Terms and abbreviations for "Newbies"

This list may helpful for "newbies" to understand abbreviations and terms you will come across. Please respond with other terms you may want to add.

Definitions and Abbreviations:

Salpingo-oophorectomy removal of fallopian tube and ovary (bilateral = both sides)

Hysterectomy = removal of uterus

Debulking surgery = removal ovarian cancer and usually involves the removal of not only the ovaries but the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and as much visible disease as possible
Optimally debulked = disease left after surgery that is less then 1 cm in size.
Suboptimally debulked = disease left after surgery that is more then 1 cm in size.

FIGO = Federation International Gynecology Obstetrics -- is the staging system for Ovarian Cancer
Stages of ovarian cancer

NED = no evidence of disease
SD = Stable Disease
Persistent Disease = cancer still remains after treatment
Recurrence = (ROC--Recurrent Ovarian Cancer) ovarian cancer that has returned after treatment
Metastatic = cancer that has spread inside the liver, in the lungs, bone, or brain.

CT or CAT Scan = Computed Axial Tomography can be done on brain chest, abdomen, pelvis, legs, or arms
PET = Positron Emission Tomography (scan)- whole body scan
NMR =Nuclear magnetic resonance (scan) done on different parts of of the body

Ca -125 blood test marker for ovarian cancer but it may also be elevated in other malignant cancers, including those in the uterus, fallopian tubes, lungs, breast and GI tract along with benign conditions --- endometriosis, diseases of the ovary, pregnancy, & abdominal inflammatory conditions. Is not perfectly specific for all women with ovarian cancer so may not be elevated at onset or recurrence.

Chemo = Chemotherapy
HDC = High Dose Chemotherapy
IV = intravenous
IVP = intravenous push
IP = intraperitoneal
Antiemetic = anti nausea drug
Pre-medications = drugs given prior to chemotherapy to prevent nausea or allergic reactions.
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction

Chemotherapy drugs used in OvCa:
CDDP= = Cisplatin = Platinol
Carbopatin = Paraplatin
Paclitaxol = Taxol = Onxal
Bevacizumab = Avastin
Docetaxel = Taxotere
Melphalan = Alkeran
Doxrubicin liposome = Doxil
CTX = Cyclophosphamide = Cytoxan = Neosar
Gemcitabine = Gemzar
5-fluorouracil 5-FU
VP16 = Etoposide = VePesid
Vinorelbine = Navelbine
Doxorubicin = Adriamycin = Rubex.
Hycamtin = Topotecan hydrochloride
Ifosfamide= Ifex
Altretamine = Hexamethylmelamine = Hexalen

Some Anti Nausea drugs (some of these drugs are also used to prevent allergic reactions):
Dexamethasone = Decadron
Granisetron = Kytril
Ondansetron = Zofran
Palonosetron = Aloxi
Dolasetron = Anzemet
Aprepitant = Emend
Prochlorperazine =Compazine
Lorazepam = Ativan
Metoclopramide = Reglan
Diphenhydramine = Benadryl


Other terms:
SOB = Short of breath (not a abbreviation referring to your personality --LOL)
Alopecia = Loss of hair
Edema = swelling caused by the abnormal accumulation of fluid in body tissues
Lymphedema = fluid retention and tissue swelling in legs and arms-- can be caused lymph nodes removed by surgery--can occur months or years after surgery.
Anaphylaxis = allergic reaction--symptoms include shortness of breath, rash, wheezing, & drop in blood pressure.


BMT information:
Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) = type of stem cell transplant in which the stem cells are obtained from the bone marrow. Bone marrow transplant can be either a peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant.
Apheresis = process where blood is taken from a donor, a blood component is separated out, and the remaining blood components are returned to the donor. For a peripheral blood stem cell collection, the white blood cell component, which contains the stem cells, is separated out.
Autologous Stem Cell Transplant: transplant in which the stem cells are taken from the patient, the cells are frozen, and later infused into the patient.
Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant = transplant in which the stem cells come from a specially matched donor (related family member, unrelated person or cord blood).