Definition

It is a group of malignant
disorder, affecting the blood and
blood –forming tissue of the bone
marrow lymph system and spleen.
The word Leukemia comes from
the Greek leukos which means
"white" and aima which means
"blood".
The stem cells are committed to
produce specific types of blood
cells. Lymphoid stem cells produce
either T or B lymphocytes.
Myeloid stem cells differentiate
into three broad cell types:
RBCs, WBCs, and platelets.
Function of the bone marrow
The bone marrow is found in the inside of
bones. The marrow in the large bones of
adults produces blood cells. Approximately
4% of our total bodyweight consists of bone
marrow.

There are two types of bone marrow:

 1. Red marrow, made up mainly of myeloid
tissue.
 2. Yellow marrow, made up mostly of fat
cells.
 Red marrow can be found in the flat
bones, such as the breast
bone, skull, vertebrae, shoulder
blades, hip bone and ribs. Red marrow
can also be found at the ends of long
bones, such as the humerus and femur.
 White blood cells (lymphocytes), red blood
cells and platelets are produced in the red
marrow. Red blood cells carry oxygen, white
blood cells fight diseases. Platelets are
essential for blood clotting.
 Yellow marrow can be found in the inside of
the middle section of long bones.
 White blood cells, which help to body fight
infection.
 Red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all
parts of the body.
 Platelets, which help in blood clot.
If a person loses a lot of blood the body can
convert yellow marrow to red marrow in
order to raise blood cell production.
Leukemia
Definition
It is a group of malignant
disorder, affecting the blood and blood
–forming tissue of the bone marrow
lymph system and spleen.
etiology
Combination of predisposing factors
including genetic and environmental
influences.
Chronic exposure to chemical such as
benzene
Radiation exposure.
Cytotoxic therapy of breast, lung and
testicular cancer.
Congenital anomaly
 The presence of primary
immunodeficiency and infection
with the human T –cell leukemia
virus type-1
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
 The lack of control causes –
 nomal bone marrow to be replaced by
immature and undifferentiated
leukocytes or blat cells . –
 abnormal immature leukocytes then
circulates in the blood and infiltrate
the blood forming organs ( liver
, spleen, lymph nodes) and other sites
throughout the body.
Different types of leukemia

It may be acute or chronic. Acute

leukemia gets worse very fast and
may make feel sick right away.
Chronic leukemia gets worse slowly
and may not cause symptoms for
years.
Lymphocytic and Myelogenous
Leukemias are also subdivided into
the type of affected blood cell. If
the cancerous transformation
occurs in the type of marrow that
makes lymphocytes, the disease is
called lymphocytic leukemia.
 If the cancerous change occurs in the
type of marrow cells that produce red
blood cells, other types of white
cells, and platelets, the disease is
called myelogenous leukemia
FRENCH- AMERICAN –BRITISH
(FAB) CLASSIFICATION OF ACUTE
LEUKEMIA
INCIDENCE—
 In adults, chronic lymphocytic leukemia
(CLL) and acute myelogenous leukemia
(AML) are the most common leukemias.
 In children, the most common leukemia is
acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Childhood leukemias also include acute
myelogenous leukemia (AML) and other
myeloid leukemias, such as chronic
myelogenous leukemia (CML) and juvenile
myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML).
 Relate to problems caused by
 Bone marrow failure
 Overcrowding by abnormal cells
 Inadequate production of normal
marrow elements
 Anemia, thrombocytopenia, ↓ number
and function of WBCs
Relate to problems caused by
Leukemic cells infiltrate
patient’s organs
Splenomegaly
Hepatomegaly
Lymphadenopathy
Bone pain, meningeal
irritation, oral lesions
(chloromas)
 Classification of leukaemia

1. 1. Acute lymphatic leukaemia (ALL)

Usually occurs before 14 years of age peak
incidence is between 2-9 years of age, older adult

Pathophysiology
It arising from a single lymphoid stem cell, with
impaired maturation and accumulation of the
malignant cells in the bone marrow.
Acute lymphatic leukaemia Cont.
Signs and symptoms
Anaemia, bleeding, lymphadenopathy, infection
Clinical manifestation Clinical manifestation

