Question

Case Scenario: A cancer patient, in hospice, has been diagnosed with leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. His hemoglobin is low and symptoms include fatigue, disorientation, and lack of family interaction. As the hospice nurse assesses the patient, she looks at recent labs and daily intake. She has asked the family to give in detail this patient’s daily activities, his pain, and sleep habits.

2. Question: Using the concept of anemia, describe three possible causes for the symptoms exhibited in this patient. Include specific data, facts, examples, and key terminology drawn from the textbook and at least one other supplemental source in your response.

Answer 1

Anemia is a condition in which patient may lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the body's tissues.

1. Because of the decreased RBC count the patient is developed thrombocytopenia.
2. Lack of red blood cells or dysfunctional red blood cells in the body leads to reduced oxygen flow to the body's organs. Which results in fatigue.
3. Blood cell (RBC) deficiency and cancer cell growth can leads to bone marrow depression. Which may results in Leukopenia.
4. Cancer patients’ red blood cells destroy faster than normal and are not replaced as quickly as they are needed. Cancer can slow down the body’s ability to make red blood cells or interfere with body’s ability to used stored iron. Hence cancer may make the patient more prone to becoming anemic.