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

ALL (Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia) is a cancer of lymphoid line and there will be development of large number of immature lymphocytes and this condition progresses rapidly and typically fatal if left untreated.

1) what is leukemia.?

Leukemia simply means blood cancer i.e, cancer of blood forming tissues including bone marrow.

How did his son catch it.?

The exact cause of leukemia is unknown. Many genetic and environmental factors play a role, i.e, genitically predisposed to this condition if anyone in the family had suffered this and many environmental factors like exposure to radiation, some chemicals like benzene etc can also cause genetic mutations which leads to abnormal proliferation of cells.

How would nurse address this question.?

Nurse should sensitively deliver the information regarding this condition. She should honestly tell him regarding the whole condition in a way that allows them to maintain hope. A nurse should also tell that whenever a child is diagnosed with cancer parents paly an important role in helping a child to continue to live a fulfilling and comfortable life despite the ill condition. A nurse can give hope by telling the fact that survival rate for this condition have increased from 10% in 1980 to around 90% in 2015 in children

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