| Abdomen |
Area of the torso below the diaphragm and above the groin, containing the stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, kidneys, spleen and other organs
Chest
Diaphragm
Torso
|
| Acute |
A condition or symptom that begins and worsens quickly
Chronic
|
| Adverse effect |
See side effect
Side effect
|
| Aggressive |
One of the two main grades of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (also known as high-grade or fast-growing)
Indolent
|
| Allogeneic transplant |
When healthy cells or tissues are taken from a donor and used to replace a patient's diseased tissues. The donor may be a relative, usually a brother or sister. Another unrelated, but matched, person may also donate tissue
Autologous transplant
|
| Alopecia |
The loss of hair, most obviously from the head. Can be caused by cancer treatments such as some forms of chemotherapy and radiotherapy
|
| Alternative therapy |
Therapies based on a theory of disease that differs from the orthodox medical science that is taught in Western medical schools; examples include homoeopathy, acupuncture, the use of herbal medicines, and chiropractic techniques (also called complementary therapy)
|
| Anaemia |
A condition that is caused by a lack of sufficient red blood cells, resulting in weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches and irritability
|
| Anaesthetics |
Drugs used to cause a loss of feeling or awareness and allow, for example, operations to be carried out without feeling pain
Local anaesthetic
General anaesthetic
|
| Analgesics |
Also known as painkillers, analgesics include drugs such as aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen
|
| Ann Arbor |
A staging system for Hodgkin's lymphoma that was designed at the University of Michigan, at Anne Arbor, and, after refinement, was adopted worldwide for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Stage
|
| Antibody |
A protein produced by the body to help fight infections. They are created by plasma cells and are designed to attach directly to specific antigens carried by objects that are, usually, not from the body itself or are not normally made by the body, such as on tumour cells
Antigen
Antibody therapy
|
| Antibody therapy |
Treatment of a disease using antibodies, designed to target disease-causing cells. In cancer treatment, antibody therapy aims to either kill tumour cells without harming other cells or to help the body's own immune system attack a tumour. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, an antibody therapy called rituximab is designed to seek out and attach to the CD20 antigen, which is most commonly found on lymphoma cells. This then causes the targeted cell to be killed
Antibody
Antigen
|
| Anti-emetic |
A medication that aims to reduce sickness (nausea and vomiting)
|
| Antigen |
Any substance that is capable of causing an immune response. These include proteins on the surface of bacteria, viruses or other infectious organisms, as well as on tumour cells or foreign cells such as from transplanted organs. Antigens can also be chemicals not naturally found in the body
Antibody
|
| Autologous transplant |
When a patient's healthy cells or tissues are first harvested and stored and later given back into the patient to replace, usually, tissues damaged by high dose chemotherapy
Allogeneic transplant
|
| B cell |
A type of white blood cell involved in fighting disease. One of the two main types of lymphocytes, B cells (or B lymphocytes) are involved in producing antibodies in response to antigens. Most non-Hodgkin's lymphomas involve the B cells
T cell
|
| B symptoms |
Three symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that are used to work out the stage of the disease. B symptoms include fevers, night sweats and unexplained weight loss. There are no A symptoms or C symptoms
|
| Bacteria |
A large group of organisms that consist of just one cell and can be seen only under a microscope. Many bacteria are capable of causing disease in humans
|
| BALT lymphoma |
BALT stands for Bronchus-Associated Lymphoid Tissue. A BALT lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that occurs in the lungs
|
| Benign tumour |
Non-cancerous growth of cells that will not spread to other parts of the body
|
| Biopsy |
A test that involves removing a small amount of tissue or a few cells for examination under a microscope
|
| Biopsy specimen |
A sample of cells that has been removed from the body during a biopsy to see if a disease is present
|
| Blood cell |
Any one of the three main cell types found in the blood - white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets
|
| Blood count |
Routine test used to determine the number of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets in a person's blood. It can help doctors to work out whether a patient can safely have treatment
|
| Bone marrow |
The soft tissue found in the middle of bones, where blood cells are made and where they mature before entering the bloodstream
|
| Bone marrow aspiration or biopsy |
The removal of a sample of bone marrow, usually from the hip bone, using a needle
|
| Bone marrow transplant |
Procedure in which cells are taken from the bone marrow and transplanted into the patient after high-dose chemotherapy has been used to destroy the bone marrow. The transplanted cells restore the destroyed marrow
Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBST, PBSCT)`
|
| Burkitt's lymphoma |
A highly aggressive type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that most often occurs in younger people
