Acronym:
An abbreviation formed using the initial components in a phrase or name.
Acute tumor lysis syndrome:
A condition brought on when tumor cells break apart, releasing their contents into the bloodstream. The result is a dangerous, sometimes fatal, alteration in the normal balance of serum electrolytes.
Adenoma:
A benign tumor derived from the skin, the linings of the digestive or urinary tract, or glands.
Anaphylaxis:
An acute, multisystem severe allergic reaction.
Anemia:
A decrease in the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood.
Anthropomorphize:
To attribute human characteristics to animals.
Anticipatory grief:
The realization that there will soon be a loss, resulting in a drastic change of day-to-day life.
Apoptosis:
Active cell death.
Auscultate:
To listen, specifically to the sounds produced by the body.
Benign:
A tumor which is self-limited in its growth, is not capable of invading into adjacent tissues, and is not capable of spreading to distant tissues (metastasizing).
Biological safety cabinet (BSC):
An enclosed, ventilated workspace for safely working with materials contaminated with dangerous substances or disease-causing organisms.
Body surface area:
Equivalent to the surface area of the skin. It is difficult to measure, so it is commonly estimated on the basis of formulas that use body weight as part of the equation.
Butterfly catheter:
A steel needle attached to flexible plastic wings and a short piece of extension tubing.
Cancer:
A class of diseases in which a cell or a group of cells display uncontrolled growth, invasion of local tissues, and sometimes metastasis.
Carcinoma:
A malignant tumor derived from cells of the skin, the linings of the digestive or urinary tract, or glands.
Cephalic vein:
A large superficial vein of the anterior lower forelimb.
Coarsely fractionated radiation therapy:
A total dose of radiation broken into large fractions, allowing fewer treatment sessions.
Compassion fatigue:
A gradual lessening of compassion over time. Sufferers can exhibit several symptoms including hopelessness, a decrease in experiences of pleasure, constant stress and anxiety, and a pervasive negative attitude.
Complete blood count (CBC):
A blood test that looks at numbers, size, shape, and appearance of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Complete response (CR):
The disappearance of all evidence of cancer.
Concentrated waste:
Waste generated by chemotherapy preparation and administration including the original drug vial, or a syringe and needle that came in contact with the concentrated drug during preparation.
Contaminated waste:
Incidental waste generated by chemotherapy preparation and administration such as gloves, gowns, administration sets, and intravenous bags.
Contraindication:
A factor that increases the risks involved in using a particular drug, carrying out a medical procedure, or engaging in a particular activity.
Cystitis:
Inflammation of the bladder.
Cystocentesis:
A urine collection procedure whereby a needle is placed into the urinary bladder through the abdominal wall of an animal and a sample of urine is removed.
Cytotoxic:
Toxic to cells.
Department of Transportation (DOT):
A government agency in North America devoted to transportation. The largest is the United States Department of Transportation, which oversees interstate travel. All US states, Canadian provinces, and many local agencies also have similar organizations.
Desquamation:
The shedding of the outermost membrane or layer of a tissue, such as the skin.
Diluent:
A diluting agent, often water, saline solution, or dextrose solution.
Dorsal spinous process:
The bony protuberance of the spine that sticks up in animals.
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA):
A law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States.
Electrolyte solution:
A solution containing any of various ions, such as sodium, potassium, or chloride, required by cells to regulate the flow of water molecules across a cell membrane.
Empathy:
The ability to stand in someone else’s shoes and have an emotional and intellectual comprehension of what they are experiencing without taking on the actual feelings yourself.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
An agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment.
Extravasation:
The flow of blood or the administration of a drug outside of a blood vessel.
Febrile:
Having a fever.
Fine needle aspiration:
A technique to draw a sample of cells from a tumor using only a thin, small needle.
Grade:
Tumor grade is a system used to classify cancer cells in terms of how abnormal they look under a microscope and can be predictive how quickly the tumor is likely to grow and spread.
Gram-positive/gram-negative:
Referring to a stain technique to differentiate bacteria. Gram-stain-positive bacteria absorb the stain; gram-stain-negative bacteria do not.
Hemangiosarcoma:
A malignant tumor derived from the blood vessels.
Hemorrhagic:
Characterized by the presence of blood.
High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter:
A type of high efficiency air filter designed to filter out airborne microorganisms and particles.
Histamine release:
Histamine is involved in local and systemic immune responses. As part of an immune response to foreign pathogens (allergic response), histamine is released and triggers the inflammatory response.
Hypercalcemia:
Abnormally high blood calcium levels.
Intralesional:
Into a lesion, usually refers to the injection of a drug directly into a tumor.
Intramuscular (IM):
Into a muscle, usually referring to a drug injection.
Intravenous (IV):
Into a vein, usually referring to a drug injection or infusion.
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca:
Dry eyes—its literal Latin translation is “dryness of the cornea and conjunctiva.”
Lateral recumbency:
The patient is lying on its side.
Lateral saphenous vein:
A large superficial vein on the lateral (outer) aspect of the lower hind limb.
Leukemia:
Cancer of the blood cells affecting the bone marrow or blood.
Luer lock:
A standardized system of fluid fittings used for making leak-free connections between medical and laboratory instruments, including hypodermic syringes, stopcocks, and needles. Luer-Lok is a registered trademark of Becton Dickinson.
