Your pediatric patient has acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She first developed it
ID: 3522017 • Letter: Y
Question
Your pediatric patient has acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She first developed it at age 5 and was sent into remission for 2 years after receiving chemotherapy, and then she relapsed at age 7. She again received chemotherapy, and again went into remission, but this time only for 1 year before relapsing. Now, she is 8 years old, and her cancer has re-emerged again.
1. What type of leukocytes are malignant in this type of cancer?
2. Name 4 manifestations associated with this type of cancer.
3. Would you recommend more chemotherapy? Why or why not? Give 2 reasons for your answer.
4. Would you recommend a bone marrow transplant? Why or why not? Give 2 reasons for your answer.
Explanation / Answer
1. Lymphocytes are malignant in this type of cancer.
2.Some of the manifestations are:
* Change in size, colour, shape or thickness of a mole or wart.
* Thickening or formation of lump in breast, testicles or elsewhere.
* Indigestion or difficulty in swalloing.
* A sore throat which does not heal.
3. Chemotherapy cannot be given for long time because,
* It has many side effects like hair loss, vomitings , fatigue etc.
* It may sometimes even damage healthy cells in the body.
4. Bone marrow transplantation is required because:
* Bone marrow is damaged due to chemotherapy in these type pf cancers and it can be transplanted .
* This process requires the transformation of stem cells from healthy individuals to cancer patients.
But this may even has some side effects like decrease in immunity, infection etc.