When talking about pediatric cancer there are many terms and acronyms that you may be unfamiliar with so we will try to explain some of them  on this page.

 

ANC- Ratio of neutrophils to other white blood cells in the system. THis ration gives the doctors an idea of when the child is recovering from chemotherapy.

 

Antibody Treatment- Immunotherapy where antibodies attach to neuroblastoma cells, the immue system then kills the foreign antibodies and the neuroblastoma cell attached to it.

 

Avascular Necrosis- Death of an area of bone due to lack of blood flow, can be a loss of roundness in the femur bone.

 

Blood Counts- Lab tests that show the levels of different blood cells and compounds in the blood stream, specifically hemoglobin, platelets, and ANC

 

Bone Marrow Biopsy and Aspirations- Procedure where doctors put a hollow needle in the pelvice bone and take out a core sample of the bone marrow and draw some blood from the bone that has bone marrow cells mixed in for testing.

 

Bone Marrow Transplant- Intense chemotherapy to kill neuroblastoma that also destroys bone marrow, bone marrow needs to be restored by infusing patient's previously collected stem cells

 

Bone Scan- Nuclear medicine scan that shows places of intense turn-over of the bone.

 

Broviac Catheter (Central Line)- A catheter in the big vessel of the heart for medication administration and blood draws

 

Chemotherapy- Single or cocktail of drugs designed to kill cancer cells

 

Cis Retinoic Acid- Immunotherapy oral drug that tells neuroblastoma cells to mature

 

COG- Children's Oncology Group. A group of children's hospitals that facility research trials

 

Complete Response- No Evidence of Disease (NED) after therapy

 

CT Scan- slices of x rays put together to create a 3D image of your child, This scan allows the doctors to see in detail an area that may have disease or some other concern.

 

Frontline Therapy- the best known therapy for a particular disease

 

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)- Test to determine kidney function

 

Hematology- The study of blood disorders

 

Hem/Onc- Hematology/ Oncology. In many hospitals these are paired in the same unit when it comes to pediatric cases.

 

Hemoglobin- levels tell amount of hemoglobin (biologic substance that carries oxygen) in the red blood cells. Low hemoglobin levels may make a child very tired and pale

 

Histology- Cellular level makeup of a tumor

 

Homovanillic Acid (HVA)- An acid found in a child's urine at small normal non cancer levels. Neruoblastoma excrete the acid giving an indication of the level of neuroblastoma activity. Usually paired with VMA

 

Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG)- blood product from donors, rich in antibodies, that recognizes and helps fight certain infections.

 

Metastatic Disease- Cancer that has spread to multiple parts of the body from the primary tumor

 

MIBG-Metaiodobenzylguanidine- radioactive dye that is absorbed by Neuroblastoma. One type is used for scanning, a different type and dose may be used for therapy

 

MIBG Scan- radioactive scan to test for Neuroblastoma

 

MIBG Therapy- radioactive treatment for Neuroblastom, only available at a few hospitals

 

Minimal Residual Disease- bulky tumors are gone, only a minimal amount of disease left

 

MRI- a detailed scan that uses magnets not radiation

 

Mucositis- mouth sores, like canker sores, that appear in the mouth and throat, a painful side effect of chemotherapy. May also have a thick white film covering the tongue, cheeks, and throat that makes it difficult and painful to swallow.

 

NANT- New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy- a group of universities and children's hospitals who research potential tretaments for Neuroblastoma

 

Neuropathy- an injury of the nerve endings that cause tingling in the hands and feet. Severe neuropathy includes pain up the legs and arms

 

Neutropenic- ANC that is below normal, patients are more susceptible to germs and catching bugs while neutropenic

 

Neutrophils- The white blood cells most critical to fighting germs

 

NMTRC- Neuroblastoma & Medulloblastoma Translational Research Consortium- group of universities and children's hospitals who research treatments for Neuroblastoma

 

No Evidence of DIsease (NED)- Scans and tests show no evidence of any cancer

 

NPO- Nothing by mouth, no food or drink

 

Oncology- The study of Cancer

 

Packed Red Blood Cells- Blood product given when hemoglobin is low

 

Partial Response- The drug removed a measurable amount of disease but not all of it.

 

Petechia- Small blood extravasations into skin, looking like red spots, that may occur when the platelet levels drop below normal.

 

Peripheral Stem Cell Harvest- Procedure to take stem cells out of the blood to be used later to recover from bone marrow transplant

 

Platelets- Part of the blood system that allows the blood to clot, if platelets are low patients may bruise and bleed easily

 

Port-a-Cath- Port for short, A type of central line that stays under the skin, the port is accessed with a needle

 

Primary Tumor- The place the cancer started. For Neuroblastoma this is commonly on an adrenal gland.

 

Progression- When the disease gets larger or more extensive instead of smaller.

 

Radiation Therapy- Radiation to the primary tumor bed and other areas of concern

 

Remission- When Cancer is completely eradicated by treatment and stays away

 

Stage of Disease- A way for doctors to classify cancers and determine appropriate treatment.

 

Toxicity- Severe side effects.

 

Transfusions- When a blood product is given into the vein.

 

Treatment Protocal- Specific sequence of medications and tests used for particular disease therapy.

 

Vanillylmandelic Acid- An acid found in your child's urine at small normal non cancer levels. Neuroblastoma excrete the acid giving an indication of the level of Neuroblastoma activity, usually paired with HVA

Glossary

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