Cancer Glossary

Acute lymphocytic leukemia-a rapidly progressing disease marked by the overabundance of immature or functionless white blood cells (lymphoblasts) in the blood or bone marrow; most commonly found in children

Acute myeloid leukemia-a cancer in which there is uncontrollable growth of functionless cells in the bone marrow and a deficiency of red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells

Aplastic anemia-a rare and serious condition in which the bone marrow stops producing enough red and white blood cells to keep the body healthy, resulting in an increased risk of infection and uncontrollable bleeding

Biological therapy - new treatments that restore and stimulate the immune system of patients. Imitative substances are created in a laboratory and strengthen the body's defenses against disease or cancer. Such treatments include monoclonal antibody therapy, colony-stimulating factors, and vaccine therapy. Monoclonal antibody therapy uses lab-produced substances to find and damage specific types of cells throughout the body. It is advantageous because it will not harm cell-types that are not being targeted. Colony-stimulating factors increase the production of white blood cells during chemotherapy treatments. Vaccine therapy stimulates the body's natural immune system to kill cancerous cells.

Bone marrow-a spongy tissue inside the bones that manufactures blood cells

Bone marrow transplantation- This is a procedure in which the bone marrow of a leukemia patient is replaced with his own marrow (extracted before treatment), or the marrow of a donor.

Chemotherapy-the administering of a combination of drugs intended to fight cancer; often used in conjunction with radiation therapy or other treatment options

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia-a disease caused by the overabundance of mature white blood cells (lymphocytes) in the body; most commonly found in adults

Chronic myeloid leukemia-a disease that progresses more slowly than acute myeloid leukemia and that is caused by the presence of too many underdeveloped white blood cells (lymphoblasts) in the blood or bone marrow

High-dose chemotherapy with bone marrow transplantation-In the first step of this therapy, stem cells (immature blood cells) are extracted from the patient's bone marrow and frozen. Next, the patient receives very high levels of chemotherapy, after which the frozen stem cells are thawed and gradually returned to the patient via infusion. These cells then mature into functioning, healthy cells.

High-dose chemotherapy with peripheral stem cell transplantation- In the first step of this therapy, stem cells are extracted from the patient's blood and frozen; high-level doses of chemotherapy are then administered. The stem cells are then slowly returned to the patient via infusion, after which these cells mature into functioning, healthy cells.

Hodgkin's Disease-a rare form of cancer triggered by the random, uncontrollable growth of cells in the lymphatic system

Leukemia-a cancer of the blood in which new and functionless cells form and replicate at an uncontrollable rate; leukemia originates in the bone marrow and quickly spreads elsewhere

Lymph nodes-small bundles of lymphatic tissue that remove cell waste and fight infections in the body

Lymphatic system-the body's complex set of organs, cells, and vessels designed to ward off infections, germs, and diseases

Lymphoblast-an underdeveloped, malfunctioning white blood cell

Lymphocyte-white blood cell intended to ward off infection

Lymphoma-a cancer of the lymphatic system in which functionless or defective cells are produced at an alarming rate; lymphomas are classified as either Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's and affect both adults and children

Myelodysplastic syndromes-a disease in which the bone marrow produces new blood cells, but those cells are dysfunctional and insufficiently developed

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma-a cancer in which abnormal lymphocytes (white blood cells) emerge and divide uncontrollably, overcrowding the lymph nodes and impairing their functions

Platelets-a part of the blood that clots bleeding

Radiation therapy-a cancer treatment in which high levels of energy rays are used to destroy or shrink cancer cells; radiation is usually dispensed from inside the body or directly into the tumor.

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