CPHON key terms

A calculated count of neutrophils in the blood, using the total white blood cell count and the percentage of segmented and band forms; it helps measure infection risk and the severity of neutropenia.

A lower-than-normal number of neutrophils, the white blood cells that defend against bacteria and fungi; in children with cancer it commonly results from chemotherapy or marrow disease.

A low platelet count that raises the risk of bruising and bleeding; in pediatric oncology it may come from marrow disease, chemotherapy, or immune destruction of platelets.

A shortage of red blood cells or hemoglobin that reduces oxygen delivery, causing fatigue, pallor, fast heart rate, and poor exercise tolerance; severe cases may need transfusion.

A cancer of blood-forming cells in the bone marrow, most often acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children, which crowds out normal marrow and lowers blood counts.

A cancer of immature nerve cells that usually arises in the adrenal gland or sympathetic nervous system of young children; it may cause an abdominal mass, bone pain, or bruising around the eyes.

A kidney cancer that usually affects young children and often appears as an abdominal mass; treatment typically combines surgery with chemotherapy and sometimes radiation.

An inherited hemoglobin disorder that makes red blood cells rigid and crescent-shaped, leading to pain crises, anemia, and organ damage; children need hydration, pain control, and infection prevention.

Fever in a child with severe neutropenia, treated as an emergency because it may signal a life-threatening bloodstream infection; it requires immediate cultures and empiric antibiotics.

A life-threatening body response to infection with organ dysfunction; in neutropenic children it can worsen rapidly, so fluids and antibiotics must start without delay.

A metabolic emergency caused by rapid breakdown of cancer cells, releasing potassium, phosphate, and uric acid that can injure kidneys and cause arrhythmias or seizures; prevention uses hydration and uric-acid-lowering drugs.

An extremely high white blood cell count, often seen in leukemia, that thickens the blood and can reduce flow to the brain and lungs; it needs urgent cytoreduction and close monitoring.

Sludging of excess white blood cells in small blood vessels, causing breathing trouble, confusion, or stroke; it is a life-threatening complication of hyperleukocytosis.

Blockage or compression of the superior vena cava, the large vein draining the head and arms, causing facial swelling, cough, and breathing difficulty; in children it is often from a mediastinal mass.

Pressure on the spinal cord from a tumor or damaged vertebra that causes back pain, weakness, numbness, or bladder and bowel changes; urgent treatment is needed to prevent paralysis.

A systemic inflammatory reaction after some immunotherapies, such as CAR T cells, causing fever, low blood pressure, and breathing problems; it is graded and treated with supportive care and immune-suppressing drugs.

A neurologic side effect of immune-cell therapies such as CAR T cells, causing confusion, speech changes, seizures, or weakness; standardized grading guides urgent management.

Severe inflammation of the bowel, usually the cecum, in a neutropenic child; it causes abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea and needs bowel rest, antibiotics, and close monitoring.

Liver injury after stem cell transplant from blocked small liver veins, causing weight gain, jaundice, a tender liver, and fluid buildup; it can be life-threatening.

Leakage of chemotherapy or another drug from a vein or central line into nearby tissue, which can cause severe pain, blistering, and tissue death; the infusion must stop at once.

A drug that can severely damage tissue if it leaks outside a vein; pediatric oncology nurses must identify vesicants and monitor infusion sites closely.

A procedure that replaces diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells from bone marrow, peripheral blood, or umbilical cord; it is used for some cancers and blood disorders.

A complication of allogeneic stem cell transplant in which donor immune cells attack the child's tissues, commonly skin, liver, and gut; it is treated with immunosuppression.

The point after stem cell transplant when donor cells begin making new blood cells, shown by rising neutrophil and platelet counts; it signals restored marrow function.

Chemotherapy injected into the cerebrospinal fluid to treat or prevent cancer in the central nervous system; children need positioning and monitoring after the procedure.

A procedure that places a needle in the lower spine to sample cerebrospinal fluid or give intrathecal medicine; children often need positioning, comfort, and sometimes sedation.

A treatment that genetically modifies a child's T cells so they attack cancer cells; it is used in some leukemias and lymphomas and requires monitoring for cytokine release syndrome and neurologic toxicity.

Painful inflammation and sores in the mouth and digestive tract lining, often from chemotherapy or radiation; it can make eating difficult and increase infection risk.

Giving blood products such as red cells or platelets through a vein to treat anemia or low platelets; nurses verify patient and product identity and watch for reactions.

A medicine that stimulates the bone marrow to make more neutrophils, shortening the time a child is neutropenic after chemotherapy; it is given by injection with blood count monitoring.

A medicine that prevents or treats nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery; pediatric plans often combine drugs from different classes.

A structured way to evaluate a child's pain using age-appropriate self-report, behavior, and parent information; it guides safe and effective pain treatment.

Care focused on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life for a child with serious illness; it is given alongside curative treatment and is not limited to end of life.

Comfort-focused care for a child near the end of life, usually when curative treatment is no longer chosen; it supports the family at home or in a care facility.

Shared decisions about what matters most to a child and family, guiding choices among cure, comfort, and quality of life; they are revisited as illness changes.

Health problems that appear months or years after cancer treatment, such as heart, lung, growth, learning, or fertility issues; survivors need long-term follow-up.

The phase of life after cancer treatment, including monitoring for recurrence and late effects, health promotion, and emotional support for the child and family.

A professional who helps children cope with illness and hospitalization through developmentally appropriate preparation, play, and distraction; this reduces distress during procedures.

Steps discussed before gonadotoxic treatment to protect a child's future ability to have children, such as sperm banking or ovarian tissue freezing; counseling must happen quickly.

The grief that follows a death; pediatric teams support parents, siblings, and caregivers through mourning and may offer follow-up services.