The Furry Monkey

TERMINOLOGY - A

 

 

 

ABVD
A chemotherapy combination commonly used to treat Hodgkin's Disease. The drugs used are Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, and Dacarbazine (DTIC).

Active Tissue
Tissue that is alive and functioning. In PET scanning, the radiopharmaceutical FDG builds up in areas that are very active, such as cancer cells.

Active Cells
Cells that are alive and functioning.

Acute
Sudden onset of disease or symptoms.

Adjuvant Therapy
Anticancer drugs or hormones given after surgery and/or radiation to help prevent the cancer from coming back.

Aietology
The study of the causes of disease.

Aggressive Lymphomas
Lymphomas that are fast growing. These types of lymphoma generally need to be treated immediately, but there is a good chance for a long-term cure. These lymphomas are also called intermediate-grade or high-grade lymphomas.

Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant
Bone marrow is taken from another person with a compatible HLA and given to a recipient.

Alopecia
Hair loss. This is almost always temporary; hair grows back when therapy is finished.

Anaemia
A shortage of oxygen carrying red blood cells. This can cause weakness and fatigue.

Anatomy
The body's structure, parts and organs.

Angiogenesis
The process of developing new blood vessels.

Angiography
An examination of arteries and veins using a contrast medium to differentiate them from surrounding organs. The contrast medium is introduced through a catheter to show the blood vessels and the structures they supply, including organs.

Absolute neutrophil count (NEW-tro-fil), also called ANC*
The total number of neutrophils in the blood, a measure of one's ability to fight infection. Also called absolute granulocyte count or AGC.

Anthracyclines
Drugs which interfere with the DNA structure of cells preventing cell division - so affects cells which are dividing too quickly - normally cancer cells.

Antibody
A substance made by B-lymphocytes that reacts with antigens (particularly proteins) on viruses, bacteria and some cancer cells to mark them for removal.

Anti-emetic
Medicine that can help reduce feeling or being sick.

Antigen
Proteins located on the surface of all cells. The immune System uses antigens to determine whether cells are a necessary part of the body or need to be destroyed.

Apheresis
The collection and separation of stem cells from the peripheral blood streatm using a machine similar to a dialysis machine.

Aplasia
The failure of bone marrow to produce new blood cells, this is caused through a lack of stem cells.

Aplastic Anemia
A deficiency of certain types of blood cells caused by poor bone marrow function.

Apoptosis
Programmed cell death which is normal, but it can be triggered by chemo drugs and irradiation.

Appliance Officer
Someone who is responsible for supplying and fitting stockings, collars, wigs, supports etc.

Apheresis (AFF-er-EE-sis)
The channeling of blood out of the body and through specialized single-use tubing and equipment in order to extract various blood cell types, such as platelets or stem cells, from the bloodstream. After these cells are extracted, the blood is returned to the body. Also called hemapheresis, or leukapheresis for the extraction of white blood cells.

Apoptosis (app-uh-TOE-sis; variant: a-pup-TOE-sis)
Orderly cell death characterized by slow dissolving and reuse of cell parts by neighbouring tissue. Some chemotherapy drugs induce apoptosis; others cause cell lysis or bursting.

Aspirate
Sample of cells taken with a needle....I've had several of these in the bone...lovely (NOT!!!)

Aromatherapy
Gentle massage using oils from flowers, roots and leaves, often with relaxing perfumes.

Autologous transplant (aw-TAHL-uh-gus)
Bone Marrow is taken from the patient's own body prior to high dose chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment. After treatment, the marrow, which may or may not have been treated with chemotherapy, is reinfused into the patient to restore the immune system.

Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant (Auto PBSCT)
Stem Cells are taken from the patient's own body prior to treatment. After treatment, the stem cells are reinfused into the patient to restore the immune system.

Axillary Lymph Node
A lymph node found in the armpit (axilla).