The leukemias. Definition, treatment, and nursing care

While leukemia continues to represent a dreaded, often terminal disease, many new drugs and treatments have been developed in the past two decades. The life span of those afflicted by leukemia has been lengthened, and in some instances the patients have been cured. The treatment is often aggressive with life-threatening side effects. The nurse is faced with many demands when caring for the patient with leukemia who is undergoing therapy. An understanding of the disease process and the treatment is necessary to give optimal nursing care. In addition, the psychologic impact of this disease on patient and family requires time and special interventions from the nursing staff. Care of these challenging patients need not be viewed with pessimism and gloom. When quality care is delivered, both patient and nurse share the gratifying experience of working to achieve the hope and goal of continued life.