|
| Cancer |
A group of diseases that is characterised by the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells, often forming lumps, or tumours. There are more than 100 diseases that are classified as a cancer, and the name given to a cancer depends on which organ or cell type it starts in, such as the lung or lymphatic system
|
| Carcinogen |
Any substance that causes cancer
|
| Catheter |
A thin, flexible tube that is inserted into the body to allow fluids to be put into or removed from the body, or to keep the passageway open for later injections
|
| Cell |
The building blocks of all organs and tissues, including the heart, lungs, blood and skin. Cells contain the genetic code (DNA), which codes for all the different proteins in the body
|
| Central, or 'Hickman', line |
A special form of catheter that is inserted into a large vein, such as in the top of the chest, and remains there for days or a few weeks to allow doctors to give treatments and take samples without having to keep injecting patients
|
| Chemoprotective drugs |
Drugs that are used to protect the body from the effects of chemotherapy drugs. These include anti-emetics
|
| Chemotherapy |
Chemotherapy literally means 'treatment with drugs', but is used here to mean treatment with anti-cancer or 'cytotoxic' drugs. The aim of chemotherapy in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is to damage and kill the rapidly growing lymphoma cells throughout the body
|
| Chest |
Area of the torso above the diaphragm and below the neck, containing the lungs and heart and other organs
Abdomen
Torso
|
| Chronic |
A disease or condition that lasts for, or progresses over, a long period of time
Acute
|
| Clinical |
To do with the examination and treatment of patients
|
| Clinical nurse specialist |
A nurse who has specialised in one particular area of medicine. In a lymphoma clinic, the clinical nurse specialist is likely to be one of the main points of contact for patients
|
| Clinical trial |
A research study that is designed to assess new ways of detecting, preventing, diagnosing or, most often, treating a disease. Clinical trials for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma often compare a new treatment with a standard therapy. There are four types or 'phases' of clinical trial. See Clinical trials here
|
| Combination chemotherapy |
The use of more than one chemotherapy drug during a course of treatment to improve the chances of success
|
| Complete remission |
When all signs of the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have disappeared. This is also called a complete response
Remission
|
| Computed tomography, or CT, scan |
A type of X-ray-like scan that produces a number of images taken at different 'layers' of the body to build up a three-dimensional picture
|
| Computerised axial tomography, or CAT, scan |
See Computed tomography scan
Computed tomography, or CT, scan
|
| Cure |
In the treatment of diseases such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cure means when there is no sign of the disease being present in the body and enough time having passed to suggest that the chances of recurrence are small
|
| Cytotoxic |
Any substance that has a toxic, or poisonous, effect on cells, resulting in their death. Chemotherapy drugs are often cytotoxic to rapidly growing cancer cells
|
| Diaphragm |
The muscle, below the lungs, that divides the chest from the abdomen and that helps people to breathe. Whether or not a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has crossed the diaphragm is one of the main points that is used in the staging process
Chest
Abdomen
|
| Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma |
The most common types of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Aggressive
|
| Disease progression |
When a cancer continues to grow or spread, often from one stage to another
|
| DNA |
Found in the nucleus of cells, DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. DNA consists of long chains of genetic code that is the blueprint for all proteins and, hence, life
Genes
|
| Efficacy |
The effectiveness or ability of a treatment to produce the desired beneficial effect
|
| Event-free survival |
The probability that a patient will survive without experiencing any adverse events, such as relapse or the start of a new treatment
|
| Fever |
A fever is a body temperature above the normal of 98.6°F (37°C). Although fevers can be caused by other conditions, particularly infections, they are one of the 'B symptoms' in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
B symptoms
|
| Fine needle aspiration biopsy |
A type of biopsy in which cells are removed from a tissue, such as a swollen lymph node, through a thin needle so that they can be examined under a microscope
|
| Follicle |
A cluster of cells that form an organised subunit in a lymph node. In follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a follicule is a cluster of cancerous cells
|
| Follicular lymphoma |
The most common form of indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Follicle
Indolent
|
| Gallium scan |
A method of obtaining images of internal organs of the body. A type of scan in which a radioactive form of the naturally occurring metal gallium is injected into a vein and a scan is taken about 72 hours later
|
| Gastroscopy |
The visual examination of the stomach using a special tube with a camera on the end, or gastroscope, inserted through the oesophagus, or gullet. Biopsies of any affected areas can be taken at the same time
