Acute Describes an illness or symptom which is relatively severe and progresses quickly.
Axilla The armpit.
Adjuvant therapy Treatment given in addition to the main therapy. It may be given to improve the effectiveness of the therapy or to improve the body’s response.
Aetiology The study of the causes of disease.
Alkylating agents Substances which interfere with cell metabolism and growth and which are used to treat some cancers. For example, chlorambucil and cyclophosphamide which are used to treat some lymphomas.
Allogeneic Describes a transplant using someone else’s tissue or organ. Hence an allograft is a transplant using matched, donated tissue.
Alopecia Hair loss. This can occur as a result of treatment for lymphoma.
Anaemia Shortage of the red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body in the blood stream.
Anthracyclines Drugs, such as doxorubicin, which interfere with the DNA structure of cells preventing cell division and so mostly affecting those cells which are dividing quickly, such as cancer cells.
Antibody Specialised proteins made by the B-cells of the immune system. They help to fight infection by binding to foreign antigens (substances not normally found in the body) and attracting other parts of the immune system to dispose of the ‘invader’.
Anti-emetic Medicine that can help to reduce nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick).
Antigen The part of a ‘foreign’ substance in the body that is recognised by the immune system thus stimulating a defensive response i.e. the production of an antibody. In most cases the foreign substance is a protein.
Apheresis This is a procedure in which the blood of a donor or patient is passed through an apparatus that separates out one particular constituent and returns the remainder to the circulation.
Aplasia The failure of the bone marrow to produce new blood cells, due to a lack of stem cells.
Apoptosis Process of ‘programmed’ cell death which is part of normal physiology, but it can be triggered by chemotherapy drugs and irradiation.
Aspirate Sample of cells taken by suction using a needle.
Autologous Use of a person’s own tissue (for example, bone marrow or stem cells).
B-cells/B-lymphocytes Produce antibodies. During development each B-cell learns to make one type of antibody which recognises a single foreign protein. If it comes into contact with the protein (during an infection for example) it divides, making daughter cells, which produce the same antibody.
‘B’ symptoms Significant symptoms of lymphoma which can include night sweats, fevers, loss of weight, poor appetite, tiredness, a cough or breathlessness, a persistent itch all over, and/or pain from drinking even a small amount of alcohol.
Basophil A type of white blood cell.
Biopsy A sample of affected tissue which is taken to see if abnormal cells are present and to confirm a diagnosis. Examination of the cells and their ‘architecture’ or arrangement under the microscope will indicate the exact type of lymphoma. For lymphoma patients the commonest biopsy is a lymph node biopsy.
Blast cell An immature white blood cell. They do not normally appear in a healthy blood stream.
Blood cells There are three main types of cells present in the blood; red cells, white cells and platelets.
Blood count A sample of blood is taken and the numbers of different cells present in the blood sample are checked using a microscope. The counts are checked against a ‘normal’ range.
Bone marrow Spongy tissue in the centre of large bones in the body which produces blood cells.
Burkitt’s lymphoma A rare African type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma which grows rapidly and requires immediate treatment.
Cancer cells These cells have characteristics which make them different from normal cells by their ability to keep on multiplying, their failure to mature and die, an ability to grow in the wrong place in the body and having an unstable genetic make-up.
Candida A fungus which commonly infects the lining of the mouth (oral thrush) in those who have a weakened immune system.
Cannula Soft flexible tube which is inserted into the body, usually into a vein and through which fluids can be passed into the body.
Carcinogenic A factor which can make cells become cancerous.
Catheter A flexible, hollow tube which can be inserted into an organ so that fluids or gases can be removed from, or administered into the body. For example, a catheter can be used to drain urine from the bladder.
Central line A flexible tube which is inserted into a large vein in the chest. Certain types of central lines can be left in place for some months. This allows all treatments to be given and all blood tests to be taken through the one line.
Central nervous system (CNS) Includes the brain, the spinal chord and the surrounding membranes.
Cerebrospinal fluid The fluid which bathes the tissues of the central nervous system.
Chemotherapy A form of treatment using drugs to damage cancer cells which, unlike many normal body cells, are rapidly dividing. Chemotherapy drugs work in a number of different ways, affecting different parts of the cell cycle – the different stages of their development. However, some normal body cells, such as the bone marrow and the lining of the gut and mouth also divide rapidly and so will also be affected by chemotherapy drugs.
Chromosome A small ‘package’ which contains a set of genes (DNA codes) in the nucleus of cells. A normal human cell has 48 chromosomes.
