Resources

Glossary of Terms

A - C

A

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC): The absolute number of white blood cells that are neutrophils or bands in a sample of blood.

ABVD: A chemotherapy combination commonly used to treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The drugs used are Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, and Dacarbazine (DTIC).

Acute: Sudden onset of disease or symptoms.

Adjuvant therapy: Anticancer drugs or hormones given after surgery and/or radiation to help prevent the cancer from coming back.

Advanced disease: Disease that has spread from the original site to multiple locations.

Adriamycin: A chemotherapy drug (generic name doxorubicin) commonly used to treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other forms of lymphoma.

Aggressive lymphoma: The National Cancer Institute designation for high-grade and some intermediate-grade lymphomas. Aggressive lymphomas grow quicker than indolent lymphomas but respond well to chemotherapy.

AIDS-related lymphoma: Certain types of lymphoma may develop in persons whose immune system is weakened by acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) by the human immunodeficiency (HIV) virus.

Allogenic transplant: A procedure where a patient receives stem cells from the bone marrow or peripheral blood of a compatible donor.

Alopecia: Loss of hair on the head or all over the body. Alopecia can be caused by certain chemotherapy drugs.

Alprazolam: A medication used to treat anxiety or insomnia. One trade name is Xanax^®.

AMGEN: A pharmaceutical company making drugs for the treatment of ailments caused by cancer treatment. Neupogen^® (G-CSF), which stimulates the production of white blood cells, is manufactured by AMGEN.

Analgesic: A pain relieving drug. Common types are aspirin, acetaminophen (most common brand is Tylenol^®), and ibuprofen (most common brand is Motrin^®).

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL): A fairly new type of large cell NHL. Most cases are T-cell or cell type unknown (null). It can be systemic in children or young adults or cutaneous (in/on the skin). Disease limited to the skin is quite indolent and remains localized to the skin with many examples of spontaneous remission. The systemic form can involve lymph nodes and extranodal sites that act aggressively but respond to chemotherapy used to treat other large cell lymphomas. Previously called Ki-1 lymphoma.

Anaplastic: A term used to describe cells that divide rapidly and no longer resemble their original appearance. Anaplastic cells grow without form or structure and are seen in most (but not all) cancers.

Anemia: A condition caused by a reduction in the amount of red blood cells produced by the bone marrow. It causes weakness and lack of energy, dizziness, shortness of breath, headaches, and irritability.

Antibiotic: A drug that kills or reduces the growth of bacterial infection.

Antibody: A protein (immunoglobulin) formed by the body to fight infections. Antibodies are produced by plasma cells (mature B cells) in response to antigens. Antibodies are released by the plasma cells into the circulatory system as exact mirror images of a specific antigen.

Antiemetic: A drug that reduces or prevents nausea or vomiting. Two relatively new antiemetic drugs for chemotherapy-induced nausea are Zofran^® and Kytril^®.

Antigen: Substances capable of stimulating an immune response. The response may be to foreign chemical substances or proteins on the surface of infectious agents, tumour cells, or foreign tissue cells.

Antinauseant: A medication that prevents nausea.

Antipyretic: A medication that reduces fever.

Apheresis: Collection of peripheral blood stem cells by a device similar to a dialysis machine. The blood may be taken from a catheter or, if the patient’s veins are good, from the arms. Gathering enough cells for an autologous stem-cell transplant may take from one to five days, depending on the amount of stem cells the patient has in their blood.

Aplastic anemia (AA): A deficiency of certain types of blood cells caused by poor bone marrow function.

Apoptosis: Programmed cell death. If apoptosis is affected, then the cell will not die, causing a malignant/cancerous condition.

Autologous bone marrow transplant (Auto BMT): Bone marrow is taken from the patient’s own body prior to high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment. After treatment, the marrow, which may or may not have been treated with chemotherapy, is reinfused into the patient to restore the immune system. See also bone marrow transplantation.

