Glossary
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
A disease in which a person has too many immature white blood cells (not lymphocytes)
in the blood and bone marrow. AML (also known as acute myeloid leukemia or acute
nonlymphocytic leukemia) progresses quickly.
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Anemia
A condition in which a person’s red blood cell count is below normal.
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Antibiotic
A drug that fights infections by killing bacteria or other germs.
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Blast
Immature blood cell.
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Blood transfusion
Receiving blood or blood products through a blood vessel.
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Bone marrow
Soft matter in the inner bones that produces blood cells.
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Bone marrow transplantation
Medical procedure that replaces damaged bone marrow. The transplanted bone marrow
may be the patient’s own marrow saved before treatment (called autologous transplantation),
marrow donated by another person (allogeneic transplantation), or marrow donated
by an identical twin (syngeneic transplantation).
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Chemotherapy
Treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells.
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Clinical trial
Research study that includes volunteers who test new ways to screen, prevent, diagnose
or treat an illness. Also known as clinical study.
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Contaminant
Something that stains, soils or infects other things through contact.
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Cytopenia
Reduction in blood cell count.
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DNA
DNA are cell molecules that carry genetic information from one generation to the
next. DNA is the abbreviated form of deoxyribonucleic acid.
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Erythropoietin
A substance produced by the kidneys that helps the bone marrow make red blood cells.
Erythropoietin also is made in laboratories. This type of erythropoietin is called
epoetin alfa or epoetin beta.
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Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The U.S. federal government agency responsible for ensuring that drugs, medical
devices and medical equipment are safe and effective. The FDA also ensures the safety
and proper labeling of food, nutritional supplements and cosmetics, and makes sure
blood for transfusions and tissue for transplants are safe.
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Growth factor
Substance made by the body that helps regulate the division and survival of cells.
Sometimes growth factors also are made in laboratories and used for therapy.
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Hemoglobin
Substance inside red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to tissues.
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Induction therapy
Treatment used to help shrink cancer and evaluate a patient’s response to drugs
and other treatments. If all the cancer is not gone after induction therapy ends,
additional therapy is used.
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Monocyte
Type of white blood cell.
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Neutropenia
A condition in which a person has an abnormally low number of neutrophils (type
of white blood cell).
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Performance status
A patient’s ability to perform everyday activities and normal tasks.
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Platelet
Type of blood cell responsible for helping the blood to clot. Also known as thrombocyte.
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Postinduction therapy
Treatment given after induction therapy if induction therapy did not get rid of
all the cancer. See
induction therapy. 1
Prognosis
The typical course or outcome of a disease. Also, the chance of recovering from
the disease, or the chance of the disease reoccurring.
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Quality of life (QOL)
Measure of a person’s overall enjoyment of life. Many research studies evaluate
the effects of cancer and its treatment on a patient’s QOL. These studies measure
things like a patient’s sense of well-being and ability to perform various activities.
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Radiation therapy
Use of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells or shrink tumors.
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Red blood cell
Type of blood cell responsible for carrying oxygen to every part of the body. Also
known as erythrocyte.
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Risk factor
Something that can increase the chances of developing a medical condition.
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Side effect
A problem that happens when medical treatment affects healthy tissues or organs.
Side effects of certain cancer treatments may include pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting,
hair loss, mouth sores and decreased blood cell counts.
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Stem cell
A cell that produces other kinds of cells. Blood-forming stem cells produce red
blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
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Stem cell transplantation
Medical procedure that replaces destroyed, immature blood-forming cells. A person
receives the stem cells after cancer treatment to help the bone marrow recover and
continue producing healthy blood cells.
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Supportive care
Method of managing disease symptoms, treatment side effects, and psychological and
emotional issues related to the disease and its treatment. Supportive care is intended
to help improve a patient’s quality of life. Also known as palliative care.
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Symptom
A change in a person’s normal function, sensations, and/or appearance that may indicate
the occurrence of a disease or medical condition.
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Thrombocytopenia
A condition in which a person’s platelet count is abnormally low. This condition
may cause easy bruising and bleeding.
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White blood cell
Type of blood cell made in the bone marrow that helps the body fight infection and
diseases.
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References