<3 ★ "sideways heart"
18F-FDG ★ 18F-fluordeoxyglucose (used in PET scan)
25-hydroxyvitamin D ★ Test for monitoring Vitamin D deficiency
3DXRT ★ 3 D conformal radiotherapy
5'DFUR ★ 5'-DFUR: an intermediate metabolite of capecitabine (Xeloda)
5-FU ★ 5-fluorouracil
5-FU LV ★ 5-fluorouracil + leucovorin
Ab ★ antibody
AC ★ before meals before a meal (from Latin ante cibum)*
ACA ★ Affordable care act
ACLS ★ Advanced cardiac life support
ACS ★ American Cancer Society
ACT ★ Adoptive T-cell therapy- adoptive cell transfer
ADAPT ★ Therapy that targets colon cancer stem cells
ADC ★ Antibody-drug conjugate
ADL ★ Activities of daily life (eating, dressing, showering, etc.)*
ADR ★ Adenoma detection rate
ADR ★ Adverse drug reaction
AFAIK ★ As far as I know
AFP ★ Alpha-fetoprotein
AHCC ★ Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
AHCC ★ Active hexose correlated compound
AKA ★ Also known as
AKT inhibitor ★ Inhibitor of AKT (a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase)
AL ★ Anastomosis leakage
ALA ★ Alpha lipoic acid
ALC ★ Acetyl-L-carnitine
ALCAR★ Acetyl-L-carnitine
ALK ★ Anaplastic lymphoma kinase
ALK PHOS ★ Alkaline phosphatase
ALP ★ Alkaline phosphatase (sometimes abbreviated as ALP)
ALPPS ★ Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein Ligation for Staged hepatectomy (surgical option for hepatocellular carcinoma with major vascular invasion)
ALPS ★ Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome
ALS ★ Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
ALT ★ Alanine aminotransferase
AP ★ AP probably stands for Abdominoperineal; if tumor is above 5 cm, it probably means Anterior/Posterior.*
APC ★ Argon plasma coagulation treatment
APR ★ Abdomino-perineal resection*
aPTT ★ Activated partial thromboplastin time
ARDS ★ Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
ARS ★ Anterior resection syndrome
ASA ★ Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)
ASCO ★ American Society of Clinical Oncologists
AST ★ Aspartate aminotransferase
ATM ★ At the moment
AXR ★ Abdominal x-ray
BC/BS ★ Blue cross/ Blue Shield
BCCA ★ B C Cancer Association
BE ★ Barium enema
BEV ★ Avastin® (bevacizumab)
BFF ★ Best friend forever
BID ★ Twice a day*
BILI ★ Bilirubin
BM ★ Bowel movement
BMI ★ Body mass index
BMP ★ Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP): 8 lab tests
BP ★ Blood pressure
BPD ★ Bipolar Disorder
BPH ★ Benign prostate hyperplasia
BRAF ★ Gene that produces a protein called B-Raf governing cell growth, cell division and differentiation.
