This glossary will help to explain some of the medical words you may come across when reading about or discussing your childs condition
Anaesthetic drugs used to put a patient to sleep
Anti-convulsant a drug which can prevent or reduce seizures/fits
Anti-emetic a drug that will prevent sickness and/or vomiting
Aspirate to withdraw excess fluid by suction
Benign slow growing ie not cancerous
Biopsy removing a small piece of the tumour usually for examination
Blood count is the number of cells of different types contained ina blood sample
Bone Marrow is the subtance found in the centre of the larger bones which makes the blood cells
Cannular a small tube inserted (usually into the back of the hand) to withdraw or insert fluids ie blood or medication
Chemotherapy treatment of a cancer/tumour using chemical substances either with tablets or through a canular
CNS Central Nervous System - the brain and spine
Craniotomy opening of the skull to expose the brain
CT (Computerised Tomography) Scan takes pictures of soft body tissue and can reveal any tumours and their position in the body
CT/MRI contrast a dye which is injected into a vein and will travel to the tumour to highlight areas to get better scan pictures
Diagnosis the identification of a disease or illness
EEG a way of recording the electical activity of the brain
Epilepsy fits or siezures caused by interference of the electrical activity in the brain
Hickman Line tube inserted under the skin into a large vein to make the giving of drugs and the taking of blood more easy
High grade tumour quick growing or cancerous tumour
Low grade tumour a slow growing or benign tumour which can develop over a period of years
Lumbar puncture taking fluid from the lower spine usually for testing
MRI a scan which can show the inside of the body using magnetic waves
Neurological refers to anything to do with the central nervous system, which includes the brain, spine and peripheral nerves
Oncologist a specialist/consultant in treating tumours/cancer
Paediatrician a doctor who specialises in childrens medicine
Prognosis the outlook and possible outcome of a patients condition given by a doctor
Protocol the planned pattern of treatment
Radiotherapy treatment of tumour by energy waves
Shunt a device put into the brain to drain away fluid
Steroids a type of drug which is used to reduce any swelling
Tumour abnormal lump or growth in or on the body caused by an abnormal overgrowth of cells
CNS Central Nervous System - the brain and spine
Craniotomy opening of the skull to expose the brain
CT (Computerised Tomography) Scan takes pictures of soft body tissue and can reveal any tumours and their position in the body
CT/MRI contrast a dye which is injected into a vein and will travel to the tumour to highlight areas to get better scan pictures
Diagnosis the identification of a disease or illness
EEG a way of recording the electical activity of the brain
Epilepsy fits or siezures caused by interference of the electrical activity in the brain
Hickman Line tube inserted under the skin into a large vein to make the giving of drugs and the taking of blood more easy
High grade tumour quick growing or cancerous tumour
Low grade tumour a slow growing or benign tumour which can develop over a period of years
Lumbar puncture taking fluid from the lower spine usually for testing
MRI a scan which can show the inside of the body using magnetic waves
Neurological refers to anything to do with the central nervous system, which includes the brain, spine and peripheral nerves
Oncologist a specialist/consultant in treating tumours/cancer
Paediatrician a doctor who specialises in childrens medicine
Prognosis the outlook and possible outcome of a patients condition given by a doctor
Protocol the planned pattern of treatment
Radiotherapy treatment of tumour by energy waves
Shunt a device put into the brain to drain away fluid
Steroids a type of drug which is used to reduce any swelling
Tumour abnormal lump or growth in or on the body caused by an abnormal overgrowth of cells
This glossary will help to explain some of the medical words you may come across when reading about or discussing your childs condition
Anaesthetic drugs used to put a patient to sleep
Anti-convulsant a drug which can prevent or reduce seizures/fits
Anti-emetic a drug that will prevent sickness and/or vomiting
Aspirate to withdraw excess fluid by suction
Benign slow growing ie not cancerous
Biopsy removing a small piece of the tumour usually for examination
Blood count is the number of cells of different types contained ina blood sample
Bone Marrow is the subtance found in the centre of the larger bones which makes the blood cells
Cannular a small tube inserted (usually into the back of the hand) to withdraw or insert fluids ie blood or medication
Chemotherapy treatment of a cancer/tumour using chemical substances either with tablets or through a canular
CNS Central Nervous System - the brain and spine
Craniotomy opening of the skull to expose the brain
CT (Computerised Tomography) Scan takes pictures of soft body tissue and can reveal any tumours and their position in the body
CT/MRI contrast a dye which is injected into a vein and will travel to the tumour to highlight areas to get better scan pictures
Diagnosis the identification of a disease or illness
EEG a way of recording the electical activity of the brain
Epilepsy fits or siezures caused by interference of the electrical activity in the brain
Hickman Line tube inserted under the skin into a large vein to make the giving of drugs and the taking of blood more easy
High grade tumour quick growing or cancerous tumour
Low grade tumour a slow growing or benign tumour which can develop over a period of years
Lumbar puncture taking fluid from the lower spine usually for testing
MRI a scan which can show the inside of the body using magnetic waves
Neurological refers to anything to do with the central nervous system, which includes the brain, spine and peripheral nerves
Oncologist a specialist/consultant in treating tumours/cancer
Paediatrician a doctor who specialises in childrens medicine
Prognosis the outlook and possible outcome of a patients condition given by a doctor
Protocol the planned pattern of treatment
Radiotherapy treatment of tumour by energy waves
Shunt a device put into the brain to drain away fluid
Steroids a type of drug which is used to reduce any swelling
Tumour abnormal lump or growth in or on the body caused by an abnormal overgrowth of cells
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