Autologous peripheral blood stem-cell transplant (auto PBSCT): Stem cells are taken from the patient’s own body prior to treatment. After treatment, the stem cells are reinfused into the patient to restore the immune system. Also see peripheral blood stem- cell transplant.

Autologous transplant: A type of bone marrow or stem-cell transplant where the patient receives their own cells instead of those from a donor.

Axillary lymph node: Axilla (axillary): Refers to the area under the arm (armpit). A lymph node found in the armpit (axilla).

B

B cell: A type of lymphocyte (a specific type of white blood cell). B cells respond to the presence of antigens by dividing and maturing into plasma cells.

B-cell lymphomas: NHLs that arise from cancers in the development of B-cells.

Benign tumour: A noncancerous growth that does not spread to other parts of the body.

Beta (2) microglobulin (B2M): A protein found in the bloodstream that, if found in large amounts, could mean a more aggressive form of lymphoma.

Bexxar^®: A radiolabelled monoclonal antibody in clinical trials as a treatment for B-cell NHL.

Biologic therapy: Treatments that stimulate the patient’s immune system to fight infection or disease. Also called biological therapy or immunotherapy.

Biopsy: The removal of a small piece of the tumour for examination under a microscope. A biopsy is an effective method of determining whether a tumour is malignant (cancerous) or benign.

Bleomycin: A chemotherapy drug commonly used to treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Blood cell: A general term describing the three cellular components of blood (white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets), all which are made in the bone marrow.

Blood count: A routine test to determine the amount of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in a sample of blood. Often used to determine if the body can withstand another round of chemotherapy. Also called the complete blood count (CBC).

Bone marrow: The material inside the large bones of the body that produces red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body, white blood cells make up the immune system, and platelets are important for blood clotting. The bone marrow contains immature forms of these cells, called stem cells, which can be harvested for transplant.

Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: The removal and analysis of a sample of bone marrow, usually through a needle inserted into the hip bone. A pathologist will examine the sample for normal and possibly abnormal cells.

Bone marrow harvest: The removal and collection of bone marrow, usually done prior to a bone marrow transplant but sometimes done as a preventative measure in case of relapse.

Bone marrow suppression: A decrease in the number of blood cells produced; it may be a result of cancer treatment or tumour invasion of bone marrow.

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT): Treatment in which healthy bone marrow replaces bone marrow that has been affected by a disease or by treatment for a disease. Usually the patient receives high-dose chemotherapy and possibly radiation to kill cancer. In the process the patient’s ability to fight infection is also damaged. The donated bone marrow is infused into the patient to restore the immune system. The marrow may come from the patient prior to the procedure (autologous BMT) or from a suitable donor (allogeneic BMT).

Bone scan: A procedure where an image of the bones is produced by injection of a radioisotope and subsequent scan for the isotope absorbed by the bones. It is usually used to determine if cancer has spread to the bones.

Burkitt’s lymphoma: A type of NHL that most often occurs in young people between the ages of 12 and 30. The disease usually causes a rapidly growing tumour in the abdomen.

C

Cancer: A general term for more than 100 diseases that are characterized by uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells. Cancer cells can spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body. Lymphoma is a subset of cancers that start in the lymph system. A malignant tumour.

Carcinogen: A substance that causes cancer.

CAT scan or CT scan: A series of x-rays that provides detailed, three-dimensional images of the inside of the body.

Catheter (see also venous catheter): A device, usually a flexible tube, that is used to transport medications into the body (through a vein) or take fluids (e.g., urine) out of the body.

CBC: Complete blood count. See also blood count.

CD5 antigen: A protein on the surface of some B-cells. This protein can be found during the biopsy procedure and, if present, is used to confirm the diagnosis of certain types of NHL.

CD20 antigen: A protein found on the surface of B-cells. The CD20 antigen is used as a target for monoclonal antibody therapy in certain types of NHL.

CD30 antigen: A protein found on the surface of some T-cells. This protein can be found during the biopsy procedure and, if present, is used to confirm the diagnosis of a certain type of T-cell NHL: anaplastic large cell lymphoma, primary cutaneous-type.

