What is...?

While going through this blog, you may wonder what some of the things are being referenced. Here is a list of "clarifications" on some of the specifics. If you want more or something you're looking for is not her, just let me know!

• Acute Myelogenous Leukemia/AML: Rapid progression cancer of the blood and bone marrow (spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made) affecting a group of white blood cells call the myeloid cells such as red blood cells and white blood cells. (www.mayclinic.org/diseases)
• Bone Marrow Transplant: A process to replace unhealthy bone marrow with healthy bone marrow. These sort of transplants can be used to treat patients with life-threatening blood cancers such as leukemia, diseases which result in bone marrow failure like aplastic anemia and/or other immune system or genetic disorders. (www.bethematch.org)
• Chemotherapy: A type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. It works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which can grow/divide quickly. But, it can also harm healthy cells and cause a variety of side effects. Depending on the type of cancer, variations of chemotherapy treatment is used and administered, sometimes controlling cancer, curing cancer, and easing cancer symptoms. (www.webmd.com)
• Radiation Therapy: A type of therapy that uses high-energy radiation to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells. This treatment may be delivered by a machine outside of the body or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells. (www.cancer.gov)
• Infertility: Not being able to get pregnant despite having frequent, unprotected sex, for at least a year for most people and six months in certain circumstances. 10 to 15% of couples in the USA are infertile and this may be due to a single cause or a combination of factors that may prevent pregnancy from occurring or continuing. (www.mayclinic.org/diseases)
• Saline Infused Sonogram: A test where a small volume of saline (salt solution) is inserted into the uterus/womb. This allows the lining of the uterus to be clearly seen on a ultrasound scan.
• Thyroid: One of the largest endocrine glands in the body that is found in the neck. This gland controls how quickly the body uses energy, makes proteins, and controls how sensitive the body is to other hormones.
• TSH Levels: A pituitary hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce the appropriate hormones which stimulates the metabolism of almost every tissue in the body.
• Recessive Disease Carrier/Genetic Carrier: A person or other organism that has inherited a recessive gene for a genetic trait or mutation but does not display that trait or show symptoms of the disease. Carrier are, however, able to pass along the gene onto their offspring, who may then express the gene if they inherit the recessive gene from both parents. The chance of two carriers having a child with the disease is 25%.
• Cystic Fibrosis (CF): A life-threatening disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs and digestive system. This is a genetically inherited condition that affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat, and digestive juices. This defective gene causes the above mentioned secretions to become thick and sticky and instead of acting as a lubricant, they plug up tubes, ducts and passageways in the lungs and pancreas. CF is most common in white people of Northern European ancestry, but also occurs in Hispanics, African-Americans, and some Native Americans. It is rare in people of Asian and Middle Eastern origin.
• Donor Egg/Donor Egg Donation: the process by which a fertile woman provides one or several eggs to an infertile woman for purposes of assisted reproduction. After eggs have been retrieved from the donor, the role of egg donor is complete.
• Uterine Lining and Thickness: in preparation for an embryo transfer, the uterine line aka the inner layer of the uterus/womb needs to be at a certain thickness for a successful implantation. Normally this tissue is shed monthly in response to the hormonal changes of the menstrual period.
• Embryo: an unborn/unhatched offspring in the process of development; a fertilized egg.
• Embryo Transfer: A step in the process of assisted reproduction in which embyros are placed in the uterus of a female with the intent to establish a pregnancy.
• Sabbatical: a rest from work or a break often lasting from two months to a year.
• Estradiol: a female sex hormone produced by the ovaries that regulates many processes in the body.
• Estrace: a medication used to treat symptoms of low estradiol levels during menopause, assisted reproduction, etc.
• Estradiol Valerate: a supplementary medication used to treat symptoms of low estradiol levels in women that is given intramuscularly via injection. Estradiol valerate is absorbed more slowly and possesses a longer duration, especially when given in an oil solution via injection. As a result, it can be administered less frequently (twice a week vs. daily).
• Progesterone in Oil: an intramuscular injection that is a progestin hormone used to restore a normal balance of progesterone. It helps regulate menstrual cycles and stops abnormal uterine bleeding that occurs when the body doesn't make enough progesterone on it's own.
• Bed Rest: confinement to a bed/couch as part of treatment for a desired amount of time.