UNIT 8 ASSIGNMENT 2
Rafaela Gaspar ID 192763 BTEC Level 3 Applied Science
, IMPACT OF LYMPHATIC DISORDERS AND ASSOCIATED TREATMENTS
TASK A
Hodgkin Lymphoma and Lymphatic Filariasis are amongst the many conditions being
researched by the medical professionals employed at your work placement. Your patient
case study will focus on just one of these disorders.
Lymphatic System disorder chosen Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Your patient case study must include a:
Evaluation and description of the effects of a single lymphatic disorder of your
choice and include an evaluation and description of the corrective treatment(s)
associated with the disorder.
A detailed explanation of the physiological reasoning behind the treatments
prescribed in an attempt to correct the disorder you have chosen must be included.
In choosing treatment methods, medical professionals will need to take into account
the likely benefits to the patient and the potential risks and problems the prescribed
treatment(s) may bring. Include these factors in your report.
In a very short explanation, the lymphatic system is a network of vessels, nodes and organs in the
human body that fight infections caused by pathogens and filters toxins and waste. It has
lymphocytes which are a type of white blood cells. Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is simply a cancer in
the lymphocytes. [1]
The lymphocytes made in the bone marrow, called B-cells and T-cells, are the main types of
white blood cells. Whilst B-cells remain in the bone marrow to mature, T-cells mature in the
thymus (organ that nestles between the lungs). [1]
Killer T-cell and Helper T-cell are the two main types of T-cells. Killer T-cells destroys cells that
have been infected and damaged and Helper T-cells stimulate B-cells to produce antibodies in
order to fight infection and viruses. [1]
Unlike T-cells, B-cells happen to mutate and cause a liquid cancer such as Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Leukaemia. [1]
The difference between Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is the absence of
oversized B-cells, which may be also called Reed-Sternberg cells, in NHL. [1]
, IMPACT OF LYMPHATIC DISORDERS AND ASSOCIATED TREATMENTS
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Hodgkin lymphoma, or HL, was used to be called Hodgkin’s disease. The lymphatic system is a
part of the immune system that is made up of a number of ducts and tubes that parallel the blood
vessels (arteries and veins) throughout the body. HL is a cancer in this system. These lymph
ducts evacuate a milky white fluid that contains the by-products from the immune activity away
from areas of infection and inflammation. The lymph nodes are filters at certain points
throughout the lymphatic system that normally exist in grape-like clusters. The lymph nodes
usually filter the cellular waste products and rubbish from infection that travel through the lymph
tubes. The immune cells present in the lymph nodes have the function of neutralising and
degrading this waste. WBC also exist within the lymph nodes, which have an important role in
fighting infectious agents such as bacteria and virus. [4]
Hodgkin’s lymphoma will cause suppression of the lymphatic system, as it is mentioned above,
the lymphatic system has an important function being part of the immune system. If it gets
damaged or supressed it won’t work as it should, so the patient will be much more vulnerable
and susceptible to toxins and pathogens than a person with an intact lymphatic system would. [4]
If the HL is left untreated this will not only affect the normal and effective functioning of the
lymphatic system, but the patient will also develop bone marrow failure. Lymphoma can affect
the bone marrow to a point where the patient is no longer able to produce any new blood cells.
This can cause an infection (ex. neutropenia) because the WBC count will be too low and this
increases the risk of infection, it is common for people that have severe bone marrow failure to
die from an infection and if this infection reaches the bloodstream (called sepsis), patient might
lose consciousness, bone marrow failure can also lead to a shortage of oxygen to the organs
because the cells that carry oxygen (RBC) are too low on count (anaemia) this would cause
shortness of breath, fatigue and weakness, finally, bone marrow failure also affects the platelets
count (thrombocytopenia) which heightens the risk of bleeding and bruising, this can be internal
or external, I can case serious complication and result in death, thrombocytopenia increases the
risk of bleeding in the brain which can cause a stroke where the blood supply to your brain is cut.
