Medical Terms

Acute leukemia: An aggressive form of leukemia in which the number of cancerous blood cells grows fast. It must be treated right away.

Alkylator: A chemotherapy that acts mostly 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: Too few red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood, which makes you look pale and feel tired.

Binet staging: A CLL staging system used most commonly outside the United States.

Biologic therapy: A type of treatment that makes the patient’s immune system fight infection and destroy tumor cells. Also called immunotherapy.

Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues, which are then examined under a microscope to check for cancer cells. Three different types of biopsy are incisional or core biopsy (when only a sample of tissue is removed), excisional biopsy (when the whole lymph node is removed), and needle biopsy (when a needle is inserted to remove tissue or fluid for microscopic examination).

Bone marrow: The soft sponge-like material inside most bones. Blood cells are made in the bone marrow.

Chemotherapy: Chemical treatment that kills cancer cells.

Chlorambucil: An alkylator (type of chemotherapy) used primarily to treat CLL.

Chromosome: A threadlike strand of DNA that holds thousands of genes. Each human cell holds 23 pairs of chromosomes.

Chronic leukemia: A form of leukemia where cancerous white blood cells build up in the blood over months or years. Chronic kinds of leukemia are sometimes watched for a long time before treatment begins.

Clinical study: A research study to find out the safety and effectiveness of a drug when used on people.

Complete response: When there are no longer any signs of cancer after treatment.

Cycle: A round of treatment.

Disease progression: When the number of CLL cells goes up and CLL symptoms get worse.

Fatigue: Loss of strength and energy.

Follicular lymphoma: A type of lymphoma in which the cells tend to grow in a circular, or nodular, pattern in lymph nodes. Most of the time, follicular lymphoma occurs in many lymph nodes in the body, as well as in the bone marrow. Approximately 1 out of 5 lymphomas in the United States is follicular lymphoma. Most commonly occurs around the age of 60; it rarely occurs in young people.

Hematologic: Of or relating to blood.

Immature cell: A developing cell that is not yet able to do its normal job.

Intravenous (IV) infusion: Giving a liquid solution to a patient by injecting it directly into a vein (usually in the arm).

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH): An enzyme with 5 forms, found in the heart, liver, brain, kidney, skeletal muscle, and bone. In lymphoma, an increase in LDH levels in the blood sometimes correlates with the presence and/or the increase of tumor cells.

Leukopenia: A low number of leukocytes (a type of white blood cell).

Lymphatic system: A network of tissues and organs (including lymph vessels, lymph nodes, the thymus, and the spleen) that make and store white blood cells to fight infection and disease.

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.

Lymphocytosis: When the number of lymphocytes in the blood goes up in a way that is not normal.

Lymphoma: Cancer of the cells of the lymphatic system.

Lymphopenia: A low number of lymphocytes in the blood.

Median: The middle number in a given sequence of numbers.

Myeloid: Term for white blood cells that are not lymphocytes.

Neutropenia: A low level of neutrophils in the blood that is not normal.

Neutrophils: A type of white blood cell that helps kill 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 a complete response.

Platelets: Small cells in the blood that help stop bleeding at the site of an injury.

Radiation therapy: A type of treatment that uses high-energy radiation from X-rays and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors (also called radiotherapy).

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 doctor and researcher in the treatment of CLL.

Red blood cells: Making up nearly half the body’s blood, they are filled with hemoglobin, the protein that takes in oxygen from the lungs. Red blood cells circulate around the body to bring the oxygen to other cells.

Significant: Significant results are treatment results showing that improvement didn’t happen by accident, but because of treatment.

Thrombocytopenia: A lower number of platelets in the blood.

Watch and wait: The period before treatment starts when a patient is watched for symptoms of disease. Healthcare providers will often wait until certain signs of CLL appear before starting drug treatment.

White blood cells: Cells in the blood that fight infection in the body (also called leukocytes).