Receiving a childhood cancer diagnosis changes your entire life instantly, not only do you need to come to terms with that but you also need to learn what feels like an entirely new language of medical jargon so that you know what’s going on. This cancer terms glossary explains what these words and acronyms mean. Some you will encounter with most types of cancer but some of these cancer terms are specific to leukaemia.
Diagnosis Cancer Terms
These are the cancer terms that you may encounter in the run-up to and during the diagnosis process.
Anaemia
a lack of red blood cells which causes fatigue and weakness
Blasts/Blast Cells
Blasts/Blast Cells – immature blood cells released into the bloodstream
Haematology
the study and treatment of the blood
Oncology
the study and treatment of cancer
Petechiae
Petechiae – a pinpoint rash most commonly associated with meningitis
Treatment Cancer Terms
These are the cancer terms related to the treatment and events occurring during treatment.
ALL
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
ALLTogether1
a study looking at treatment for children and young adults with newly diagnosed ALL
B-Cell
the most common form of ALL which affects the B Cell Lymphocytes
BMA
Bone Marrow Aspiration
Central Line
a catheter placed into a large central vein used to administer medication or fluids and to take blood samples
CNS
Clinical Nurse Specialist
DI
delayed intensification (one of the treatment phases)
DLA
disability living allowance (a benefit that your child will likely be entitled to)
FBC
full blood count
HB
haemoglobin (red blood cells)
Hickman
a type of central line that is permanently accessed
IM
intramuscular (into the muscle)
IT
intrathecal (into the spinal fluid)
IV
intravenous (into the vein)
LP
lumbar puncture
LTM
long term maintenance (a phase of treatment)
Maintenance
the final phase of treatment
Neutropenic/Neutropenia
low neutrophils (a type of white blood cell)
Neuts
neutrophils (a type of white blood cell)
NG
nasogastric tube (a tube that goes up the nose and into the stomach for the administration of medicine or to provide nutrition)
Plts
platelets (a type of blood cell)
Port
portacath (a type of central line that can be accessed for up to a week at a time)
Pulses
high doses of steroids for a short period of time
Spiked a Fever
a temperature of 38ºC or above
T-Cell
ALL affecting the T Cell lymphocytes
WBC
white blood cells
Wigglys
a child-friendly name for an accessed central line
Medications
These are names of medications that you may encounter during treatments. Please bear in mind that I am not a medical professional and these are only the medications that have been used to treat the Dinosaur.
Cytarabine
a chemotherapy drug
Dex
Dexamethasone (a type of steroid)
Dox
Doxorubicin (a chemotherapy drug)
Gabapentine
a medicine used to treat nerve pain
HD MTX
high dose methotrexate (a chemotherapy drug)
Hyoscine
an anti-sickness medication in the form of a patch that is stuck behind the ear
Lactulose
a laxative
Movicol
a laxative
MTX
methotrexate (a chemotherapy drug)
Omeprazole
a medication used to prevent indigestion and heartburn
Ondansetron
an anti-sickness medication
PEG-Asparaginase
a chemotherapy drug
Taz
tazocin (an antibiotic)
Vinc
vincristine (a chemotherapy drug)
6MP
mercaptopurine (a chemotherapy drug)
Where to Get More Information
This glossary is just a brief description of the terms and phrases you may come across on your journey. For more detailed information, have a look at these trusted sites:
Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group