[3]
Rafaela Gaspar ID 192763 BTEC Level 3 Applied Science
, IMPACT OF LYMPHATIC DISORDERS AND ASSOCIATED TREATMENTS
TASK A
Hodgkin Lymphoma and Lymphatic Filariasis are amongst the many conditions being
researched by the medical professionals employed at your work placement. Your patient
case study will focus on just one of these disorders.
Lymphatic System disorder chosen Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Your patient case study must include a:
Evaluation and description of the effects of a single lymphatic disorder of your
choice and include an evaluation and description of the corrective treatment(s)
associated with the disorder.
A detailed explanation of the physiological reasoning behind the treatments
prescribed in an attempt to correct the disorder you have chosen must be included.
In choosing treatment methods, medical professionals will need to take into account
the likely benefits to the patient and the potential risks and problems the prescribed
treatment(s) may bring. Include these factors in your report.
In a very short explanation, the lymphatic system is a network of vessels, nodes and organs in the
human body that fight infections caused by pathogens and filters toxins and waste. It has
lymphocytes which are a type of white blood cells. Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is simply a cancer in
the lymphocytes. [1]
The lymphocytes made in the bone marrow, called B-cells and T-cells, are the main types of
white blood cells. Whilst B-cells remain in the bone marrow to mature, T-cells mature in the
thymus (organ that nestles between the lungs). [1]
Killer T-cell and Helper T-cell are the two main types of T-cells. Killer T-cells destroys cells that
have been infected and damaged and Helper T-cells stimulate B-cells to produce antibodies in
order to fight infection and viruses. [1]
Unlike T-cells, B-cells happen to mutate and cause a liquid cancer such as Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Leukaemia. [1]
The difference between Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is the absence of
oversized B-cells, which may be also called Reed-Sternberg cells, in NHL. [1]
, IMPACT OF LYMPHATIC DISORDERS AND ASSOCIATED TREATMENTS
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Hodgkin lymphoma, or HL, was used to be called Hodgkin’s disease. The lymphatic system is a
part of the immune system that is made up of a number of ducts and tubes that parallel the blood
vessels (arteries and veins) throughout the body. HL is a cancer in this system. These lymph
ducts evacuate a milky white fluid that contains the by-products from the immune activity away
from areas of infection and inflammation. The lymph nodes are filters at certain points
throughout the lymphatic system that normally exist in grape-like clusters. The lymph nodes
usually filter the cellular waste products and rubbish from infection that travel through the lymph
tubes. The immune cells present in the lymph nodes have the function of neutralising and
degrading this waste. WBC also exist within the lymph nodes, which have an important role in
fighting infectious agents such as bacteria and virus. [4]
Hodgkin’s lymphoma will cause suppression of the lymphatic system, as it is mentioned above,
the lymphatic system has an important function being part of the immune system. If it gets
damaged or supressed it won’t work as it should, so the patient will be much more vulnerable
and susceptible to toxins and pathogens than a person with an intact lymphatic system would. [4]
If the HL is left untreated this will not only affect the normal and effective functioning of the
lymphatic system, but the patient will also develop bone marrow failure. Lymphoma can affect
the bone marrow to a point where the patient is no longer able to produce any new blood cells.
This can cause an infection (ex. neutropenia) because the WBC count will be too low and this
increases the risk of infection, it is common for people that have severe bone marrow failure to
die from an infection and if this infection reaches the bloodstream (called sepsis), patient might
lose consciousness, bone marrow failure can also lead to a shortage of oxygen to the organs
because the cells that carry oxygen (RBC) are too low on count (anaemia) this would cause
shortness of breath, fatigue and weakness, finally, bone marrow failure also affects the platelets
count (thrombocytopenia) which heightens the risk of bleeding and bruising, this can be internal
or external, I can case serious complication and result in death, thrombocytopenia increases the
risk of bleeding in the brain which can cause a stroke where the blood supply to your brain is cut.
[3]
