leukemia ❤

Leukocytosis is defined as

an increase in leukocytes that are in circulation

Leukocytes

aka white blood cells that fight infection

Patho of leukocytosis is

unregulated proliferation of leukocytes in the bone marrow because of this increase that leaves little room for normal cell production

Leukemia is the

cancer of white blood cells

Causes of leukemia include

exposure to radiation or chemicals + certain genetic disorders + viral infection known to increase the chances of leukemia

Types of leukemia are associated with the stem cell line that is involved. give an example.

lymphoid stem cells that produce lymphocytes or myeloid refers to stem cells that produce nonlymphoid blood cells

Leukemia can also be classified as

acute vs chronic

Acute leukemia s/s can be

abrupt + cells may be undifferentiated or blasts that can progress rapidly with death occurring within weeks to months without progressive t/x

Chronic leukemia s/s can be

symptoms evolve over months to years + majority of leukocytes are mature that progresses more slowly

Acute Myeloid Leukemia

most common form and where most deaths occur! can affect any age group but avg age to get diagnosed is 68 y/o

Risk factors for Acute Myeloid Leukemia include

advanced age + males + chemicals such as pesticides + h/x of past chemo t/x + tobacco smoke + genetic disorders such as down syndrome and blood disorders

Acute Myeloid Leukemia s/s

anemia + thrombocytopenia (low platelets) + neutropenia (low neutrophils) + impairment of neutrophils, basophils and eosinophils + pain of enlarged liver or spleen + hyperplasia of gums + bone marrow pain from expansion of the bone marrow

So lets say the patient is experiencing s/s of thrombocytopenia. What symptoms or lab results would you expect?

would expect pt to exhibit signs of spontaneous bleeding and easy bruising. Expected lab results will explicitly show a low platelet count, while symptoms range from mild mucosal or skin bleeding to life-threatening internal hemorrhaging depending on the severity of the drop in platelets.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia t/x

chemotherapy + allogeneic stem cell transplant

Allogeneic stem cell transplant is

a transplant that replaces a patient's diseased or damaged bone marrow with healthy blood-forming stem cells from a donor

Acute Myeloid Leukemia complications include

bleeding and infection

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

a slow-growing blood cancer where the bone marrow produces too many abnormal white blood cells primarily mature cells that are affected and some immature

Risk Factors for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia include

advanced age + chemicals such as pesticides + h/x of past chemo t/x + tobacco smoke + exposure to high doses of radiation

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia s/s

fatigue + anemia + dyspnea + weight loss

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia t/x

tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKI) MOA

Imatinib (Gleevec) that works to block the signals that are causing the cell growth in body

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia 

an aggressive blood cancer that causes the bone marrow to produce too many immature white blood cells (lymphoblasts)

Risk Factors of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia include

mostly found in children with an average diagnosing age of 15y/o + h/x of chemo or radiation + certain genetic conditions

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia is typically found on

routine labs or physical

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia t/x

chemo and corticosteroids

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

a slow-growing cancer that affects white blood cells called lymphocytes. It is generally not curable, it progresses slowly, but many patients can live for years without needing treatment

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia typically occurs in

older adults with an average diagnosing age of 71y/o + family disposition + veterans that were in the vietnam war that were exposed to agent orange a herbicide

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia s/s

typically asymptomatic

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is typically diagnosed on

routine labs or physical + but they may have enlarged liver or spleen

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia t/x

chemo

Nursing interventions for all types of leukemia include

managing leukocytosis + improving nutritional intake + easing pain and discomfort + decreasing fatigue + activity tolerance + maintaining f/e balance + improving self care + managing anxiety and grief + encouraging spiritual well being + promoting home care