Case Study
Review the following case study and answer the questions that are provided. Provide complete and detailed responses to each question. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.
Sarah Vaughan is a 34-year-old accountant, who is married with no children. She was recently diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) following a history of recurrent fevers, easily bruised skin, and a general feeling of lethargy and weakness. Diagnosis was confirmed by blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy, which Mrs. Vaughan found rather unpleasant. Mrs. Vaughan has been advised that she will undergo treatment in three stages. One stage includes total body irradiation, after which she will have to avoid going out in the sun for several months.
1. Mrs. Vaughan is slightly unusual in presenting with ALL Which adult patient groups are most likely to develop ALL
2. What are the three stages of treatment for ALL?
3. What is total body irradiation, why is it carried out, and why will Mrs. Vaughan need to avoid direct sunlight afterwards?
4. Mrs. Vaughan is of child-bearing age. What should she be told about her fertility now and in the future?