Uncle Lou

Uncle Lou is a vernacular term which circulates among patients and some staff (mostly volunteers) in cancer clinics. It refers to leukaemia. It is a way for patients to buffer the impact of the disease without giving it credence by mentioning it directly. It is a euphemism which is understood mostly by those who are affected with cancer, and some who treat the disease. Uncle Lou sometimes refers to a terminal condition of various blood cancers, and sometimes serious disorders of the lymphatic system, such as the Human Lymphotrophic Virus and AIDS. Uncle Lou is a way for the patient to mention the condition while distancing themselves emotionally from the enormity of the prognosis.