Leukemia

Question 1

What is leukemia?

Answer 1

Leukemia is cancer of the stem cells of the hematopoietic system, most commonly affecting white blood cells.

Question 2

Can leukemia affect other blood cell types?

Answer 2

Yes, cancer of the stem cells or other blood cell types is possible.

Question 3

What is leukemia?

Answer 3

Leukemia is a malignant disease of the bone marrow and blood.

Question 4

Where does leukemia start?

Answer 4

Leukemia starts in blood-forming tissues such as the bone marrow.

Question 5

What does bone marrow produce?

Answer 5

Bone marrow makes cells that develop into white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

Question 6

What is the function of white blood cells?

Answer 6

White blood cells help your body fight infection.

Question 7

What is the function of red blood cells?

Answer 7

Red blood cells deliver oxygen from your lungs to your tissues and organs.

Question 8

What is the function of platelets?

Answer 8

Platelets help form clots to stop bleeding.

Question 9

What characterizes leukemia?

Answer 9

It is characterized by the uncontrolled accumulation of blood cells.

Question 10

What are hemocytobiasts?

Answer 10

Hemocytobiasts are immature blood cells involved in the formation of blood.

Question 11

What are the types of blood cells?

Answer 11

Types of blood cells include white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

Question 12

What is the difference between acute and chronic leukemia?

Answer 12

Acute leukemia develops quickly, while chronic leukemia progresses slowly.

Question 13

What is the main difference between acute and chronic leukemia?

Answer 13

Acute leukemia has immature cells that grow quickly and worsen rapidly if untreated, while chronic leukemia has mature cells that grow slowly and worsen over a longer period of time.

Question 14

What characterizes acute leukemia?

Answer 14

In acute leukemia, the bone marrow cells are unable to mature properly.

Fast growing and usually gets worse quickly if it is not treated.

Question 15

What characterizes chronic leukemia?

Answer 15

In chronic leukemia, the cells can mature but not completely.

Slow growing and usually gets worse over a longer period of time.

Question 16

What are the two classifications of leukemia?

Answer 16

Leukemias are classified as acute or chronic and based on whether they derive from myeloid or lymphoid cells.

Question 17

What defines myeloid leukemia?

Answer 17

Myeloid leukemia involves granulocytes or monocytes.

Also known as myelocytic or myelogenous leukemia.

Question 18

What defines lymphocytic leukemia?

Answer 18

Lymphocytic leukemia develops from bone marrow lymphocytes.

Also known as lymphoblastic leukemia.

Question 19

What is Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)?

Answer 19

Most common type of cancer in children but it can also affect adults.

Question 20

What is Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)?

Answer 20

More common in older adults but can also affect children.

Question 21

What is Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)?

Answer 21

One of the most common types of leukemia in adults and often occurs during or after middle age.

Question 22

What is Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)?

Answer 22

Usually occurs in adults during or after middle age.

Question 23

What are the types of leukemia?

Answer 23

Acute or Chronic.
Lymphocytic or Myelogenous.

Acute: ALL, AML; Chronic: CLL, CML.

Question 24

Blood cancers can _______ or ________ blood counts.

Answer 24

Lower or raise

Question 25

What is the first step in diagnosing leukemia?

Answer 25

The doctor will check samples of cells from the patient's blood and bone marrow.

Question 26

What does genetic immunophenotyping include?

Answer 26

It includes morphologic evaluation, special stains, electron microscopic examination, and surface marker studies.

Question 27

What is necessary for a definitive diagnosis of leukemia?

Answer 27

A bone marrow biopsy is necessary for definitive diagnosis.

Question 28

What is a bone marrow biopsy?

Answer 28

A biopsy test collects a small amount of bone marrow tissue through a larger needle.

Question 29

What factors influence leukemia treatment options?

Answer 29

Treatment depends on type, severity, age, overall health, and other factors.

Question 30

What is the treatment of choice for leukemia?

Answer 30

Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice.

Question 31

What are some treatment options for leukemia?

Answer 31

Treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy with bone marrow stem cell transplantation, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.

Question 32

What is targeted therapy?

Answer 32

Targeted therapy uses drugs or other substances that attack specific cancer cells with less harm to normal cells.

Question 33

What requires a bone marrow donor? (Best match is siblings)

Answer 33

Allogenic transplant

Question 34

What uses the patient’s own stem cells for reinfusion in leukemia patients?

Answer 34

Autologous transplants

Question 35

What is TBI in the context of leukemia treatment?

Answer 35

TBI stands for Total Body Irradiation, given in combination with high dose chemotherapy to patients that will receive stem cell transplant.

Question 36

What is the purpose of prophylactic radiation in leukemia treatment?

Answer 36

Prophylactic radiation is used to target 'sanctuary sites' where chemotherapy may not reach.

Question 37

What does total CNS treatment for recurrence involve?

Answer 37

Total CNS treatments for recurrence deliver radiation to the entire craniospinal axis using 2 lateral brain fields and a spine field.