PATIENT SUPPORT - Glossary

Adjuvant Chemotherapy
Adjuvant usually means "in addition to" initial treatment. One or more anticancer drugs used in combination with surgery therapy as part of the cancer treatment regimen.

Antibody
A protein produced by a plasma cell in the lymphatic system or bone marrow.

Biological Therapy
Use of biological (substances produced by our own cells) or biological response modifiers in the treatment of cancer.

Blood Count
A measurement of the number of red cells, white cells, and platelets in a sample of blood.

Bone Marrow
This is the inner, spongy core of bone that produces blood cells.

Cancer
A general term for more than 100 diseases characterized by abnormal and uncontrolled cells. The resulting mass, or tumor, can invade and destroy surrounding normal tissues.

Chemotherapy
This is treatment with anticancer drugs.

Clinical Trial
In cancer research a trial generally refers to the evaluation of treatment methods such as surgery, drugs or radiation. This study may also include methods of prevention; detection or diagnosis.

Combination Chemotherapy
The use of two or more anticancer drugs during a patient's cancer treatment.

Combination Therapy
The use of two or more modes of treatment -- surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy -- in conjunction, alternately or together, to achieve optimum results against cancer.

Hormone
A chemical product from the endocrine glands. When secreted into the body fluids, it affects the other organs.

Immune System
A complex network of organs, cells and specialized substances distributed throughout the body defending it from foreign invaders that cause infection or disease.

Immunotherapy
An experimental method of treating cancer substances, which stimulate the body's immune defense system.

Informed Consent
The process in which a patient learns about the purpose and aspects of their treatment plan, risks and benefits. If the patient agrees with this plan, a consent form is generated and signed.

Investigational New Drug
A drug allowed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used in clinical trials, but which is not yet available for commercial marketing.

Metastasis
In cancer, this is the migration of cancer cells from the original tumor site through the blood and lymph vessels to other tissues.

Protocol
The outline or plan for use of an experimental procedure or experimental treatment.

Radiation Therapy
A specific cancer treatment using X-rays, cobalt-60, radium, neutrons to destroy malignant or benign cancer cells.

Regression
The state of growing smaller or disappearing; used to describe the shrinkage of a cancer.

Remission
The decrease or disappearance of signs and symptoms of a disease.

Side Effect
A secondary and usually adverse effect, as from a drug or other treatment. For example, the nausea effect of some anticancer drugs.

Staging
Methods used to establish the extent of a patient's disease.

Standard Treatment
A treatment or other intervention currently being used and considered to have been proven to be effective based on past studies.

Additional, comprehensive help can be obtained by visiting the NCI Dictionary