Lymphoma:
A malignant cancer of lymphocytes; one of the white blood cells.
Malignant:
A malignant tumor is not self-limited in its growth, is capable of invading into adjacent tissues, and may be capable of spreading to distant tissues (metastasizing).
Mast cell tumor:
A malignant tumor, usually of the skin or subcutaneous tissues, derived from white blood cells called mast cells.
Medial saphenous vein:
A large superficial vein on the medial (inner) aspect midway along the hind limb.
Melanoma:
A malignant or benign tumor derived from melanocytes; pigment-containing cells in the skin and mucous membranes.
Mesothelioma:
A malignant cancer of the cells lining the abdominal and thoracic organs.
Metabolite:
Any substance produced by a metabolic reaction in the body, including chemicals formed by the metabolic transformations of a drug.
Metastasis:
The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH):
The US federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness.
Neutropenia:
An abnormally low number of neutrophils.
Neutrophils:
Also called “segs” (short for “segmented neutrophil,” alluding to the segmented nature of the nucleus); the most abundant of the white blood cells and form an integral part of the immune system. They are especially important in protecting against bacteria.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug:
A drug with pain-controlling, fever-reducing, and anti-inflammatory effects, which is neither a steroid nor a narcotic.
Normal saline:
The commonly used term for a solution of 0.9% sodium chloride.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC):
A US government agency that oversees nuclear reactor safety and security, reactor licensing and renewal, radioactive material safety, security and licensing, and spent fuel management.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):
An agency of the United States Department of Labor whose mission is to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and occupational fatalities by issuing and enforcing standards for workplace safety and health.
Osteosarcoma:
A malignant tumor arising from bone cells.
Over-the-needle catheter:
Used for longer infusions into peripheral veins. After the stylet needle of an over-the-needle catheter is inserted into a vein, the catheter is then slid over the needle into the vein and the needle is withdrawn.
Palliative treatment:
Treatment given to relieve the clinical signs and reduce the suffering caused by cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Paraneoplastic syndrome:
A disease or clinical sign that is the consequence of the presence of cancer in the body, but it is not due to the local presence of cancer cells.
Partial response (PR):
Significant tumor shrinkage but not complete tumor disappearance.
Patency:
The state of being open and unblocked.
Per os (PO):
By mouth.
Perivascular:
Around a blood vessel.
Personal protective equipment (PPE):
Equipment used to protect the user from health risks associated with the handling of potentially dangerous substances..
Platelets:
Blood cells involved in the clotting cascade.
Polydipsia:
Increased thirst.
Polyuria:
Increased urination, usually as a result of excessively diluted urine.
Progressive disease (PD):
A significant worsening of cancer.
Pulse deficit:
The absence of a palpable pulse (or significant change in pulse quality) in conjunction with an audible heartbeat. Pulse deficits usually indicate a cardiac abnormality and should be brought to the attention of a veterinarian.
Quality of life:
The degree of well-being felt. It consists of two components: pain and suffering. Pain is a physical and emotional sensation. Suffering involves the ability to enjoy living life.
Recheck history form:
A history intake form, more focused than an initial intake history form, used to gather information from one appointment to the next.
Red blood cell:
The cell in the blood responsible for carrying oxygen to tissues.
Reflection:
To paraphrase back to the clients what they have said, focusing not only on the content of the conversation but also on the feelings the clients express.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA):
The principal federal law in the United States governing the disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste.
Sarcoma:
A malignant tumor derived from connective tissues. Such tissues include bone, cartilage, fibrous connective tissue, fat, muscle, and the linings around the nerves and blood vessels.
Self-disclosure:
Sharing with your client a similar experience you have faced, which can help clients feel less isolated and normalize their emotions.
Septic:
Experiencing a whole-body inflammatory state with the presence of infection.
Serosanguinous fluid:
A fluid containing both blood and serum.
Soft skills:
The cluster of personality traits, social graces, communication, language, personal habits, friendliness, and optimism that characterize relationships with other people; the ability to deal with people effectively and politely.
Stable disease (SD):
A situation in which a cancer has not improved but has also not worsened significantly.
Stage:
A description (usually numbers I to IV) of how much the cancer has spread through the body.
Standard operating procedure (SOP):
Detailed, written instructions to achieve uniform performance of a specific function.
Sternal recumbency:
The patient is lying on its chest.
Sternum:
The long flat bone or set of bones located at the center of the chest.
Subcutaneous (SQ):
Under the skin.
Surgical margin:
When a tumor is biopsied or surgically removed, the surgeon also takes out some normal tissue around the tumor. This border of tissue between the outer edge of the normal tissue and the tumor itself is called the surgical margin.
Tachycardia:
An abnormally high heart rate.
Therapeutic index:
The amount of a drug that causes a therapeutic effect compared with the amount that causes drug toxicity.
Thrombocytopenia:
An abnormally low platelet count.
Tumor:
A swelling caused by an abnormal growth of cells, which can be benign or malignant.
White blood cell count:
The number of white blood cells in the blood.
Venipuncture:
The process of obtaining intravenous access for the purpose of intravenous therapy or obtaining a sample of venous blood.
Vesicant:
A substance that causes tissue blistering. Vesicants are highly reactive chemicals that combine with proteins, DNA, and other cellular components resulting in destructive cellular changes.