BRAT ★ The BRAT diet for digestive disorders: bananas, rice, applesauce, (dry) toast
BSA ★ Body surface area
BTDT ★ Been there done that
BTW ★ By the way
BUN ★ Blood urea nitrogen
CA19 9 ★ Cancer antigen 19-9: tumor marker for pancreatic, gallbladder, stomach, colon, and ovarian cancer
CA72-4 ★ Cancer antigen 72-4: tumor marker for gastric cancer
CAA ★ Coloanal anastomosis
CAM ★ Complementary and alternative medicine
CAPEOX ★ Capectabine + oxalilatin chemo = XELOX
CART ★ CAR T-Cell Immunotherapy
CAT ★ Computerised axial tomography (scan)
CBC ★ Complete Blood Count *
CBC/DIFF ★ Complete blood count/differential
CCLM ★ Colon cancer liver metastases
cCR ★ Complete clinical response (cCR)
C-DIFF ★ Clostridium difficile
CEA ★ Carcino-embryonic antigen – a tumor marker for colon cancer*
CHEM-7 ★ A panel of blood tests, commonly called a basic metabolic panel (blood urea nitrogen, carbon dioxide, creatinine, glucose, serum chloride, serum potassium, serum sodium)
CHEM 14 ★ A panel of blood tests: Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Chloride (Cl), CO2 (bicarbonate), Creatinine, Glucose, Urea nitrogen (BUN), Albumin, Calcium, Alkaline Phosphatase, ALT/GPT, AST/GOT, Total Bilirubin,Total Protein
CHEM-20 ★ A panel of blood tests
- (albumin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, calcium – serum, serum chloride, carbon dioxide, creatinine, direct bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, glucose test, lactate dehydrogenase, phosphorus – serum, potassium test, serum sodium, total bilirubin, total cholesterol, total protein, uric acid)
CIPN ★ Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy
CJP ★ Colonic j pouch
CMP ★ Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (14 lab tests)
CMV ★ Cyto Megalo Virus
CNS ★ Central nervous system
COL ★ Celebration of life
COPD ★ Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
COX-1 ★ Cyclooxygenase 1
COX-2 ★ Cyclooxygenase 2
COX1 COX2 INHIBITORS ★ Inhibitors of Cyclooxygenase 1 and Cyclooxygenase 2
CPE ★ Complete pelvic exenteration, aka pelvic evisceration
CR ★ Complete response to chemotherapy*
CRC★ Colorectal cancer
CRM ★ Circumferential resection margin
CRP ★ hsCRP C-reactive protein
CRT ★ Chemoradiotherapy (CRT)
CS ★ Cytoreductive surgery
CSLEX ★ A ligand of CEA
CT ★ Computed tomography
CTC ★ Circulating tumor cells
CTLA-4 ★ Checkpoint molecule found on T cells
CUC ★ Chronic ulcerative colitis
CUP ★ CUP (Cancer of Unknown Primary)
CXR ★ Chest x-ray
DART ★ Dual-affinity re-targeting therapy (DART)
DCR ★ Disease control rate (partial response, complete response, and stable disease)
DD ★ Dear daughter
DD ★ Dosing-density: % of days with chemotherapy administration per cycle
D-dimer ★ Lab test for assessing function of blood clotting system. If it is abnormal, you could possibly have DIC Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
DEBIRI ★ Drug-Eluting Bead, Irinotecan (DEBIRI) Therapy of Liver Metastasis
DF ★ Dear father
DFS ★ Disease free survival - used to describe the time that a patient is NED *
DH ★ Dear Husband*
DIC ★ Disseminated Intravascular coagulation
DIL ★ Daughter in law
DIY ★ Do it yourself
dL ★ Deciliter = 0.1 liter
DLT★ Dose limiting toxicity
DLBCL ★ Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
DM ★ Dear mother
dMMR ★ Deficient mismatch repair
DNA ★ Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNL ★ Daughter in law
DRE ★ Digital rectal exam
DRESS ★ DRESS syndrome (Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms)
DS ★ Dear sister , Dear son
DSS ★ Dear step son
DVT ★ Deep vein thrombosis
DW ★ Dear wife
DX ★ Diagnosis
EBRT ★ External Beam Radiation Therapy
ECG, EKG ★ Electrocardiogram
ECI ★ Extra-capsular invasion
ECOG ★ ECOG status scale
- • 0 – Asymptomatic (Fully active, able to carry on all predisease activities without restriction)
• 1 – Symptomatic but completely ambulatory (Restricted in physically strenuous activity but ambulatory and able to carry out work of a light or sedentary nature. For example, light housework, office work)
• 2 – Symptomatic, <50% in bed during the day (Ambulatory and capable of all self care but unable to carry out any work activities. Up and about more than 50% of waking hours)
• 3 – Symptomatic, >50% in bed, but not bedbound (Capable of only limited self-care, confined to bed or chair 50% or more of waking hours)
• 4 – Bedbound (Completely disabled. Cannot carry on any self-care. Totally confined to bed or chair)
• 5 – Death
ED ★ Emergency department
EGD ★ Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
EGFR ★ Epithelial Growth Factor Receptor - the key to Erbitux and Vectibix's actions . a key target that modulates growth and division of cancer cells
EMG ★ Electromyogram
EMR ★ Endoscopic mucosal resection
EMVI ★ Extra mural vascular invasion
EPCAM ★ Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Lynch syndrome)
EPO ★ Exclusive provider organization.
