You may encounter the following medical terms during your treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
Acute leukemia: An aggressive form of leukemia in which the number of cancerous blood cells increases rapidly. Requires immediate treatment.
Alkylator: A chemotherapy that acts primarily on the DNA in the nucleus of a cell. It damages DNA, which ultimately kills the cell. DNA is the material within the nucleus of a cell that carries genetic codes for building proteins. The scientific name for DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid.
Anemia: A deficiency of red blood cells or of hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness.
Binet staging: A CLL staging system used most commonly outside of the United States.
Bone marrow: The soft sponge-like material inside some bones. Blood cells are formed in the bone marrow.
Chemotherapy: Chemical treatment that kills cancer cells.
Chlorambucil: An alkylator used primarily to treat CLL.
Chromosome: A threadlike strand of DNA that contains thousands of genes. Each human cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes.
Chronic leukemia: A form of leukemia in which cancerous white blood cells build up in the blood over months or years. Chronic forms of leukemia are sometimes monitored for a long time before treatment begins.
Clinical study: A trial of a new drug for safety and effectiveness in human beings.
Complete response: The absence of all signs of cancer in response to treatment.
Cycle: A round of treatment.
Disease progression: An increase in CLL cells and a worsening of CLL symptoms.
DNA: Material within the nucleus of a cell that carries genetic codes for building proteins. The scientific name for DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid.
Fatigue: Loss of strength and energy.
Immature cell: A developing cell that has not achieved full functioning (also called a stem cell).
Intravenous infusion (IV): Giving a liquid solution to a patient by injecting it directly into a vein (usually in the arm).
Isometrics: Muscle-building exercises involving muscle contractions without movements of joints (such as pushing against a wall).
Leukopenia: A low number of leukocytes (also called white blood cells).
Lymph nodes: A mass of lymphatic tissue that filters lymph (lymphatic fluid) and stores lymphocytes. Also called a lymph gland.
Lymphocytes: Lymphocytes are white blood cells that act as part of the body’s immune system. The immune system protects the body from infection. Most lymphocytes are found in the lymph nodes, the lymph channels, and the spleen. Some enter the blood.
Lymphocytosis: An abnormal increase in the number of lymphocytes in the blood.
Lymphopenia: A low number of lymphocytes in the blood.
Myeloid: Term for white blood cells that are not lymphocytes.
Neutropenia: An abnormally low level of neutrophils in the blood.
Neutrophil: A type of white blood cell that helps to destroy bacteria.
Overall response: The total number of patients with complete and partial responses to treatment.
Partial response: A response to treatment that does not meet the full standards of complete response.
Platelets: Small cells that help stop bleeding at the site of an injury.
Rai staging: A system that divides CLL into 5 categories (0-IV) from early stage to more advanced stages. Developed by Kanti R Rai, MD, a well-known clinical practitioner and researcher in the treatment of CLL.
Red blood cells: Making up half the volume of the blood, they are filled with hemoglobin, the protein that takes in oxygen from the lungs. Red blood cells circulate around the body to deliver the oxygen to other cells.
Significant: Significant results are treatment results that show improvement didn’t happen by chance but because of treatment.
Thrombocytopenia: A decrease in the number of platelets in the blood.
Watch and wait: The period before treatment begins when a patient is watched for symptoms of disease. Healthcare professionals will often wait until certain signs of CLL appear before starting drug treatment.
White blood cells: Cells that fights infection in the body (also called leukocytes).