Cell: The basic building block of all living tissues.

Central line: An intravenous catheter that is inserted into a large vein, usually in the neck or near the heart. It is used to administer medication or withdraw blood.

Central nervous system (CNS): The control centre for the body, which includes the brain and spinal cord.

Central nervous system lymphoma: A type of NHL that is located primarily in the central nervous system.

Central venous catheter: A special thin flexible tube placed in a large vein. It remains there for as long as it is needed to deliver or withdraw fluids.

Cerebrospinal fluid: Watery fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. In NHL, it may be examined to determine if the cancer has spread to these areas.

Chemoresistant: A term used to describe a tumour that does not respond to chemotherapy.

Chemosensitive: A term used to describe a tumour that responds to chemotherapy

Chemotherapy: Treatment with anticancer drugs. The type of drugs used are determined by the type of cancer and the treatment determined by the doctor.

Chemotherapy cycle: A term used to describe the method of administering chemotherapy. It includes the duration of treatment and the rest period for the patient to recover. Chemotherapy for NHL may require three or more cycles.

CHOP chemotherapy: A combination chemotherapy treatment that consists of three individual chemotherapy drugs (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and vincristine) and a steroid medication (prednisone). CHOP is one of the most common chemotherapy regimens used in NHL.

Chromosome: A strand of DNA and related proteins that carries the genes and transmits hereditary information.

Chronic: Lasting for a long period of time or marked by frequent recurrence.

Classification (of NHL): the determination of the exact type of NHL a patient has. There are many different types of NHL (e.g., follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, etc.) and it is important to classify the tumour in order to choose the most appropriate treatment.

Clinical trial: Research conducted with volunteer patients, usually to evaluate a new treatment, under strictly controlled conditions. Each trial is designed to answer scientific questions and to find better ways to treat individuals with a specific disease.

CNS lymphoma: See central nervous system lymphoma.

Colony-stimulating factor (CSF): A treatment used to stimulate the production of certain blood cells in the bone marrow. Agents include granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF).

Combination chemotherapy: The use of more than one drug to treat cancer. Some combinations are ABVD (Hodgkin’s) or CHOP (NHL).

Compazine (prochlorperazine): A medication used to treat nausea and vomiting.

Complementary therapy: Techniques or approaches often used in addition to standard treatment. Examples are diet or meditation.

Complete blood count (CBC): A routine blood test used to determine the number of blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) in the bloodstream. A CBC is commonly done during a normal check-up with a doctor, and is often done during cancer treatment to determine if the patient can go ahead with their chemotherapy treatment.

Complete remission: Also called complete response, it means that all signs of the cancer have disappeared following treatment. Partial remission/partial response means that the tumour has decreased in size but is still present.

Computed tomography: An x-ray procedure that uses a computer to produce detailed three-dimensional or cross-sectional pictures of the body. Also called CAT or CT scan. Depending on the part of the body scanned, this may involve drinking a substance to outline the digestive system (contrast), having contrast injected into the rectum, and/or an iodine contrast intravenously prior or during the scan.

CT scan or CAT scan: A series of x-rays that provide detailed, three-dimensional images of the inside of the body.

Cure: In the case of lymphoma, the term used when there is no sign of disease present in the body and adequate time has passed so that the chances of recurrence are small.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL): A type of NHL that first appears on the skin. Also called mycosis fungoides.

CVP chemotherapy: A combination chemotherapy treatment that consists of two chemotherapy drugs (cyclophosphamide and vincristine) and a steroid medication (prednisone). CVP is a common chemotherapy regimen used in NHL.

Cytogenetics: Identification of abnormal chromosomes in a cellular tissue sample.

Cytology: The study of cells, their origin, structure, function and pathology.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV): A type of virus that can cause infections in healthy individuals but is dangerous to immunosuppressed patients. CMV is a member of the Herpes family of viruses. The virus may manifest itself as pneumonia, colitis or hepatitis.

Cytotoxic: Toxic to cells.

top