Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC):

A blood cell count which monitors the number of the neutrophils/granulocytes. These are White Blood Cells primarily responsible for fighting bacterial infections.

Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant:

Transplant in which bone marrow from a donor, rather than the patient's own marrow, is infused.

Apheresis:

A painless procedure by which blood is withdrawn from a patient's arm and circulated through a machine that removes certain components and returns the remaining components to the patient. This procedure is used to remove platelets from platelet donors' blood, or stem cells from patients undergoing a peripheral stem cell harvest.

Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant:

Transplant in which the patient's own bone marrow, rather than marrow from a donor, is infused during transplant to provide the body with a source of stem cells.

Blood Culture:

A blood sample taken to determine the presence of a specific infection in the blood.

Bone Marrow:

Spongy tissue in the cavities of large bones, where the body's blood cells are produced.

Bone Marrow Aspiration:

Procedure used to remove a sample of bone marrow, usually from the rear hip bone, for examination under the microscope.

Chemotherapy:

Special drugs used alone or in combination to kill cancer cells.

Complete Blood Count (CBC):

A blood test which measures the different types and number of blood cells.

Conditioning Regimen:

The preparative regimen consisting of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy given prior to the stem cell infusion. Serves to eradicate any remaining malignant disease and make space in the bone marrow cavity for the engraftment of the infused stem cell.

Cryopreservation:

To preserve by freezing. Bone marrow harvested for an autologous BMT, for example, is cryopreserved.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV):

A virus that lies dormant in many persons' bodies and frequently causes infection post-transplant. Patients who have been exposed to and still carry the virus are CMV-positive.

Differential Count:

A blood cell count which monitors the various type of White Blood Cells circulating in the blood.

Engraftment:

The growth of transplanted stem cells.

G-CSF:

Granulocyte colony stimulating factor. A protein that stimulates the growth and maturation of granulocytes.

GM-CSF:

Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor. A protein that stimulates the growth and maturation of a wide variety of white blood cells.

Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD):

A condition that can occur following an allogenic BMT in which some of the donor's bone marrow cells attack the patient's tissues and organs.

Harvesting:

The process of collecting stem cells which is needed for a transplant.

Hemoglobin:

Refers to the red pigment of the RBC which carries oxygen throughout the body.

Human Leukocyte Antigen:

A genetic "fingerprint" on white blood cells and platelets, composed of proteins that play a critical role in activating the body's immune system to respond to foreign organisms.

Immunocompromised:

A condition in which the immune system is not functioning normally.

Immunosuppression:

A condition in which the patient's immune system is functioning at a lower than normal level. Allogeneic BMT patients are deliberately immunosuppressed to allow the donor's bone marrow to engraft without interference from the patient's immune system.

Jaundice:

A "yellowish" skin color arising from altered liver function.

Monoclonal Antibody:

Antibodies that are all identical, derived from a single "clone." Sometimes used in "purging," a process by which certain cells are removed from bone marrow before infusion into patients.

NPO:

Nothing by mouth.

Packed Red Blood Cells:

Red blood cells collected from one individual that are packed into a small volume for transfusion into a patient.

Perineal/Perineum:

The area between the inner thighs, extending from the vulva to the anus in a female, and from the scrotum to the anus in a male.

Platelets (PLT):

The smallest cell elements in the blood, needed to control bleeding.

Pre-Medication:

Medications given before a treatment to decrease or prevent side effects.

Preparative Regimen:

The chemotherapy and/or radiation given to BMT patients prior to transplant to kill diseased cells and/or make space for healthy new marrow and/or suppress the immune system so graft rejection does not occur.

Red Blood Cell (RBC):

A type of blood cell produced in the bone marrow which carries oxygen to the body and provides color to the skin.

Saline:

A salt and water solution.

Stem Cell:

"Mother" blood cells from which several different types of blood cells evolve.

Steroids:

Drugs used to decrease inflammation in certain diseases.

Syngeneic Bone Marrow Transplant:

Transplant in which an identical twin is the bone marrow donor.

TBI:

Total body irradiation.

Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN):

Intravenous feeding that provides patients with all essential nutrients when thery're unable to feed themselves. Also called TPN, hyperalimentation or hyperal.

Veno-Occlusive Disease (VOD):

A disease that sometimes occurs following high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiation, in which the blood vessels that carry blood through the liver become swollen and clogged.

White Blood Cell (WBC):

A type of blood cell produced in the bone marrow which is responsible for fighting infections. There are actually many different types of WBC's and these are monitored through drawing a blood specimen called a "CBC with differential."

Whole Body:

Blood that has not been separated into its various components.

DRUGS

Acyclovir:

Medicine to prevent/treat infections caused by Herpes simplex virus (cold sores) and zoster virus (chicken pox, shingles).

Amphotericin B:

An antifungal drug.

Bactrim:

An antibiotic.

Benadryl:

A medication administered frequently prior to the administration of blood products and other treatments to prevent reactions. This may also be used to reduce itching or as a sleeping medication.

Ciprofloxacin:

An antibiotic.

Cydosporin:

A graft-rejection immunosuppressive medicine and used to prevent graft-virus-host-deisease.

Demerol:

A narcotic frequently used to prevent/treat shaking and chills.

Folic Acid:

A "B" vitamin which aids in bone marrow/stem cell maturation.

Fluconazole:

An antifungal drug.

Heparin:

A medicine used to flush the central venous catheter when it is capped and not in use. This keeps the catheter from clotting.

Hydrocortisone:

A type of steroid frequently used as a premedication for blood and other treatments.

Methotrexate:

A chemotherapy drug used to prevent graft-virus-host-disease.

Mycostatin:

A drug used to prevent/treat fungal infections.

Ovral:

Used to prevent uterine bleeding.

Peridex:

An oral rinse used to prevent/treat a variety of oral infections.

Prednisone:

A type of oral steroid used to prevent and treat graft-virus-host-disease.

Tylenol (acetaminophen):

A drug used to control fevers and minor aches and pains. It is used instead of aspirin because, unlike aspirin, it does not interfere with the clotting functions of platelets.

Vitamin B-12:

A "B" vitamin which aids in bone marrow/stem cell maturation.

Vitamin K:

A vitamin that is needed for blood