Chronic A condition which is long lasting and which normally progresses slowly.
Clinical trial The controlled investigation of the effects of a new or particular treatment regimen or aspect of care.
CT scan/CAT scan Stands for ‘computerised tomography’ or ‘computerised axial tomography’. A CT scan provides a layered picture of the inside of the body from which changes in appearance, which are due to disease of a tissue or organ, can be detected.
Cytotoxic drugs Given to destroy or control cancer cells.
Diaphragm The dome shaped skeletal muscle that separates the abdomen from the thoracic (chest) cavity.
DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid: a complex molecule which holds the genetic information as a chemical ‘code’.
Endoscopy A procedure that enables a doctor to look at body organs or cavities with a flexible fibre optic instrument to assist in diagnosis and treatment
Epidemiology Study of the determining factors involved in, and the frequency and distribution of diseases in populations.
Epstein Barr virus A commonly occurring herpes virus causing glandular fever. Also known to be associated with Burkitt’s lymphoma.
Erythrocytes Red blood cells.
Fatigue Feeling of complete exhaustion and weakness, slowing down and tiredness; becoming acknowledged as one of the most frequent and distressing side effects of cancer and cancer treatment.
Fine needle aspiration A procedure involving the withdrawal of tissue from a cavity or node usually to see if abnormal cells are present.
First line therapy The first type of therapy selected to combat an illness.
Follicle A group of cells. For example, in follicular lymphoma the term relates to the appearance of clusters of cells when affected tissue is observed under the microscope.
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) The process by which T-cells from the donor tissue attack the body’s normal cells.
Growth factors Naturally occurring in the body, these complex proteins control the development of blood cells and their release into the blood stream. They can be used during treatment to increase the numbers of particular types of white blood cells and the numbers of stem cells circulating in the blood stream.
Haematologist A doctor specialising in diseases of the blood and blood cells.
Haematopoiesis Blood cell formation, taking place in the bone marrow.
Haemoglobin A pigment found in red blood cells and which carries oxygen around the body.
Helicobacter pylori A bacterium that causes inflammation and ulcers in the stomach and is associated with a particular (MALT – Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue, also known as marginal zone lymphoma) lymphoma in the stomach.
Hickman® line An intravenous catheter used for the administration of chemotherapy or other medications. Hickman® lines may remain in place for extended periods and are used when long-term intravenous access is needed.
High dose therapy A therapy using large doses of anti-cancer treatments to eradicate all tumour cells, but which also causes damage to the blood producing cells in the bone marrow. Patients will then have either stem cells (a peripheral blood stem cell transplant – PBSCT) or bone marrow cells (a bone marrow transplant – BMT) re-infused back into their blood stream to replace the damaged marrow.
Histology The study of the microscopic appearance and structure of cells.
HIV / AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the immune system and causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Immunocompromised A condition arising when the immune system is weakened. This can be caused by disease or by treatment.
Immunoglobulin A group of proteins found in the plasma that are involved in our immune system, destroying foreign cells and stimulating other parts of our immune system.
Immunosuppression A condition of reduced immune response induced by treatment. Prolonged immunosuppression usually allows infection to occur.
Immune system The complex system of cells and molecules dedicated to the bodies defence against infection.
Lymphoma There are many different types of lymphoma.
MALT MALT is mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. This type of lymphoma is more correctly called ‘extra-nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma’.
Macrophage(s) A type of white blood cell, part of the immune system. These cells ingest or engulf foreign organisms and send out chemical messages to stimulate further immune response from other cells of the immune system when ‘invaders’ increase.
Metastasis The spread of cancer cells from the site where they originated to other areas of the body.
Monoclonal antibody A protein made to recognise and attach itself to a specific ‘marker’ antigen on the surface of a cell. For example, rituximab attaches to the antigen on lymphoma cells. This alerts the immune system to destroy the lymphoma cells in the same way that it fights infections.
MRI scan Magnetic Resonance Imaging – a diagnostic imaging technique using magnetic rays to give images of the body. (It is similar to a CT scan).
Myeloma Cancer found in the cells of the bone marrow.
Myeloproliferative disorders Diseases characterised by too many of one or more types of blood cells being produced in the bone marrow.
Needle aspiration biopsy Also known as fine needle aspiration, is a procedure performed to diagnose certain kinds of medical conditions, such as lumps in the neck. In this technique a thin needle is inserted into a mass or lump to extract cells that will be examined under a microscope
Neuropathy Strictly speaking is any disease that affects the nervous system. Sometimes as a result of a particular treatment, for example vincristine. See the reference to peripheral neuropathy.
