Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Essays (university) of Oncology

Download Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and more Essays (university) Oncology in PDF only on Docsity!

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Valeria Miranda Keiser University RT1000: Introduction to Radiologic Technology Ms. Paola Bouchereau January 24th, 2020

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia “The word 'leukemia' is a very frightening word. In many instances, it's a killer and it's something that you have to deal with in a very serious and determined way if you're going to beat it”- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The word Leukemia can be defined as a condition or type of cancer in the blood that affects white blood cell counts in the human body. There are several types of leukemia, and they can vary in severity as well as physiology. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is one of the most aggressive and severe types of cancer. The word “Acute” means that it can rapidly progress by creating immature white blood cells that can spread to other parts of the body. This makes it extremely dangerous and fatal if not treated promptly. This type of cancer is commonly seen in children but can also occur in adults, although their chances of recovery are greatly reduced. I’ve learned through previous experience working in Radiology at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital that this disease can take a toll on a child’s physical and emotional health as well as their families. Some children experience hair loss, nausea, weight loss, and develop infections due to their low immune system. Although it is such a diffi- cult thing for a child to go through, it is quite remarkable to see how a majority of these children remain hopeful and in good spirits during such a difficult time in their lives. Despite the aggres- siveness of this disease, the vast majority of these patients are able to defeat this disease fully. The most rewarding part of being able to work in pediatric imaging is to see these patients that

To be able to properly diagnose this condition and know which treatment methods would be most effective, Blood Test, Bone Marrow Biopsies and Imaging Tests such as XRAY, CT, Ultrasound need to be performed. Complete blood counts (CBC) and Bone Marrow Biopsies examine white blood cells from a patient’s bone sample to determine the percentage of leukemia cells and what treatment options would be best for a patient. Imaging tests such as X-rays, PET Scans, and Ultrasounds are vital in diagnosing ALL. Chest X-Rays can reveal if there are any enlarged lymph nodes, tumors, or any upper respiratory infections caused by ALL. PET Scans can help show any abnormal masses inside the body. This can be done by injecting a patient with mild radioactive sugar to detect areas of overactivity in the body. Cancer cells are more prone to take up large amounts of sugar than healthy cells; therefore Leukemia cells will light up brighter than normal ones, making it easier for doctors to determine where these cells are located. PET scans are sometimes used in conjunction with MRI and CT, also called PET/CT scans, which not only show the areas of overactivity but also give a more detailed image of these areas. These scans can also be used to determine how well a patient is responding to treatment. There are several treatment options for ALL, such as Chemotherapy, Radiation, Bone Mar- row Transplants, Targeted Therapy, and some clinical trials. The most common treatments used are Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, and Bone Marrow Transplants. Chemotherapy consists of the injection of drugs that stop the development of cancer cells as well as eradicating them. Anti- cancer drugs are also used in conjunction with Chemotherapy to treat these conditions. Radiation Therapy uses high energy radiation to kill the cancer cells, stop them from growing and can help manage the symptoms a patient might experience. Radiation therapy does not kill the leukemia cells right away. It can take up a few days or weeks of treatment before it becomes effective and

in some cases, it may take weeks or months after radiation therapy for cancer to be fully eradi- cated. Bone marrow transplants consist of administering a patient with high doses of chemo- therapy radiation to be able to destroy the bone marrow cells that produce leukemia and later re- place those with healthy bone marrow from a compatible donor. According to WebMd (2017), “About eight or nine out of 10 adults achieve remission after treatments, but many relapse, which lowers the overall cure rate to 30% to 40%”. Survival rates for Children are much higher; “About 98% of children with ALL go into remission within weeks after starting treatment. About 90% of those children can be cured. Patients are considered cured after ten years in remission’’ St.Judes Children Hospital (2018). “Some people may choose to forgo treatment for cancer, instead of focusing on treatments that improve their symptoms and help them make the most of the time they have remaining,” Mayo Clinic (2019). There are a few risk factors that play a role in the development of this type of cancer. High radiation exposure can increase a person’s risk of developing ALL. According to the American Cancer Society (2018), “Japanese atomic bomb survivors had a greatly increased risk of devel- oping acute leukemia.” Exposure to Chemotherapy drugs and certain other chemical products may increase the risk o developing ALL. There are a few genetic Syndromes that have been linked to increased risk of ALL; Down Syndrome, Klinefelter Syndrome, Falcon Anemia, Bloom Syndrome, Ataxia-telangiectasia, Neurofibromatosis, and Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (Amer- ican Cancer Society 2018). Age also plays a role in the development of ALL. The occurrence of ALL is more likely in children and adults over the age of 50. Although there is no known way of preventing ALL, there are a few recommendations that could be beneficial and might even help diagnose this disease in its early stages. Getting yearly

References American Cancer Society Medical and Editorial Content Team. (2018). Risk Factors for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). https://www.cancer.org/cancer/acute-lympho- cytic-leukemia/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html#written_by Mayo Clinic Staff (2018). Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. https://www.mayoclinic.org/. diseases-conditions/acute-lymphocytic-leukemia/diagnosis-treatment/drc- St.Judes Children Hospital (2018). Diseases, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. https://www.stjude.org/disease/acute-lymphoblastic-leukemia-all.html WebMD. (2017). Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. https://www.webmd.com/cancer/lymphoma/acute-lymphoblastic- leukemia#2-