Biopsy
|
| General anaesthetic |
Anaesthetics that work throughout the body and put patients to sleep. They allow major operations to be carried out without the patient feeling or remembering anything
Local anaesthetic
|
| Genes |
Stretches of DNA that contain the 'code' for the proteins made by the body. When damaged, genes can cause disease by producing either dysfunctional proteins or proteins in too high or too low quantities
|
| Grade |
One of the main ways of characterising a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, it allows doctors to classify non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as indolent or aggressive
Indolent
Aggressive
|
| Groin |
Area of the body below the abdomen and above the legs. It includes the sexual organs and the hips
Abdomen
Torso
|
| Haematologist |
A doctor who specialises in the study and treatment of diseases of the blood
|
| High dose therapy |
Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy given in higher doses than normal that is followed by a bone-marrow or peripheral stem cell transplantation
Bone marrow transplant
Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBST, PBSCT)`
|
| Hodgkin's lymphoma |
A malignant disease of the lymph nodes that is characterised by painless enlargement of lymphatic tissues and the spleen. Most commonly occurring in people aged between 15 and 35 years, the symptoms include fever, weight loss, anaemia and night sweats. Also known as Hodgkin's disease
Lymph node
Spleen
Anaemia
Night sweats
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
|
| Immune response |
The level of activity of the immune system against a disease or foreign object
|
| Immune system |
The system of the body that provides a defence against infection and some other types of disease, including cancer. It consists of cells that react in a general way to foreign substances or organisms that enter the body and of cells that can produce a more specific response to a foreign organism or damaged cell
|
| Immunosuppression |
When the immune system is weakened and unable to fully react to foreign objects and diseases. This can be caused, for example, by organisms that attack the immune system, such as HIV, or drugs like those used after organ transplant or in chemotherapy
|
| Immunotherapy |
Treatments that directly influence the immune system. These can include therapies that cause an immune reaction, boost a reaction already taking place, or suppress a reaction
|
| Incidence |
The number of new cases of a disease reported in a population over a period of time, usually in 1 year. Data on the incidence of cancer are kept by regional and national cancer registries
|
| Indolent |
One of the two main grades of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (also known as low-grade or slow-growing)
Aggressive
|
| Informed consent |
An ethical and legal requirement that a patient agrees to a medical procedure only after having been explained all of the potential risks and benefits
|
| Infusion |
Putting a fluid, usually containing a drug, into a vein via a catheter, either by pumping or by using the force of gravity
|
| International Prognostic Index, or IPI |
Five factors that help doctors to work out how well a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma will respond to treatment and the likelihood of a relapse
|
| Intravenous injection |
Using a syringe or catheter to put a fluid, usually containing a drug, into the veins
|
| LDH blood test |
A simple test to measure the amount of an enzyme called lactate dehydrogenase in the blood. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the test can give doctors an idea how active the disease is and how far it has spread in the body
|
| Leukaemia |
Cancer of cells in the blood. This includes leucocytes, or white blood cells, and the bone marrow in which they grow and develop
|
| Liver function tests |
An array of relatively simple blood tests that measures various substances in the blood and gives an idea of how well the liver is functioning
|
| Local anaesthetic |
Cause loss of feeling in a specific part of the body. Used to allow minor procedures, or those that need the patient to be awake, to be carried out without pain
General anaesthetic
|
| Localised cancer |
Cancer that has stayed in the same place where it started and has not spread to other organs and tissues
|
| Lumbar puncture |
A simple procedure for removing a small amount of the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord, usually carried out by inserting a small needle into the lower back
|
| Lumpectomy |
The removal of a tumour and a small amount of tissue around it
|
| Lymph |
The fluid that flows through the lymphatic vessels, containing lymphocytes, fat and other substances
Lymphocyte
|
| Lymph node |
A small, bean-shaped collection of lymphocytes that lies along the course of a lymphatic vessel. Lymph nodes act like a filter, trapping waste products and infectious organisms. They are also called, incorrectly, lymph glands
|
| Lymphadenectomy |
Also known as lymph node dissection, this is an operation in which lymph nodes are removed and tested to see if they have cancer
|
| Lymphangiogram |
A type of X-ray in which a dye-like substance is injected into the lymphatic vessels so that they and the lymph nodes show up in the X-ray images
|
| Lymphatic system |
