ALT, a blood test to check the impact of cancer treatment or potential damage to the liver

AST, a blood test to check the impact of cancer treatment or potential damage to the liver

bilirubin test, a blood test to check the impact of cancer treatment or potential damage to the liver

acute HCV, hepatitis C that develops suddenly then goes away after the body successfully fights it off

adhesions, bands of scar tissue that cause surfaces of structures that are usually separate to stick together

asymptomatic, not showing any symptoms

chronic enterocolitis, long-lasting inflammation of the intestines

chronic graft versus-host disease (GVHD), after stem cell transplant when the bone marrow or stem cells provided by the donor (graft) attack the tissues and organ of the child receiving the transplant (host). GVHD may be acute or chronic. Acute GVHD occurs within the first 100 days after the transplant, while chronic GVHD occurs or persists after day 100.

cirrhosis, severe scarring of the liver, a serious condition caused by many forms of liver diseases and conditions, such as hepatitis or chronic alcoholism

fibrosis, excessive formation of scar tissue in the liver

gallstones, solid lumps of cholesterol or bilirubin that form in the gall bladder

gastroenterologist, medical doctor specializing in digestive diseases and disorders

iron chelation therapy, medication taken by mouth or injected by healthcare provider which removes extra iron from your body

iron overload (hemochromatosis), when the body stores too much iron which can cause damage to your liver, heart and pancreas and needs to be treated as soon as possible

liver fibrosis, excessive formation of scar tissue in the liver

malabsorption, difficulty in the digestion or absorption of nutrients from food

palpate, to examine by feeling with the hand

reflux, backward flow of food and stomach acid into the esophagus (“food tube”)

serum ferritin test, a blood test that measures the amount of ferritin (blood protein that contains iron) in the blood and is a check for iron-deficiency anemia

small bowel obstruction, blockage of the small intestine

stricture, narrowing

therapeutic phlebotomy, when blood is removed from your body (by healthcare provider by needle and tube) to rid blood of excess iron; this is repeated frequently and you need regular blood tests to monitor the amount of iron in your blood