ER ★ Emergency room
ERCP ★ Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatogram
ERUS ★ Endoscopic rectal ultrasound
ESMO ★ European Society for Medical Oncology
ESD ★ Endoscopic submucosal dissection
ESR ★ Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
EUS ★ Endoscopic ultrasonography
FAP ★ Familial adenomatous polyposis
FBC ★ Full blood count
FDA ★ Food and Drug Administration
FDG ★ Fluordeoxyglucose
FIL ★ Father in law
FIT, iFIT ★ Fecal immunochemical test
FLOX ★ Blend of fluorine and liquid oxygen
FLR ★ Future liver remnant
FLV ★ Fluvoxamine
FOBT ★ Fecal occult blood test
FOLFOX ★ Chemo regimen using 5-FU, Leucovorin, and Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin)*
FOLFIRI ★ Chemo regimen using 5-FU, Leucovorin, and Irinotecan
FOLFOXIRI ★ Chemo regimen using 5-FU, Leucovorin, Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin), and Irinotecan*
FOS ★ Full of stool (polite form)
FTD ★ Trifluridine (FTD)
FUBAR ★ Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition (polite form)
FUDR ★ Floxuridine (FUDR®, Fluorodeoxyuridine) chemo used with HAI pumps
FWIW ★ For what it’s worth
FYI ★ For your information
g/dL ★ grams per deciliter
GA ★ General anaesthetic
GBP ★ Gastric bypass
GCT ★ Granular cell tumor
GERD ★ Gastroesophageal reflux disease
GCF ★ Granulocyte colony-stimulating growth
GGT ★ Gamma-glutamyl transferase
GGTP ★ Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase
GI ★ Gastrointestinal
GIST ★ Gastrointestinal stromal tumor
GP ★ General practitioner
G-CSF ★ Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor
Habr-Gama ★ Watch and wait protocol
HAI ★ Hepatic arterial infusion
Hb ★ Hemoglobin
HCC ★ Hepatocellular carcinoma
HCT ★ Hematocrit
HFS ★ Hand foot syndrome
HH ★ Hereditary hemochromatosis
HIPEC ★ Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy used to wash out the peritoneal/abdominal cavity
HMO ★ Health maintenance organization
HNPCC ★ Hereditary NonPolyposis Colorectal Cancer a genetic condition which runs in families and indicates a predisposition to GI and OB-GYN cancers*
HR ★ Hazard ratio (statistics)
HRT ★ Hormone replacement therapy
HS ★ At bed time*
HTH ★ Hope that helps
HUS ★ Hepatic ultrasound
Hx ★ History
-IB -ib ★ suffix of small molecule targeted therapies (also, -nib)
IBD ★ Inflammatory bowel disease
IBS ★ Irritable bowel syndrome
ICU ★ Intensive care unit
IDK ★ I don't know
IGRA ★ Interferon-gamma release assay
IGRT ★ Image guided radiotherapy
IHC ★ Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis
IIRC ★ If I recall correctly
ILEO ★ Ileostomy
ILEUS ★ Intestinal obstruction causing colic, vomiting, and constipation.
IM ★ Intramuscular
IMHO ★ In my humble opinion
IMO ★ In my opinion
IMRT ★ Intensity-modulated radiotherapy
INR ★ International normalized ratio
IORT ★ Intra-operative radiation treatment
IPAA ★ Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis
IP-6 ★ Inositol Hexaphosphate - a vitamin-like substance used to treat cancer. It is found in animals and many plants
IQR ★ Inter quartile range (statistics)
IR ★ Interventional radiologist
IRA ★ Ileorectal anastomosis
IRB ★ Institutional review board
IROX ★ irinotecan + oxaliplatin (IROX)
irRC ★ Immune Related Response Criteria
IU ★ International unit
IV ★ Intravenous
JMHO ★ Just my humble opinion
JMO ★ Just my opinion
KRAS ★ a part of the DNA which predicts whether the EGFR class of drugs will be an effective cancer treatment.
