Question

A 4-year-old child is admitted to the pediatric unit with a tentative diagnosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia (all). the mother states that changes in her child's behavior and the "black and blue" marks were noticed several days ago. she blames herself for not bringing her child to the clinic sooner. on what information about the pathophysiology of leukemia should the nurse base a response?

Answer 1

In acute leukemia, bone marrow suppression might happen. Then cancer cell can suppress the nearby cell in the bone marrow, causing a decrease in all blood component (pancytopenia). One of the blood components is thrombocyte which has a function in blood coagulation.
The black and blue marks probably a bruise that made from coagulation problem that caused by low in the blood thrombocyte/platelet count. The suppression should already happen when the bruise shows up.