Fever Weakness
Pallor Bone, joint and
Bleeding abdominal pain
Increase intracranial
Anorexia
press.
Fatigue
 Generalized lymphadenopathy
 Infection of respiratory tract
 Anaemia and bleeding of mucus
membrane
 Weight lossa
 Mouth sore
Acute lymphatic leukaemia Cont.
Diagnosis
 Low RBCs count, Hb, Hct, low platelet count , low
normal or high WBC count.
 Blood smear show immature lymph blasts.
Treatment
Chemotherapeutic agent, it involve three phases
1. Induction: Using vincristine and prednisone.
2. Consolidation: Using modified course of
intensive therapy to eradicate any remaining.
3. Maintenance
Acute lymphatic leukaemia Cont.

Treatment Cont.
 Prophylactic treatment of the CNS
, intrathecal administration and /or
craniospinal radiation with eradicate
leukemic cells.

 Eat diet that contains high in

protein, fibres and fluids.
Acute lymphatic leukaemia Cont.
Treatment Cont.
 Avoid infection (hand washing, avoid
crowds),injury

 Take measure to decrease nausea and to

promote appetite, smoking and spicy
and hot foods.

 Maintain oral hygiene.

ALL Histology
Acute Myelogenous Leukaemia
(AML)
It occurs at any age but occurs most often at
adolescence and after age of 55
Pathophysiology
Characterized by the development of immature
myeloblasts in the bone marrow.
Clinical manifestation
Similar to ALL plus sternal tenderness.
Management
Diagnosis
Low RBC, Hb, Hct, low platelet count, low to high
WBC count with myeloblasts.
Acute Myelogenous Leukaemia (AML) Cont.
Treatment
Use of cytarabine, 6-thioquanine, and
doxorubic
The same care of client as All, plus give
adequate amounts of fluids(2000 to 3000
ml per day.)
Instruct client about
medication, effects, side effects and nursing
measures
AML Histology
Chronic lymphocytic Leukaemia
(CLL)
The incidence of CLl increases with age and is rare
under the age of 35.It is common in men.
Pathophysiology
It is characterized by proliferation of
small, abnormal , mature B lymphocytes, often
leading to decreased synthesis of immunoglobulin
and depressed antibody response.
The number of mature lymphocytes in peripheral
blood smear and bone marrow are greatly
increased
Chronic lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) Cont
Clinical Manifestation
Usually there is no symptoms.
Chronic fatigue , weakness , anorexia, splenomegaly
, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly.
Signs and Symptoms
 Pruritic vesicular skin lesions .
 Anaemia
 Thrombocytopenia.
 The WBC count is elevated to a level between
20,000 to 100,000.
 Increase blood viscosity and clotting episode.
Chronic lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) Cont

Management
I. Persons are treated only when symptoms, particular
anaemia , thrombocytopenia , enlarged lymph
nodes and spleen appear.

I. Chemotherapy agents such as chlorambucil , and

the glucocorticoids.

I. Client and family education is that describe for

AML.
CLL Histology
Chronic Myelogenous
Leukaemia(CML)
 Philadelphia chromosome
 The chromosome abnormality that
causes chronic myeloid leukemia
Occurs between 25-60 years of age. Peak 45
year
It is caused by benzene exposure and high
doses of radiation.
Clinical Manifestation
There is no symptoms in disease. The classic
symptoms, include:
Fatigue, weakness, fever.
Weight loss, joint & bone pain.
Chronic Myelogenous Leukaemia(CML) Cont.

Clinical Manifestation Cont.

