Question

The nurse is caring for a 13-year-old boy with acute myelogenous leukemia who is having body image problems due to the effects of chemotherapy. Which of the following interventions will best help the teen's sense of control?

A) Involving the boy in decisions whenever possible
B) Acknowledging the boy's feelings of anger with the disease
C) Providing realistic expectations of treatments and outcomes
D) Recognizing abilities that are unaffected by the disease

Answer 1

A patient with acute myelogenous leukemia would most likely experience impaired production of both erythrocytes and lymphocytes. AML affects the growth of myeloid cells and disrupts normal blood cell production. A neutrophil count of 1900 cells per microliter is generally considered safe to proceed with chemotherapy as it indicates sufficient immune capacity.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) would be expected to experience impaired production of both erythrocytes and lymphocytes. AML primarily affects myeloid cells which include a variety of blood cells such as red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells, and platelets. The disease disrupts normal hematopoiesis by causing the rapid growth of abnormal myeloid cells that interfere with the production of normal blood cells. As a result, the production of erythrocytes can be impaired, leading to symptoms like fatigue and anemia, and the impaired production of lymphocytes can lead to a weakened immune system, increasing the risk of infections.

Regarding the patient's absolute neutrophil count (ANC) being at 1900 cells per microliter, it is typically considered safe to proceed with chemotherapy if ANC is above 1500 cells per microliter. Neutrophils are a type of leukocyte (white blood cell) important for fighting infection, and a count above the threshold suggests that the patient has enough neutrophils to manage the risk of infection during chemotherapy treatment.