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CT - computed tomography (commonly referred to as a "CT scan") advanced imaging that defines internal structures of the body
extravasation - the flow of blood from a vessel out into surrounding tissue can cause a slough - the damage caused to surrounding tissue when a chemotherapy agent is unintentionally delivered outside of the vein.
Slough on extravasation can be seen with some (not all) chemotherapy drugs but is rare.
grade - an evaluation of how aggressive the cancer appears on microscopic examination
metastasis(es) - the transference of malignant or cancerous cells to other parts of the body by way of the blood or lymphatic vessels or menbranous surfaces
MRI - magnetic resonance imaging - used to detect structural abnormalities in soft tissue structures, organs, bones, etc. of the body
myelosuppression - low white blood cell count A common side effect of most chemotherapy drugs. This is not always a problem - unless the WBC count drops too low. When the WBC count drops below normal, the body cannot fight off infections, and your pet may become sick. Infections caused by a low WBC count are potentially the most severe side effect of chemotherapy.
neoplasia - the pathological process that results in the formation and growth of a tumor
neutropenia - a condition of an abnormally low number (< 2,000) of neutrophils - a type of white blood cell whose function is to kill and eat up microrganisms that invade the body and cause infection
remission - a temporary or permanent decrease or subsidence of manifestations of a disease
stage - an evaluation of how advanced a cancer is
A CBC (complete blood count) is commonly run on cancer patients as a means of measuring hydration status, anemia, and the body's ability to form blood clots and fight infection.
If your pet is febrile or suffers from vomiting and/or diarrhea, weakness or pale gums, a CBC will often be requested by your pet's oncologist. These can be done at your pet's primary veterinarian's office or on-site.
Some values indicated in a CBC include:
a platelet count - platelets are cells that allow the body to form blood clots and stop bleeding; hematocrit - a measure of red blood cells used to detect anemia and dehydration;
and a white blood cell count to note increases or decreases that can indicate certain diseases or infections or your pet's suceptibility to infection.
White blood cells (image www.rncneus.com)
A normal white blood cell may be a neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil or basophil.
The "nadir" is the lowest point of the neutrophil count following chemotherapy treatment and is when your pet is most at risk for infection. This can vary from patient to patient, however, this point in time varies most in regards to the type of chemotherapy. Regular monitoring of CBCs is our way of determining when this occurs during your pet's treatment.