Massive splenomegaly
 The accelerated phase of disease(blostic
phase) is characterized by increasing
number of granulocytes in the peripheral
blood.
There is a corresponding anaemia and
thrombocytopenia.
Chronic Myelogenous
Leukaemia(CML) Cont.
Diagnosis
Lower RBC count, Hb, Hct, high platelet
count early, lower count later.
Normal number of lymphocytes and normal
or low number of monocytes in WBC .
Treatment
The commonly drugs are hydroxyurea and
busulfan (monitor of WBC count needed
with therapy).
The only potential curative therapy of CML is
the bone marrow transplant.
Nursing Intervention
Taking measures to prevent infection.
Promoting safety.
Providing oral hygiene.
Preventing fatigue.
Promoting effective coping.
Client and family education.
CML HISTOLOGY
MANAGEMENT

 watchful waiting,
 chemotherapy,
 targeted therapy,
 radiation therapy, and
 stem cell transplant.
The choice of treatment depends
mainly on the following:

 The type of leukemia (acute or chronic)

 Age
 Whether leukemia cells were found in
cerebrospinal fluid
WATCHFUL WAITING
 chronic leukemia without
symptoms, may not need cancer
treatment right away.
 Watch for health closely so that
treatment can start when it begin to
have symptoms.
 Not getting cancer treatment right
away is called watchful waiting.
chemotherapy
 People with acute leukemia need to be
treated right away.
 The goal of treatment is to destroy
signs of leukemia in the body and make
symptoms go away. This is called a
remission.
 After people go into remission, more
therapy may be given to prevent a
relapse.
The 3 phases of treatment
protocols are;

Induction phase; the usual

criteria for complete remission are
5% of the bone marrow cells and
normal peripheral blood counts.
Once remission completes the
consolidation phase begins.
 Consolidation phase; modified
course of intensive chemotherapy are
given to eradicate any remaining
disease. Usually a higher dose of 1 or
more chemotherapeutic agents are
administered.
 Maintainance phase; small dose of
different combination of
chemotheraptic agents are given every
3 to 4 weeks. This phase may continue
for a year or longer and is structured to
allow the client to live as normal life as
possible
Targeted therapy
 This affects only tumor cells and spare
normal cells. hence decreasing the
associated toxicities. Gemtuzumab
ozofamicin (mylotarg) is an anti
D33nmonoclonal antibody linked to
calicheamicin, which is potent
cytotoxic agent.
STEM CELL TRANSPLANT
Goal;

 Totally eliminate leukemic cells from the body

using combinations of chemotherapy with or
without total body irradiation
 Eradicates patient’s hematopoietic stem cells
 Replaced with those of an HLA-matched
(Human Leukocyte Antigen)
 Sibling (is a brother or a sister; that
is, any person who shares at least one of
the same parents )
 Volunteer
 Identical twin
 Patient’s own stem cells removed
before
 TYPES OF STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION
1. Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant
 stem cells are taken from a matching donor.
To determine if a donor’s stem cells are the
right match, the patient undergoes a
human leukocyte antigens (HLA) test.
Through this test, we compare the patient’s
blood and tissue type against blood
samples from the donor.
Donors may include:
 HLA-matched relative (most often a sibling)
 HLA-matched unrelated donor
 HLA miss-matched family member
 Unrelated umbilical cord blood
2. Autologous Stem Cell Transplant
 In this type of transplant, stem cells are
collected from the patient themselves. The
stem cells are then harvested, frozen and
stored, and then given back to the patient.
This type of transplant is rare for leukemia
patients and is typically used in select cases
of AML.
Nutrition and Physical Activity
 It's important for you to take care of eating
well and staying as active.
 right amount of calories to maintain a good
weight. enough protein. Eating well may
help to feel better and have more energy.
Follow-up Care
 regular checkups after treatment for
leukemia.
NURSING MANAGEMENT
Nursing diagnosis
 1. Impaired oral mucous membrane related to
low platelet counts or effect of pathologic
conditions and treatment.
 2. Ineffective therapeutic management related
to lack of knowledge of disease process, activity
and medication.
 3. imbalanced nutrition less than body
requirement reated to anorexia , pain and
fatigue.
 4. risk for injury related to low platelet counts
and treatment
Overall goals
 Understand and cooperate with the
treatment plan
 Experience minimal side effects and
complications of disease and treatment
 Feel hopeful and supported during the
periods of treatment, relapse, and
remission
 Many physical and psychological needs
 Evokes great fear
Goals of rehabilitation
 Manage
 Physical

 Psychosocial

 Social

 Spiritual

 Delayed effects
 Support groups
CONCLUSION