KRAS - mt ★ Mutant Type - means that the cancer's KRAS gene HAS mutated, and thus is unlikely to respond to the EGFR drugs
KRAS- wt ★ Wild Type - means that the cancer's KRAS gene has not mutated and will likely respond to the EGFR drugs
L ★ Liter
LA ★ Low anterior
LAR ★ Low Anterior Resection – a surgery used for rectal cancer*
LARC ★ Locally advanced rectal cancer
LARS ★ Low anterior resection syndrome
LBO ★ Large bowel obstruction
LDH /LDH5 ★ Lactate dehydrogenase -
LDH5 ★ Lactate Dehydrogenase Isoenzyme 5 (LDH5),
LDLT ★ Living donor liver transplantation
LDM ★ Low-dose metronomic (LDM) chemotherapy
LEF ★ Life Extension Foundation
LFS ★ Li-Fraumeni Syndrome
LLL ★ Left lower lobe (lung)
LLN ★ Lower limit of normal
LN ★ Lymph node
LOL ★ Laughing out loud
LPN ★ Licensed practical nurse
LS ★ Lynch syndrome http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/lynch-syndrome
LUL ★ Left upper lobe (of lung)
LV ★ Leucovorin
LYNCH ★ Lynch syndrome http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/lynch-syndrome
-mAb, -mab ★ Monoclonal antibody (suffix -mab) directed towards specific cell surface receptors or their ligands to prevent receptor activation. (targeted therapy)
MARSA ★ Methicillin- and aminoglycoside-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
MCH ★ Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
MCHC ★ Hemoglobin concentration
mCRC ★ Metastatic colorectal cancer
MCP ★ Modified Citrus Pectin
MCV ★ Mean corpuscular volume
MDA ★ MD Anderson Cancer Center
MEK inhibitor ★ Mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor >>> mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase enzymes MEK1 and/or MEK2
mEq ★ Milliequivalents
MET ★ Metabolic Equivalent - defined as 1 kcal/kg/hour and is roughly equivalent to the energy cost of sitting quietly
Met ★ Metastasis (where the tumour has spread to secondary sites)
mg ★ Milligram
MIL ★ Mother in law
Mito-C ★ Mitomycin-C, antibiotic only used in cancer chemotherapy
MLH1 mutation ★ MutL homolog 1 gene mutation – (Lynch syndrome)
mmol ★ Millimole
MMR ★ DNA mismatch repair
MMR-I ★ MSI Low or stable
MMR-deficient ★ DNA mismatch repair deficient (MSI)
mPFS ★ Median progression free survival
MPV ★ Mean platelet volume
MRD ★ Minimal residual disease*
MRI ★ Magnetic resonance imaging
MRSA ★ Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
MSH2 mutation ★ MutS homolog 2 gene mutation - (Lynch syndrome)
MSH6 mutation ★ MutS homolog 6 gene mutation - (Lynch syndrome)
MSI ★ Microsatellite instability
MSI-H ★ Microsatellite instability - High
MSI-L ★ Microsatellite instability - Low
MSKCC ★ Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
MSS ★ Microsatellite stable
MTD ★ Maximum tolerated dose - Phase 1 studies
Nanoknife ★ NanoKnife™ is a minimally invasive cancer treatment that precisely targets and kills hard-to-reach tumors. NanoKnife allows treatment of difficult-to-reach tumors that in the past would be virtually impossible for surgeons to remove.
N ★ Number of observations
ND ★ Naturopath doctor
NED ★ No evidence of disease*
NERD ★ No evidence of recurrent or residual disease.