Part of the body's immune system. The system includes the lymphatic vessels, through which lymph flows, the lymph nodes, and some other organs of the body, such as the spleen and thymus
|
| Lymphatic vessels |
The vessels though which a fluid called lymph flows
|
| Lymphoblastic lymphoma |
An aggressive type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and the most common form of the disease in children
|
| Lymphocyte |
A type of white blood cell involved in fighting infection and disease. There are two types of lymphocytes - B cells and T cells - and both are involved in the body's immune system
|
| Lymphoedema |
When swelling occurs due to excessive lymph fluid collecting in the arm or leg after lymph nodes have been removed from the armpit or groin
|
| Lymphoma |
Cancer of the cells of the lymphatic system that includes Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Lymphatic system
Hodgkin's lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
|
| Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, scan |
A technique that uses magnetic fields to produce a number of images taken at different 'layers' of the body, so building up a three-dimensional picture
|
| Maintenance therapy |
Treatment given to keep patients in remission and help prevent relapse
|
| Malignant tumour |
Uncontrolled growth of cancerous cells that will spread around the body
|
| MALT non-Hodgkin's lymphoma |
A type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that affects certain organs, predominantly the stomach, but the salivary glands, the thyroid and the lungs can also be affected
|
| Mammogram |
Radiological investigation of the female breast designed to detect possible cancer. Generally used as a screening tool - diagnosis is usually confirmed by additional tests, such as a biopsy
Biopsy
|
| Mantle cell lymphoma |
A relatively rare but aggressive type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that involves B cells
|
| Median survival |
The length of time after either diagnosis or treatment at which half of the patients with a particular disease are still alive
|
| Mediastinum |
An area in the chest that contains the heart, the windpipe, many large blood and lymph vessels and other structures. It's located between the lungs and between the breastbone and spine.
|
| Metastatic cancer |
When cancer has spread from the place where it started to other parts of the body. The term is mainly reserved for solid tumours and is not commonly used in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
|
| Minimal residual disease |
When very few cancer cells remain behind in the body after attempts have been made to remove or treat the disease. They are difficult to detect with standard diagnostic equipment
|
| Monoclonal antibody |
A single pure type of antibody. They can be used in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In this case, the monoclonal antibody is designed to recognise a specific target on the surface of the cancer cells. It then 'locks' onto this protein on the cell surface, causing the cell to be destroyed
Antibody
|
| Morbidity |
The number of patients affected by a particular disease, usually calculated per 100,000 people
|
| Mortality |
The number of deaths among people diagnosed with a disease over a period of time
|
| Nausea |
Feeing sick or wanting to vomit. Patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can feel nausea when treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which can be relieved using anti-emetics
|
| Night sweats |
Excessive sweating during the night. Although they can be caused by other conditions, night sweats are one of the 'B symptoms' in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
B symptoms
|
| Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma |
A cancer of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of the two main groups of lymphoma (the other being Hodgkin's lymphoma). There are many forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the majority of which involve B cells. It is also sometimes referred to as non-hodgkins lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and abbreviated as NHL
Hodgkin's lymphoma
|
| Nutritional supplements |
Vitamins and minerals that can help the normal functioning of the body. They are usually unnecessary if the patient stays on a well-balanced diet
|
| Oncologist |
A doctor who specialises in the study and treatment of cancer
|
| Palliative |
Treatment that aims to reduce a patient's symptoms, rather than to cure the disease they are suffering from
|
| Para-aortic |
A group of lymph nodes that lie near the aorta blood vessel in the abdomen. The para-aortic nodes receive lymphatic drainage from the lower gastrointestinal tract and the pelvic organs. They are important in the diagnosis and treatment of many types of cancer
Abdomen
Lymph node
|
| Partial remission |
The shrinking, but not complete disappearance, of swollen lymph nodes in response to therapy. Also called partial response
Remission
Lymph node
|
| Pathologist |
Doctor who specialises in studying disease by examining samples of tissue from the body
|
| Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBST, PBSCT) |
A form of transplantation in which the stem cells are collected from the blood after 'mobilisation' from the bone marrow, followed by high-dose chemotherapy and reinfusion of the stored stem cells (also known as the transplant). This procedure has largely replaced bone marrow transplant. PBSCT can be allogeneic or autologous
Infusion
High dose therapy
Bone marrow transplant
Allogeneic transplant