Neutropaenia A condition in which the number of neutrophils (white blood cells) in the blood is abnormally low and which can result in the body allowing infections to develop.
Neutrophils Small, short-lived immune cells, sometimes called granulocytes, which are particularly important in fighting off bacterial infections. When called to action, neutrophils can attract a powerful immune response and cause inflammation.
Oncologist A doctor who treats people diagnosed with cancer.
Palliative Treatment or care designed to help relieve the symptoms of a disease rather than to cure it.
Pathologist A doctor who studies diseased cells and tissues under a microscope.
Paraprotein An abnormal protein found in the urine or the blood.
Peripheral neuropathy A condition of the nervous system that usually begins in the hands and/or feet with symptoms of numbness, tingling, burning and/or weakness. It can be caused by certain anti-cancer drugs.
Peripheral blood stem cell transplant A type of therapy which initially uses high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to destroy cancer cells. As the blood producing cells of the bone marrow are also damaged by this treatment, stem cells, previously taken from the blood stream, are re-infused (transplanted) to replace the damaged marrow.
PET scan Positron Emission Tomography provides a means of diagnosing cancer by using a radiotracer to detect altered tissue metabolism or cellular activity.
Platelets Found in the blood, these cells help the clotting process.
Progenitor cell Precursor cell, an immature cell which can develop into a number of different cell types.
Prognosis The likely course of an illness for an individual patient, taking many factors into account.
Pruritis Itching.
Radiographer A person who takes x-rays or gives radiotherapy. The radiographer will mark up the area to be treated.
Radiologist A doctor who interprets the x-rays and scans.
Radiotherapist A radiation or clinical oncologist. The doctor who will decide exactly where to target the radiotherapy and who will keep a check on the course of treatment.
Radiotherapy Radiation treatment. The use of a very powerful, carefully focused x-ray beam to combat lymphoma. Radiation causes damage to lymphoma cells to a greater degree than normal cells.
Red blood cells These cells carry oxygen around the body.
Reed-Sternberg cell An abnormal cell which has a characteristic appearance, under the microscope, of ‘owl eyes’. If present in a biopsy, this would indicate Hodgkin lymphoma.
Regimen A particular plan of treatment that is quite specific and stipulates the dose and duration.
Relapse The recurrence of disease after a period of improvement.
Remission Complete remission – referred to when there is no disease detectable. Partial remission – when more than half the tumour bulk has melted away after treatment. Good partial remission – when three quarters of the tumour bulk has gone.
RNA Ribonucleic acid: a complex molecule, similar to but much smaller than DNA. It is made inside cells by using the DNA code as a template. RNA carries information to make proteins.
Spleen Part of the immune system, the spleen is a pear sized organ lying just under the rib cage on the left side of the body. This organ fights infection, acting as a filter on the blood, removing foreign particles and destroying aging blood cells.
Splenectomy Surgical removal of the spleen. Without a spleen the immune system no longer works as effectively and results in an increased risk of infection. People with no spleen should make sure that this is prominently stated on their hospital and GP notes.
Splenomegaly Enlargement of the spleen.
Staging The process of classifying tumours with respect to their degree of differentiation and spread and their potential for responding to treatments.
Stem cells Immature cells, the precursors of the different types of mature cells found in the blood.
Subcutaneous Under the skin.
Symptom A change in the body or its function as perceived by the patient. Represents the subjective experience of disease.
T-cells/T-lymphocytes Help to fight infection. Each T-cell has a cell surface receptor, a bit like an antibody in that it recognises a specific foreign protein. If a T-cell comes into contact with a protein that it has been ‘pre-programmed’ to recognise, it grows and divides into extra T-cells.
Thrombocytopaenia A shortage of platelets in the blood. Platelets help to stop bleeding, so a shortage would mean that clotting would be less effective and care should be taken to avoid cuts or wounds.
Total body irradiation Radiotherapy given to the entire body. Mostly used together with anti-cancer drugs, the aim of this treatment is to kill any remaining lymphoma cells.
Transformation Change of shape or form – the change of one tissue into another.
Tumour A swelling or enlargement of an abnormal mass
Tumour Marker A substance whose presence in blood serum serves as a biochemical indicator for the possible presence of a malignancy.
Vinca alkaloid Anti-cancer drugs, such as vincristine and vinblastine, originally derived from a member of the periwinkle (Vinca) plant family.
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