NG tube ★ Nasogastric tube*
-NIB ★ (suffix -nib) are small molecules binding directly to the intracellular kinase domain (targeted therapy)
NIC ★ Nursing interventions classification.
NK cells ★ Natural killer cells
NL ★ Normal
NM ★ Never mind
NP ★ Nurse practitioner
NPO ★ Nil per os (nothing by mouth)
NSAID ★ Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
NSCLC ★ Non-small-cell lung adenocarcinoma
O/T ★ Off topic
OD ★ Overdose
ODTAA ★ One Damn Thing After Another
OMEGA-3 ★ Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs)
OMG ★ Oh my god!
ONC ★ Oncologist
ONCOTYPEDX ★ Advanced diagnostic test for the assessment of risk of recurrence in Stage II and Stage III colon cancer
OP ★ Original poster
ORR★ Overall response rate / objective response rate
OS ★ Overall survival
OTC ★ Over-the-counter drug
Oxi ★ Oxaliplatin
PA ★ Physician assistant
PALN ★ Para-aortic lymph nodes
PC ★ After meals (from Latin post cibum)
PCA ★ Patient Controlled Analgesia
PCA(morphine) ★ Patient controlled morphine administration
PCEA ★ Patient Controlled Epidural Analgesia
PCI ★ Percutaneous coronary intervention; Plasma Cell Infiltration
PCP ★ Primary care provider
pCR ★ Pathological complete response (pCR)
PD ★ Progressive disease while on chemotherapy*
PD-1 ★ Programmed cell death protein 1. Protein on the surface of some T cells.
PD-L1 ★ Programmed death-ligand 1: Protein found on some normal (and cancer) cells
PDT ★ Photodynamic therapy (lung cancer)
PE ★ Pulmonary embolism
PEEP ★ Person
PERI ★ Peritoneal
PES ★ Post Embolization Syndrome
PET ★ Positron Emission Tomography- a scan after a small radioactive injection.
PET CT ★ Combined scan that does a simultaneous CT, which measures the shape and size of body structures, with PET, which measures metabolic activity.
PFMT ★ Pelvic floor muscle training
PFS ★ Progression free survival - used to describe the time that a patient is stable, or showing no worsening/progression of the disease*
pH ★ Hydrogen-ion concentration - acid / alkaline
PICC ★ Peripherally inserted central catheter
PIFA ★ Platinum-induced fatty acids
PK ★ Pharmacokinetics
PLD ★ Pharyngolaryngeal dysesthesia
PMS2 mutation ★ Post-meiotic segregation gene mutation (Lynch syndrome)
POG ★ Personal OncoGenomics
POS ★ Point of service plan
PPI ★ Proton pump inhibitor
PPO ★ Preferred provider organization
PR ★ Partial response to chemotherapy*
PRN ★ 'pro ne rata': when necessary*
PRESULTS ★ Preliminary results
PRP ★ Platelet rich plasma therapy
PS ★ Performance Status - a term used to describe your overall ability to function, dressing yourself, eating, physical activity, etc.*
PSD ★ Peritoneal surface disease - means that the cancer has spread to the abdominal cavity and is on the surface of the organs rather than within the organs*
PSK ★ Polysaccharide K, also known as Krestin *(Coriolus)
PT ★ Physical therapy
PT PT/INR ★ Prothrombin Time and International Normalized Ratio
PTSD ★ Post traumatic stress disorder
PTT aPTT ★ Partial thromboplastin time - measures the activity of the intrinsic and common pathways of coagulation - used primarily to investigate unexplained bleeding or clotting.
