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Glossary of Terms
Anaemic:
Caused by a decrease in red blood cells, or less than the normal quantity
of haemoglobin in the blood.
Antibiotics:
Medicine which kills or slows down the growth of bacteria.
Alternative therapies/Complementary medicine:
Any healing practise which
does not fall within the realms of conventional medicine e.g. spiritual healers,
acupuncture, homeopathy, refexology etc.
Biopsy:
A small piece of tissue taken from any part of the body in order to examine
it under a microscope to make a diagnosis.
Blood counts/Full Blood Count (FBC):
Gives the medical team information about
cells in the patient’s blood (haemoglobin,white cells and platelets).
Blood transfusion:
Giving blood (concentrated red blood cells) into the patient’s
circulation – used when the haemoglobin is low.This is administered via a central
line or an IV cannula.
Brain stem:
Part of the brain that is responsible for numerous vital functions,
including the control of breathing. Nerves pass through the brain stem to the rest
of the body.
Cancer:
Abnormal growth of cells (primary tumour) which may spread to other
sites and create secondary tumours.
Cell:
The living units from which animal and plants are built i.e. blood cells, brain
cells.They are so tiny that one million cells would ft on a pinhead.
Chemotherapy:
Drug treatment to kill cancerous cells.
Diagnosis:
The exact name and type of the patient’s illness.
Difuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma:
An inoperable tumour in the brain stem.
Difuse:
To spread
Intrinsic:
Belonging to or lying within a given part
Pontine:
Part of the brain stem
Glioma:
A type of tumour that starts in the brain or spine
Disease:
An abnormal condition affecting the body or an organism.
General anaesthetic:
A drug which brings about a reversible loss of consciousness.
Section 6