Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)
ANC refers to the total number of neutrophils present in the blood. Neutrophils are particularly important because they defend our bodies against certain types of infection.
Bacteria
Microscopic (can only be seen with a microscope) organisms (living things) that live in and around most living and nonliving things. Some types of bacteria help our bodies stay in balance, while other types can multiply within the body and cause infection. Bacteria are the most common causes of infections in people with cancer. Some examples of bacterial infection include food poisoning, pneumonia, and strep throat.
Chemotherapy (chemo)
Drugs to destroy cancer cells. A person on chemotherapy may take one drug or a combination of drugs. Most often these drugs are given by vein using intravenous (IV) infusion. Some can be taken by mouth or given as an injection, among other methods of delivery.
Colony-stimulating factors
Also called CSFs, colony-stimulating factors are drugs that promote the production of various white blood cells. An example of a CSF is Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim).
Complete blood count (CBC)
The CBC is a test that determines the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood.
Febrile neutropenia (FN)
Having a low white blood cell count (neutropenia) and a fever (a neutropenic fever). FN is often a sign of a serious infection.
Infection
An invasion of microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses that have the ability to multiply and cause disease.
Lymphoma
Cancer that begins in cells of the lymphatic system (part of the immune system that produces and stores cells that fight infection and disease).
Myelosuppressive chemotherapy
Sometimes called strong chemotherapy, a type of chemotherapy that can lower the number of blood cells in your body. Often, people just use the word myelosuppressive to mean chemotherapy that lowers your number of white blood cells.
Neutropenia
A lower-than-normal number of neutrophils (infection-fighting white blood cells) in the blood. It is a common side effect of some chemotherapy treatments. Doctors check the number of neutrophils when they measure the white blood cell count, to monitor the risk of infection.
Neutropenic fever
Having a low white blood cell count with a fever may be a sign of serious infection.
Neutrophil
The most common type of white blood cell. Neutrophils help the body fight infection. A low white blood cell count usually indicates that the neutrophil count is low. It is easier to get an infection and harder to recover from an infection when the number of neutrophils in the bloodstream is low.
Neutrophil count
The number of a specific kind of infection-fighting white blood cells called neutrophils in the blood. A low white blood cell count usually indicates that the neutrophil count is low. It is easier to get an infection and harder to recover from an infection when the number of neutrophils in the bloodstream is low.
Placebo
A "dummy" treatment used in some clinical trials. In these studies, a group of patients who are given a placebo treatment are compared to another group of patients who are given the actual treatment. The difference in results between the actual treatment group and the placebo group are considered the result of giving the medicine.
Platelets
A type of cell made in the bone marrow. The main function of platelets is to aid in clotting the blood following an injury.
Side effect
Any undesired actions or effects of a drug or treatment. For example, common side effects of chemotherapy include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
White blood cell (WBC)
A white blood cell is one of the three main types of blood cells. They are produced in the bone marrow and released into the blood. White blood cells are responsible for fighting infection. There are several kinds of white blood cells, including monocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils.