is an allogenic transplants
- obtaining marrow from a donor
