Glossary of Terms
(Under Construction)
Anaemia - a deficiency of red cells or haemoglobin in the blood.
Androgen - a male hormone, which is used as a form of therapy to stimulate red cell production. Often, platelet levels increase and sometimes an improvement can be seen in white cells. The most commonly used are oxymetholone and danazol.
Bloodletting - surgical removal of a quantity of blood for therapeutic purposes.
Carcinogen - a substance capable of causing Cancer
Complementation Group - the term given to the 15 genetic subgroups that reflect the 13 different proteins / genes affected in the Fanconi pathway - A, B, C, D1 (BRCA2), D2, E, F, G, I, J, L, M, N, P and RAD51C.
Cancer - uncontrolled division of abnormal cells that leads to a malignant growth or tumour
DNA - deoxyribonucleic acid, a substance that carries genetic information and consists of a very long double-stranded helix of sugars joined by phosphate bonds and cross-linked by pairs of organic bases.
Endocrine - system within the body, whereby glands secrete hormones or other products directly into the blood or lymph
Fanconi Anaemia - a group of inherited diseases characterised by defects in repairing DNA or protecting it from damage; it is a rare Cancer-predisposing genetic disorder.
Fanconi pathway - a complex mechanism that maintains and repairs DNA; failure results in damage and often Cancer; better understanding of the Fanconi pathway will lead to better diagnosis and treatment of FA and Cancer, including Leukaemia
Heterozygote - a person possessing two different forms of a particular gene, one inherited from each parent; also called a "carrier".
Androgen - a male hormone, which is used as a form of therapy to stimulate red cell production. Often, platelet levels increase and sometimes an improvement can be seen in white cells. The most commonly used are oxymetholone and danazol.
Bloodletting - surgical removal of a quantity of blood for therapeutic purposes.
Carcinogen - a substance capable of causing Cancer
Complementation Group - the term given to the 15 genetic subgroups that reflect the 13 different proteins / genes affected in the Fanconi pathway - A, B, C, D1 (BRCA2), D2, E, F, G, I, J, L, M, N, P and RAD51C.
Cancer - uncontrolled division of abnormal cells that leads to a malignant growth or tumour
DNA - deoxyribonucleic acid, a substance that carries genetic information and consists of a very long double-stranded helix of sugars joined by phosphate bonds and cross-linked by pairs of organic bases.
Endocrine - system within the body, whereby glands secrete hormones or other products directly into the blood or lymph
Fanconi Anaemia - a group of inherited diseases characterised by defects in repairing DNA or protecting it from damage; it is a rare Cancer-predisposing genetic disorder.
Fanconi pathway - a complex mechanism that maintains and repairs DNA; failure results in damage and often Cancer; better understanding of the Fanconi pathway will lead to better diagnosis and treatment of FA and Cancer, including Leukaemia
Heterozygote - a person possessing two different forms of a particular gene, one inherited from each parent; also called a "carrier".
