Leukemia

Question 1

What is leukemia?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What are the four classifications of leukemia?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What does the lymphocytic classification of leukemia refer to?

Answer 3

affects lymphoctyes

Question 4

What does the myelogenous classification of leukemia refer to?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What does the term acute mean in relation to leukemia?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What does the term chronic mean in relation to leukemia?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What causes leukemia?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What are the risk factors for leukemia?

Answer 8

• 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)

Question 9

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

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

What are the manifestations of leukemia?

Answer 10

• 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

Question 11

Who does leukemia often affect?

Answer 11

leukemia is the most common cancer in children and young adults

Question 12

How is leukemia treated?

Answer 12

• 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

Question 13

What are the phases involved in the treatment of leukemia?

Answer 13

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