Vocabulary of the week

The thing about cancer is that unless you or a loved one close to you has experienced it, or you are in the medical field, there is this whole new world of vocabulary that comes to you. Some of it is scary, some of it is almost funny, and some just plain interesting. 

So, I'm doing my best to get through my latest assignment of reading, Chemotherapy and You ~ Support for People With Cancer, which is a 60 page booklet to inform me on everything I need to know about chemo.  And then I will later go through a Chemo Teaching session with the NP to learn even more!

Thrombocytopenia: low platelet count

Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy: chemo used to make a tumor smaller before surgery or radiation

Port: a small, round disc made of plastic or metal that is placed under the skin. A catheter connects the port to a large vein, most often in the chest. The port is used to insert a needle into it to to give chemo or draw blood.

Infusion Room: The "salon" like looking room where chemo is "infused" into your body.

Chemo is designed to kill fast growing cancer cells. So it can also affect healthy fast growing cells; which include mouth, intestines, bone marrow, hair growth cells. Side affects: fatigue, nausea, vomiting, decreased blood cell count, hair loss, mouth sores, pain. There is also a risk of danger to heart, lungs, nerves, kidneys, reproductive organs.

Feelings during chemo: anxiety, depression, anger, helplessness, lonely, afraid.    HELLO!!!

Hugs, Debbie... aka the cancer warrior

LIVESTRONG:
I AM STRONG. I AM LOVED. I AM HEALTHY. WE WILL WIN!