Learning The Basics
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Aggressive lymphomas:
Lymphomas that are fast-growing and generally
need to be treated immediately: typically considered intermediate-grade or
high-grade lymphomas.
Allogeneic transplant:
A procedure in which a patient receives bone
marrow or stem cells donated by another person.
Alopecia:
Hair loss. Alopecia from systemic chemotherapy is almost
always temporary; hair grows back when therapy is finished.
Anemia:
A shortage of red blood cells, causing weakness and fatigue.
Angiogenesis:
The process of developing new blood vessels.
Antiangiogenesis therapies:
Drugs that prevent tumors from developing
new blood vessels, thereby stopping or limiting tumor growth.
Antibody:
A complex protein made by B-lymphocytes that reacts with
antigens on toxins, bacteria and some cancer cells and either kills or marks
them for removal.
Antiemetic:
A drug that reduces or prevents nausea and vomiting.
Antigen:
Identifying proteins located on the surface of all cells. The
immune system uses antigens to determine whether cells are a necessary
part of the body or need to be destroyed.
Apheresis:
Process of separation of components of whole blood (white
blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, stem cells, plasma) performed in a
specialized apparatus.
Autologous transplant:
A type of bone marrow or stem cell
transplantation in which a patient receives his or her own cells (not the type
of transplant recommended for cutaneous lymphoma patients).
Glossary
Glossary Of Medical Terms
