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Glossary

Showing 1-10 out of 1157 Terms

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  • Abdomen

    (AB-doh-men)

    The area of the body that contains the pancreas, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, and other organs.

  • Ablative therapy

    Treatment that removes or destroys the function of an organ or system. For example, high dose chemotherapy and radiation before a bone marrow transplant is considered ablative therapy because it wipes out your immune system.

  • Abnormal

    (ab-NOR-mul)

    Not normal. Describes a state, condition, or behavior that is unusual or different from what is considered normal. An abnormal lesion or growth in or on the body may be benign (not cancer), precancerous or premalignant (likely to become cancer), or malignant (cancer).

  • Absolute neutrophil count

    (AB-soh-loot NOO-troh-fil kownt)

    A measure of the number of neutrophils in the blood. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell. They help the body fight infection. An absolute neutrophil count may be used to check for infection, inflammation, leukemia, and other conditions. The lower a person's absolute neutrophil count is, the higher the risk is of getting an infection. Having an absolute neutrophil count of less than 500 means there is a high risk of getting an infection. Cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, may reduce the absolute neutrophil count. Also called ANC.

  • Acupressure

    (AK-yoo-PREH-sher)

    The application of pressure or localized massage to specific sites on the body to control symptoms such as pain or nausea. It is a type of complementary and alternative medicine.

  • Acupuncture

    (AK-yoo-PUNK-cher)

    The technique of inserting thin needles through the skin at specific points on the body to control pain and other symptoms. It is a type of complementary and alternative medicine.

  • Acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    (uh-KYOOT LIM-foh-BLAS-tik loo-KEE-mee-uh)

    A type of leukemia (blood cancer) that comes on quickly and is fast growing. In acute lymphoblastic leukemia, there are too many lymphoblasts (immature white blood cells) in the blood and bone marrow. Also called acute lymphocytic leukemia and ALL.

  • Acute lymphocytic leukemia

    uh-KYOOT LIM-foh-SIH-tik loo-KEE-mee-uh

    A type of leukemia (blood cancer) that comes on quickly and is fast growing. In acute lymphocytic leukemia, there are too many lymphoblasts (immature white blood cells) in the blood and bone marrow. Also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia and ALL.

  • Acute myeloid leukemia

    uh-KYOOT MY-eh-loyd loo-KEE-mee-uh

    An aggressive (fast-growing) disease in which too many myeloblasts (immature white blood cells that are not lymphoblasts) are found in the bone marrow and blood. Also called acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, AML, and ANLL.

  • Addison disease

    (A-dih-sun dih-ZEEZ)

    A rare disorder in which the adrenal glands do not make enough of certain hormones. Symptoms include weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness, fatigue, low blood sugar, low blood pressure, and patchy or dark skin. Most cases of the disorder are caused by immune system problems, but may also be caused by infection, cancer, or other diseases. Also called adrenal insufficiency.