PV ★ Portal vein
PVL ★ Portal vein ligation
PVE ★ Portal vein embolization
PX ★ Prognosis
QAD ★ Every other day (from Latin quaque altera die)
QDS ★ Quater in Dies / Four times a day
QH ★ Quaque Hora / Every hour
QHS★ Quaque Hora Somni / At Bedtime
QD ★ Every day
QID ★ Four times a day
QOD ★ Every other day
QOL ★ Quality of life
RAIR ★ RectoAnal inhibitory reflex
RBC ★ Red blood cells, red blood cell count
RC ★ Rectal cancer
RCa ★ Rectal cancer
RDW ★ Red cell distribution width
RDI ★ Relative dose-intensity
RDS ★ Rounds
RECIST 1.1 ★ Response evaluation criteria in solid tumors
RESEC ★ Resection
RFA ★ Radio frequency ablation
RICE ★ Rest, ice, compression, and elevation
RIT ★ Radioimmunotherapy
RLL ★ Right lower lobe (of lung)
RN ★ Registered nurse
RNA ★ Ribonucleic acid: a nucleic acid present in all living cells. Its principal role is to act as a messenger carrying instructions from DNA for controlling the synthesis of proteins,
RR ★ Response Rate
RT ★ Radiotherapy
RUL ★ Right upper lobe (of lung)
SB ★ Small bowel
SBO ★ Small bowel obstruction
SBRT ★ Stereotactic body radiation therapy
SC ★ Subcutaneous
SCC ★ Squamous cell carcioma
SD ★ Stable disease
sDNA ★ DNA stool test
SEER ★ Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database
SGOT ★ Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase
SGPT ★ Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase
SIL ★ Sister in law
SIRS ★ Systemic Inflammatory response syndrome
SIRT ★ Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT)
SO ★ Significant other
SPS ★ Serrated polyposis syndrome
SRC ★ Signet ring cell carcinoma
SSA ★ Sessile serrated adenoma
SSI ★ Surgical site infection
SSO ★ Sphincter saving operation
SUV ★ Standardized uptake value
SVC ★ Superior vena cava
TACE ★ Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization
TAMIS ★ Trans anal minimally invasive surgery
TAS 102 ★ Lonsurf https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02286492
TBH ★ To be honest
TBT ★ Truth be told
TEM ★ Transanal endoscopic microsurgery
TEMP ★ Temporary, as in “temp ileo”
TFFW ★ Too funny for words
TIA ★ Transient ischemic attack
TID ★ Three times a day
TIL ★ Immunotherapy using tumor infiltrating lymphocytes
TLR ★ Time to local recurrence
TME ★ Total mesorectal excision (the standard now for rectal cancer surgery)
TME ★ Tumor microenvironment
TNM ★ Tumor, nodes, metastases (cancer staging system)
TPE or CPE ★ Total pelvic exenteration : Complete removal of all remaining organs in the pelvis, including the bladder, and usually requires double ostomies.
TPI ★ Tipiracil hydrochloride
TPN ★ Total parenteral nutrition: nutrient liquid delivered via IV or PICC line.
TS-1 ★ Fluoropyrimidine treatment
TSH ★ Thyroid stimulating hormone
TTM ★ Tetrathiomolybdate
TX ★ Treatment
UC ★ Ulcerative colitis
ULAR ★ Ultra low anterior resection
ULN ★ Upper limit of normal
URI ★ Upper respiratory infection
US, USd ★ Ultrasound
UTI ★ Urinary tract infection
VATS ★ Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery
VEGF ★ Vascular endothelial growth factor - the part of the cancer cell dealing with new blood vessel formation, and the target for “anti-angiogenic” agents
WNL ★ Within normal limits
WOCBP ★ Women of childbearing potential
WOCN ★ Wound, ostomy, continence nurse
XELIRI ★ Xeloda and Irinotecan
Xeloda (Capecitabine) ★ Oral 5-FU (pill form)
XELOX ★ Xeloda and Oxaliplatin - also called CAPOX for CAPecitabine and OXaliplatin
XELIRI ★ Chemotherapy cocktail: Xeloda (oral) and irinotecan (IV)
Xilonix ★ a monoclonal antibody which neutralizes “interleukin-1α”.
XRT ★ Chemo/radiation therapy
YACC ★ Young Adult Cancer Canada
YMMV ★ Your mileage may vary
YO Y/O YoA ★ Years old
