Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Research Paper

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a fast-growing cancer of the blood and the soft tissue inside the bones (bone marrow). Normally, bone marrow makes immature cells (blast cells) that develop into important immune cells (lymphocytes) or other mature blood cells. These mature cells help to fight infection, carry oxygen, and stop bleeding.

Cancer can be observed through a realm of different perspectives, ranging from religion to science. For our purposes, we will be evaluating the biological and psychological effects childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can have on children. Childhood ALL is the formation of abnormal white cells within our bone marrow. Unlike Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, childhood ALL occurs rapidly with great intensity. Normally, our bone marrow functions to produce a variety of cells including, white blood cells, which assist our immune system in fighting viruses, red blood cells, which transport oxygen and carbon dioxide, and platelets, which prevent bleeding in our body. “In a healthy child, the bone marrow makes blood stem cells

Most cancers develop tumors and are staged based on size and spread. However, leukemia staging is different because it develops within the blood cell. Acute leukemia is usually staged based on cell type, B-cell or T-cell, and how the cells appear under a microscope. The classification system used for this type of staging is called the French-American-British classification system. Factors that affect leukemia staging and prognosis is white blood cell count, platelet count, age, history of blood disorders, chromosome abnormalities, bone damage, and the status of liver and spleen such as is it enlarged. The reason why age is a factor is because older age may negatively affect treatment resulting in a negative prognosis (Leukemia Stages,

According to, “Acute lymphocytic leukemia”(2013), “The word leukemia literally means "white blood" and is used to describe a variety of cancers that begin in the blood-forming cells (lymphocytes) of the bone marrow.” There are two major types of leukemia, which include acute and chronic. Acute Leukemia has several immature white bloods cells and progresses very quickly. Chronic Leukemia has a significant amount of white blood cells and progresses very slowly. Leukemia begins in the bone marrow and works its way throughout the body infecting all major organs. There are no known causes of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). However, it is believed that a combination between environmental, biological and genetic play a role in this type of cancer.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia is a fast growing cancer. It is found mostly and children and can be cured easier than in rare finds in an adult. ALL is caused by a mess up in the person's DNA. This "mess-up" causes cells to continue growing and dividing producing more useless cells. People with genetic disorders are likely to obtain this cancer. Also, siblings are likely to have this cancer, in particular, twins.

An unwanted growth of cell usually known cancer starts when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control and can spread to other areas of the body. There are many types of cancer out of which AML is a most commonly found cancer.

There are many discussions that remain in the world about what is the number one killer in children today, cancer; and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is one of the most common childhood diseases, more likely to occur in children under the age of fifteen. (Leukemia-Lymphoma) There are few adults that may end up getting Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia but the symptoms would be much harder to find than it would be in a child.

Leukemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". It is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases. Leukemia is believed to be the result of deregulation of normal hematopoiesis. There can be several types of leukemia depending upon the cell type being affected:

Roughly 8% of all human cancers are Leukemia, with acute leukemia accounting for about 50% of these cases. When white blood cell (WBC) precursors increase rapidly in numbers in the bone marrow and lymphatic tissues, a harmful disease of the blood-forming organs known as acute leukemia occurs. When this takes place, the cells will, after a while, spread to the blood and all body tissues near the surfaces of organs or the external parts of the body. When Leukemia progresses at a fast pace, it is considered acute. This condition has a 100% mortality within days or months when left untreated (Nursing Central, 2015).

Leukemia is a common blood cancer that affects both children and adults. Blood work, bone marrow biopsy, and other tests are used to determine what type of leukemia is present and how advanced it is . These factors plus your age determine how to treat your leukemia. Most treatment plans for acute lymphoblastic leukemia have 3 steps. These are induction, consolidation, and maintenance.

When cancer begins there are many symptoms. Not all people know what these symptoms are, so they go to a general practitioner. Then the doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms. Then they will test your nervous system, this is called a neurological examination. They will test muscle strength, reflexes, and they will ask you questions.

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia is the development of blood clotting or bleeding difficulty. It is where the bone marrow contains too much of promyelocytes cells, and the bone marrow has no space for healthy cells which go out of the body by bleeding. Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia is not genetic it is a DNA mutation. Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia affects the chromosomes 15 and 17. Promyelocytes is a granulocyte precursor that belongs to the granulocytic series. It is intermediate between myeloblasts and myelocytes, and it embraces some undifferentiated cytoplasmic granules. Some signs and symptoms of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia are bleeding excessively with any small cut or any cut, blood in the urine, paleness, poor appetite, heavy nosebleeds,

The cancer leukemia starts in the tissue that forms blood. It helps to know how normal blood cells are formed. Most blood develop from cells in the bone marrow called stem cells. The soft material in the center of most bones is called bone marrow. Many type of blood cells mature into stem cells. There are many different types of jobs for stem cells. The while blood cells are the ones that help fight the infection. There are many types of white blood cells in the body. Red blood cells are the cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. Platelets help form blood clots that control bleed in the body. Platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells are madr form stem cells are made when the body is in need of them. When cells get

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is a profound disease that involves an overproduction of immature myeloid and lymphoid cells. Hematopoiesis is a process where Hemocytoblast stem cells differentiate into a range of progenitor cells. Part of the developmental process for these progenitor cells occurs in the spleen, liver and lymph nodes. In ALL, clonal cells then take up space within the blood stream, causing the percentage of normal blood constituents to be out of balance. For example, less erythrocytes are made, putting the suffer at risk of being anemic which has further risks associated with it. It can be determined that you have ALL from a blood test, chromosome analysis or a bone marrow sample. For a blood test, then a complete blood

There are 2 forms of acute leukemia. Acute lymphoblastic and Acute myelogenous. ALL is the most common form in children. The peak onset of ALL is between 2-5 years. AML has the same incidence in males and females. Markers for leukemia include T-cells, B-cells, and Non T-cell/ B-cells. Even though leukemia is is classified as over production of white blood cells, Leukocytes are usually low in these patients. When a blood smear is completed the WBC’s are found to be immature. The onset of leukemia varies. Some children can show signs and symptoms early, and some manifest later. Staging and and prognostic factors determine the effectiveness and how treatment will be implemented. Leukemia can be suspected when checking a patients history, physical signs, and a blood smear. Therapeutic management include IV chemo medications and control of pain. Steroids can also be prescribed to decrease inflammation. Remission is indicated when the child no longer shows clinical signs and symptoms are no longer noted and bone marrow is less than 5% blast cells in the bone marrow. Medications can be intensified to continue furthering the remission. Maintenance is performed on the patient to preserve remission and reduce the number of damaged cell. Bone marrow transplant can be successful but is not recommended for all children. ALL is more indicated in BMT. Prognosis is very important to start treatment and patients who are diagnosed earlier in the disease process has a better rate of cure. Nursing management for the child includes preparing the family and child for procedures whether it may be diagnostic or therapeutic. Using ways the child can understand the procedures and what is expected. Providing continued emotional support is essential for the child, making sure the child does not feel alone and secluded. Build a relationship of trust is therapeutic for the