Leukemia

Definition

Leukemia is a type of cancer that starts in the blood-forming tissues, such as the bone marrow, and leads to the overproduction of abnormal white blood cells. These cancerous cells crowd out healthy blood cells, impairing the body's ability to fight infection, control bleeding, and transport oxygen effectively.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Leukemia can be classified into different types based on the specific blood cells affected and the rate of disease progression.
2. Symptoms of leukemia may include fatigue, easy bruising or bleeding, frequent infections, and unexplained weight loss.
3. Treatment for leukemia often involves a combination of chemotherapy, targeted therapies, stem cell transplants, and supportive care to manage complications.
4. Nutrition plays a crucial role in supporting the body's ability to tolerate and respond to leukemia treatments, as well as managing symptoms and side effects.
5. Individuals with leukemia may require specialized dietary interventions, such as increased protein and calorie intake, to maintain their nutritional status and support their overall health.

Review Questions

• Explain the impact of leukemia on the body's ability to fight infection, control bleeding, and transport oxygen.
  • Leukemia leads to the overproduction of abnormal white blood cells, which crowd out healthy blood cells. This impairs the body's ability to fight infection, as the abnormal white blood cells are not functioning properly. Additionally, the reduction in red blood cells and platelets can result in decreased oxygen transport and impaired blood clotting, leading to increased risk of bleeding and bruising.
• Describe the role of nutrition in supporting individuals with leukemia during their treatment and recovery.
  • Nutrition plays a crucial role in supporting individuals with leukemia. Specialized dietary interventions, such as increased protein and calorie intake, may be necessary to maintain the patient's nutritional status and support their overall health. This is particularly important as leukemia treatments can often lead to side effects, such as nausea, loss of appetite, and malabsorption, which can further compromise the patient's nutritional status. Proper nutrition can help the body tolerate and respond to leukemia treatments, as well as manage symptoms and complications associated with the disease.
• Analyze the differences between acute and chronic forms of leukemia and how these differences may impact nutritional considerations.
  • Acute leukemia is a fast-growing form of the disease, where the abnormal white blood cells rapidly accumulate, leaving little room for healthy blood cells. In contrast, chronic leukemia is a slower-growing form, where the abnormal cells accumulate more gradually. These differences in disease progression may impact nutritional considerations for individuals with leukemia. Patients with acute leukemia may require more immediate and intensive nutritional support to maintain their health and manage the rapid changes in their blood cell counts. Conversely, patients with chronic leukemia may have a longer window of opportunity to address nutritional needs and implement dietary interventions to support their overall well-being during the course of the disease and its treatment.

Related terms

Acute Leukemia: A fast-growing form of leukemia where the abnormal white blood cells rapidly accumulate, leaving little room for healthy blood cells.

Chronic Leukemia: A slower-growing form of leukemia where the abnormal white blood cells accumulate more gradually, allowing for a longer period before symptoms appear.

Myelogenous Leukemia: A type of leukemia that originates in the myeloid cells, which normally develop into various types of mature blood cells.