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ALL: acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Advocacy: organized efforts to influence public policy

Affect: emotion

ASCO: American Society of Clinical Oncology (formerly The ASCO Cancer Foundation) www.asco.org

CAPO: Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology; www.capo.ca

CPOP: Canadian Psychosocial Oncology Partners (that's us!)

Cohort: group of people with similar characteristics

CRT: cranial radiation

Dyspnoea: shortness of breath

Empirical evidence: knowledge derived from direct or scientific observation; data is collected and analyzed to confirm or refute a hypothesis, generating empirical evidence

Experiential evidence: subjective knowledge derived from experience

Generalizable: knowledge gained in a specific setting may validly be extended to other settings

HNC: head and neck cancer

IPOS: International Psycho-Oncology Society; www.ipos-society.org.

Knowledge translation: "the exchange, synthesis and ethically-sound application of knowledge -  within a complex system of interactions among researchers and users - to accelerate the capture of the benefits of research for Canadians through improved health, more effective services and products, and a strengthened health care system." Source: CIHR

MBSR: "Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn developed the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center...Completed studies have found that pain-related drug utilization was decreased, and activity levels and feelings of self esteem increased, for a majority of participants." Click for more.

Mental health first-aid: the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate professional treatment is received or until the crisis is resolved. The concept is based on the model of medical first aid. Click for more.

Negative affect: anger, hositility, etc.

Palliative care: "Care for people who are living with a serious illness (such as cancer), as well as for their families. Palliative care provides physical, emotional, social and spiritual support and counselling for people with cancer and for their families. The focus of care is on relieving symptoms, as well as improving quality of life at any time after diagnosis." Source: Canadian Cancer Society glossary

Patient navigation: “a system or professional role primarily intended to expedite patient access to services and resources, and improve continuity and co-ordination of care throughout the cancer continuum. Navigation should seek to address patients’ informational, emotional, and practical needs during the cancer journey." Source: BC Cancer Agency, Patient Navigation in Cancer Care, 2005

POMS: Profile of Mood States is a 65-item self-report inventory that measures six factors: tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, fatigue-inertia, vigor-activity, and confusion-bewilderment. Technical details here.

Positive affect: joy, enthusiasm, contentment, etc. Click to go to a study on positive affect and health.

Previvor: someone who has a genetic risk of developing cancer and takes preventive action such as breast removal

Psycho-oncology: "psychological, social, behavioral, and ethical aspects of cancer. This subspeciality addresses the two major psychological dimensions of cancer: the psychological responses of patients to cancer at all stages of the disease, and that of their families and caretakers; and the psychological, behavioral and social factors that may influence the disease process." Source: Psycho-Oncology, the journal.

Psychosocial oncology: "a specialty in cancer care concerned with understanding and treating the social, psychological, emotional, spiritual, quality-of-life and functional aspects of cancer, from prevention through bereavement. It is a whole-person approach to cancer care that addresses a range of very human needs that can improve quality of life for people affected by cancer." Source: CAPO

QoL: quality of life

Reliability: when a test is repeated, the result is the same each time

SIOP: International Society of Paediatric Oncology; www.siop.nl

Social determinants: "the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, including the health system. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels, which are themselves influenced by policy choices. The social determinants of health are mostly responsible for health inequities - the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries." Source: World Health Organization

State affect: transient emotional experience in response to a trigger

Trait negative/positive affect: traits are thought to be stable aspects of personality; trait affect refers to enduring emotional responses, be they positive or negative

UADT: upper aero-digestive tract. Click for a diagram.

Validity: findings accurately reflect reality