A Patient’s Guide to Understanding
Cutaneous Lymphoma
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Toxicities:
The unwanted side effects of cancer therapies, such as a
decrease in blood cells, nausea and vomiting, and hair loss.
TSEB (total skin electron beam):
A form of radiation therapy that only
treats the superficial portions of the skin. It is highly effective in clearing all
forms of lesions of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma from the skin. Also known
as electron beam therapy.
Tumor:
The word tumor has more than one meaning. A tumor can be a
mass or swelling of abnormal tissue, anywhere in the body. Not all tumors
are malignant; some of them are benign (a good example of benign tumors
are uterine “fibroids”). In cutaneous lymphoma, a tumor is also one of
the three main types of skin lesions seen in mycosis fungoides (patches,
plaques, and tumors).
UVB, broadband:
A form of phototherapy that uses ultraviolet light
involving the entire range of UVB wavelengths.
UVB, narrowband:
A form of phototherapy that concentrates ultraviolet
output in a narrow range of UVB wavelengths. It can be an effective
treatment for patch-stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma as well as other skin
diseases.
Vaccine:
A substance or group of substances meant to stimulate the
immune system to respond. A vaccine can help the body recognize and
destroy cancer cells. Lymphoma vaccines often combine cancer antigens
with a substance to stimulate the patient’s own natural defenses to fight the
disease. These vaccines are custom-made for each patient using a sample of
tumor obtained from the patient’s lymph nodes.
X-ray:
Radiation that is used in low doses to provide images of the inside of
the body and in high doses to treat cancer.
