Question

I. Read Chapters 40 to 43 from your Textbook

II. NCLEX REview Questions Chapters 40 to 43 from Evolve Resources

III. Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

A father brings in his 3-year-old son, James, who was initially running a fever. He was given Tylenol, and the fever went away for 2 days. Now, however, the fever is back, and he has noted dark spots on his body and a lump in his armpit. He has been lethargic and has not wanted to eat for the last 24 hours. The physician suspects acute lymphocytic leukemia and has ordered blood chemistry studies, immunophenotyping, and bone marrow aspiration and biopsy.

The father is upset and wants to know what is leukemia and how did his son catch it? How would the nurse address this question?

The nurse arranges to have laboratory tests drawn and schedules the immunophenotyping and bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. Discuss the importance of these tests.?

Is there a possibility that leukemia has spread in the body?

What treatments are available for leukemia?

Answer 1

The nurse can explain about the leukemia to his father. Compassionately tell him what is leukemia is. It is a type of blood cancer that occurs due to uncontrolled proliferation of white blood cells. The reason by which somebody get this disease are due to hereditary factors, environmental factors etc. Console the father that the leukemia in children between the ages of 1 and 5 years are mostly curable.

Complete blood count may show leukocytosis (WBCs >50000/mm3) .Immunophenotype will determine the type leukemia. Bone marrow aspiration biopsy will confirm the type of leukemia whether is lymphoid variety or myeloid variety.

There is a chance of spread of leukemia. It can spread to meninges and brain, sometimes to testes.

The treatment options are mainly chemotherapy and radiotherapy and bone marrow transplant. The chemotherapy is given with L aspartate, vincristine.Intrathecal therapy for meningeal spread. Radiotherapy can also be used. Bone marrow transplant has better results if Chemotherapy fails to cure the disease.