Leukemia Lecture Notes

Overview

• Leukemia is a cancer affecting blood cells and bone marrow.
• Bone marrow produces WBCs, RBCs, platelets.
• Leukemia leads to overproduction of WBCs, crowding out RBCs and platelets.

Pathophysiology

• "Leukemia": "Leuk" = leukocyte (WBC), "emia" = blood.
• Results in low RBCs and platelets due to WBC overproduction.

Main Types of Leukemia

• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): More common in pediatrics.
• Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Signs & Symptoms

• High WBCs
• Low Hemoglobin/Hematocrit (H/H)
• Low Platelets
• Frequent infections
• Fatigue
• Unsteady gait
• Pale pallor
• Bruising, petechiae, easy bleeding
• Weight loss and anorexia
• Bone pain

Diagnostics & Labs

• Bone marrow biopsy: Taken from the posterior iliac crest.
• High WBC count, low RBCs and platelets.

Treatment Options

• Chemotherapy and Radiation: To kill cancer cells.
• Stem Cell Transplant: Reboots bone marrow, like a restart button.
• Doxorubicin: A key chemotherapy drug used.

Clinical Practice

• Private Room: For patients with leukemia, to prevent infection transmission.

Questions (from test prep materials)

• ATI Question: Place a 7-year-old with ALL in a private room to prevent infection.
• HESI Question: Bone marrow biopsy is typically taken from the posterior iliac crest.
• Nurse Assessment: Expect anorexia, petechiae, unsteady gait in leukemia patients.

Additional Notes

• Leukemia treatment may involve multiple approaches to manage the disease and symptoms effectively.
• Importance of protecting leukemia patients from infections due to their compromised immune system.