Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a cancer that mostly affects the blood and bone marrow, the tissue that makes blood cells. Less common in adults than it is in children, the disease is also called acute lymphocytic leukemia, and is commonly abbreviated as ALL. The disease spreads quickly and primarily targets immature blood cells forming in the bone marrow. It targets a specific type of blood cell called lymphocytes, more commonly known as white blood cells.
Leukemia
You may be surprised to find that leukemia isnt just one type of cancer but actually a category of multiple cancers that affect our blood cells. Both children and adults can be diagnosed with these cancers, which cause our bone marrow to produce abnormal white blood cells.
These abnormal cells, called leukemic cells, can accumulate in the bone marrow and blood, crowding out any healthy white blood cells. The white blood cells exist to fight infection and disease. The leukemic cells also harm our platelets, which protects us from bleeding out, and the red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout our bodies.
Leukemia can progress either rapidly (acutely) or slowly (chronically). Depending on its progression and the type of cell it affects, a leukemia diagnosis can fall into four broad categories. Regardless of the type, infection, anemia and bleeding are common effects of this cancer.
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Jumo Health answeredSee All 2 AnswersDoctors don’t know what causes acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). They do know that ALL is not caused by anything the person with ALL did or didn’t do.
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Sigma Nursing answeredSee All 2 AnswersChemotherapy broken up into several distinct phases has proven effective in treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Certain drugs and radiation therapy may be used to supplement the chemotherapy. All together, the course of treatment can last anywhere from 18 to 36 months, depending on age of the patient, stage of the disease, and treatments used. The most intensive phase of treatment is the first one, called induction therapy, in which as many leukemia cells as possible are destroyed. During treatment, a hospital stay of several days or weeks is necessary while normal levels of red and white blood cells are replenished and the bone marrow recovers.
The second and third phases of treatment, called consolidation or post-remission therapy and maintenance therapy, respectively, focus on reducing the chances of the cancer returning, or relapsing.
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Sigma Nursing answeredSee All 2 Answers
A variety of procedures including blood and bone marrow tests are used to diagnose acute lymphoblastic leukemia. These tests can determine how far along the disease has progressed, and to what parts of the body.
Blood tests reveal abnormal numbers of white and red blood cells as well as platelets. The most common variety of blood test is called a complete blood count; if numbers of red blood cells or platelets are below normal, or numbers of white blood cells either above or below normal, it may indicate leukemia. The presence of lymphoblasts in the blood is also an indicator of the lymphoblastic form of the disease. A test called bone marrow aspiration uses a needle to remove marrow from the hipbone for analysis. Special imaging technology such as CT scans can look for signs that the leukemia has spread to other parts of the body. A spinal tap, in which a needle is used to remove fluid from the spinal cord, can check to see if cancerous cells are lurking in the spinal fluid.
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Jumo Health answered
To check for lymphoblasts around the brain, doctors will do a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap. They look for lymphoblasts in the fluid that surrounds the brain. For the lumbar puncture, they use a needle to take a small amount of fluid from the spine.
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Jumo Health answered
Normally a minor cut is no big deal, but with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), cuts heal slowly because there are not enough platelets. People with ALL bruise easily too. When germs invade, leukemic lymphoblasts can't fight them like normal white blood cells do, which means people with ALL are more likely to get infections.
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Jumo Health answered
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) causes weakness and achiness because leukemic lymphoblasts take up so much space inside the bone that they make a person's bones ache. Because leukemic lymphoblasts squeeze out red blood cells, people with ALL don't get enough oxygen so they feel weak and short of breath.
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Sigma Nursing answered
The slow-growing form of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the least serious type of leukemia. It is a disease of older people; the average age at diagnosis is around 71. CLL is a malignancy of mature lymphocytes, which usually grow and divide slowly, resulting in a slowly progressive disease. Most individuals have no symptoms early in the disease and the diagnosis is often made only after finding an increased white blood cell count on a routine blood test. Many people with CLL live for 10-20 years or even longer, and because CLL is usually found in the elderly, many of these individuals will die of an unrelated illness. Because of the generally good prognosis and concerns about the potential side effects of therapy, doctors often use a "watch and wait" approach to individuals with early stage disease, withholding therapy until the disease becomes more severe.
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Many leukemia patients experience bone or joint pain that results from the bone marrow being overcrowded with leukemia cells. Sometimes the side effects of leukemia treatments can result in pain. For example, some drug therapies and radiation therapy can damage the nerves and cause neuropathic pain.
Because of the complex nature of leukemia-related pain, successful cancer pain management usually involves a combination of techniques. To control pain, your team may use any of the following:- Medications (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-convulsants, narcotics)
- Nerve blocks
- Pain patches or pumps
- Steroid injections
- Acupuncture
Sometimes, pain medications can make you feel sedated and fatigued. Your pain management practitioner will adjust your medications to seek a balance between pain relief and quality of life. The goal is to help you achieve cancer pain control so you can fight the disease, while continuing to participate in activities you enjoy. -
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The following are some of the oncology rehabilitation therapies you may incorporate into your leukemia treatment:
- Physical therapy: This type of oncology rehab combines range-of- motion training with light resistance exercises to help alleviate breathing problems, improve appetite, relieve constipation, reduce stress and increase energy.
- Occupational therapy: These therapies can help you perform daily living activities, such as grooming, dressing, showering and eating, so you can continue to live as independently as possible.
- Auriculotherapy: This non-invasive technique, which involves an electrical stimulation to the external ear, can help alleviate side effects, such as balance problems, nausea, shortness of breath and fatigue.
- ReBuilder: This form of oncology rehab involves an electronic stimulation to an affected area (such as the hands and feet) to increase tactile sensory and awareness, can help improve peripheral neuropathy.
- Massage therapy: This type of touch therapy can help restore a sense of harmony, relaxation and well-being during leukemia treatment.
- Interactive metronome: This series of computer-generated sounds to measure a rhythmic beat and response can be used to increase concentration and improve balance, function and cognition during leukemia treatment.
- Speech and language pathology: Some leukemia treatments may cause dry mouth or difficulty swallowing, which can limit your ability to eat. A speech therapist will work with other members of your care team to address these problems.