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Glossary

Selected words and phrases

sarcoma – medical term for cancer that affects bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, skin or other connective tissue.

Cancer: lymphoma and sarcoma.

CSF – cerebral spinal fluid – the fluid that circulates around the brain and spinal column.

thrombocytopenia – a low platelet count (platelets help stop bleeding by clotting blood).

placenta – the placenta is a temporary organ that develops in pregnancy and joins the mother and foetus. The placenta acts as a filter. It transfers oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the foetus, and takes away carbon dioxide and waste products. The placenta is full of blood vessels.

The placenta is expelled from the mother’s body after the baby is born and it is no longer needed. It is sometimes called the afterbirth.

Direct acting antiviral – See DAA.