Glossary

Terms often used during the course of treatment along with their definitions.

Antiemetics are medicines used to prevent nausea before is happens, or to treat it once it occurs. They are usually given before and after chemotherapy, and are given intravenously and in oral form.

Blood counts describe the levels of the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Blood counts usually nadir (drop) 7-10 days after chemotherapy. Some chemotherapy agents cause significant drops in the blood counts, while other chemotherapy agents do not.

Bone marrow is the part of the bones where blood cells are made. It is a liquid filled with bony spicules and is located inside the hard, outer bone.

Catheter is a thin, flexible tube that can be placed into a vein. It allows doctors and nurses to give medicines (intravenously), and allows blood to be removed from the body. A central venous catheter is a special type of catheter placed into a larger vein in the upper chest or arm. It can remain in place for weeks, months or years.

Chemotherapy is medicine, usually given intravenously (through a vein), that kills cancer cells. There are hundreds of chemotherapy drugs and they are used in different combinations to treat different kinds of cancer.

Clinical trials are studies (experiments) that are designed to test therapies for medical conditions. Clinical trials are available for most medical conditions, not just cancer and blood disorders. Clinical trials can be sponsored by the federal government, by the pharmaceutical industry, or both. Clinical trials are extremely important to the improvement of cancer care in the United States and worldwide.

Cycle is the length of the chemotherapy regimen. For example, a 21-day regimen describes a regimen that is given once every 3 weeks. A cycle can range from 1 week to as long as 6 weeks.

Growth factors are injections (shots) that are used to support the blood counts. There are shots to help increase the white blood cells, and shots to increase the red blood cells. Currently there is no shot to support the platelets.

Immune system is a complex system of organs and cells that resists and fights infections and other damage.

Infusion is the term used to describe slow and/or prolonged intravenous delivery of a medicine or fluid.

Injection means using a needle and syringe to push medicine into the body, usually into the tissue under the skin. An injection can also be called a shot.

Metastasis describes when a tumor has moved from its first location to another, different part of the body. The tumor cells move through the blood system, or through the lymph system.

Oncologist is the term for a physician who specializes in treated patients with cancer. A medical oncologist gives medicines (chemotherapy, targeted therapy) to patients with cancer; a surgical oncologist operates on patients with cancer; and a radiation oncologist gives radiation therapy to patients with cancer.

Platelets are blood cells that are made in the bone marrow, and provide the first line of defense against bleeding.

Remission occurs when the disease and its symptoms are partially or completely gone.

Radiation therapy is high-energy beams that are directed at a tumor to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy is given by cancer specialists, called radiation oncologists. Radiation therapy is sometimes given before, during or after chemotherapy.

Red blood cells are made in the bone marrow, circulate in the blood stream and carry oxygen to provide energy.

Stomatitis describes when the lining of the mouth becomes sore and inflamed. This is a side effect of some chemotherapy.

Targeted therapy is medicine that has been designed to bind to and kill cancer cells. This medicine is “targeted” against cancer cells. Several of the new targeted therapies are oral medicines. Targeted therapy is also called molecularly-targeted therapy, or multikinase targeted therapy.

White blood cells are made in the bone marrow, circulate in the blood stream, and help fight infections. These cells are major players in our immune system.