Autologous transplant
|
| Placebo |
A pill or treatment that does not contain any active ingredient. This is given to patients in clinical trials as a medication to see if a real drug, given to other patients, is effective. Clinical trials in cancer usually do not use a placebo due to ethical considerations
|
| Plasma |
The clear, yellowish liquid part of the blood that allows blood cells to move around the body. It contains a large number of cells and proteins
|
| Platelet |
A type of blood cell that plays a central role in clotting of blood (also called a thrombocyte)
|
| Positron emission tomography, or PET, scan |
A technique for producing images of the internal organs in which a form of glucose is injected into the body. When the body uses, or metabolises, the glucose, it shows up on an scan of the body. This allows doctors to tell between active non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and swollen lymph nodes that are no longer actively diseased
|
| Prevalence |
The number of cases of a disease existing in a population at any one time. As with the incidence, data on the prevalence of cancer are kept by regional and national cancer registries
|
| Prognosis |
The likely outcome of a disease, based on, among other factors, the symptoms a patient has, how long they have been suffering from a disease and their age
|
| Progression-free survival |
The probability that a patient will remain alive without their disease getting worse
|
| Protein |
A huge family of molecules that form an important building block of the human body. Each protein is coded for by its own gene, which is made up of DNA. Antibodies are a form of protein
DNA
Genes
Antibody
|
| Pruritus |
Also known as itching, it can be a symptom of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, as well as caused by a variety of other conditions, including allergic reaction to chemotherapy or immunotherapy
|
| Pyrexia |
Also known as fever, or an abnormally high body temperature. It is one of the B symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which are used to assess the stage of the disease
|
| Quality of life |
The overall enjoyment of life experienced by a patient. Separate from the symptoms that a patient has, it is measured in some clinical trials to assess the impact of the disease, and its treatment, on daily living
|
| Radioimmunotherapy |
A treatment in which a radioactive material is attached to a monoclonal antibody that specifically attaches to cancer cells. The radioactivity then kills the surrounding cells
|
| Radiotherapist |
A doctor who specialises in the radiotherapy of cancers (also called a radiation oncologist)
|
| Radiotherapy |
Therapy in which radiation, such as X-rays, is used to kill cancer cells or to slow down their growth and development
|
| Randomised clinical trial |
When chance is used to assign patients to different treatments that are being given in a clinical trial. This means that the patient groups are more likely to be similar and improves how well the results can be compared
|
| Recurrence |
The return of a cancer, such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, after a disease-free period, or remission
Relapse
|
| Red blood cell |
A type of blood cell, red blood cells contain haemoglobin, which carries oxygen around the body. They are also called erythrocytes
|
| Red blood cell count |
A test that is used to measure the number of red blood cells that a patient has in their blood
|
| Refractory cancer |
Cancer that no longer responds to a specific treatment. In such cases, another treatment may be used
|
| Regimen |
The combination of drugs used to treat a disease and the way in which they are given
|
| Regression |
A reduction in the symptoms experienced by a patient or a slowing of the progress of a disease
|
| Relapse |
When signs or symptoms associated with tumour growths are seen after having a disease-free period, or remission
Recurrence
|
| Remission |
A disease-free period after successful treatment, when patients no longer experience symptoms. Remission may be followed by a relapse or, ultimately, if no relapse occurs for a significant time, can be called a cure
|
| Remission rate |
The percentage of patients who achieve remission after being given a particular treatment for a disease
Remission
|
| Renal function tests |
Simple blood and urine tests that measure various substances and give an idea of how well the kidneys are functioning
|
| Resection |
The surgical removal of an area of tissue or an entire organ, often for examination by a pathologist to see if the surgery has removed all of the tumour
|
| Residual disease |
Cancer cells that have remained behind in the body after attempts have been made to remove or treat the disease
|
| Response |
The assessment of the effect of a treatment on a disease. The types of response include complete remission (CR), unconfirmed complete remission (UCR), partial remission (PR), stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD)
Remission
|
| Response rate |
The percentage of patients whose disease responds after they have received a particular treatment
Response
|
| Risk factor |
Anything that appears to increase the likelihood of a person developing a particular disease, although not necessarily a specific cause of the disease
|
| Salvage therapy |
A second or subsequent line of therapy, usually associated with higher doses and/or multiple drugs that may be effective after standard therapy has failed
|
| Side effect |
An unwanted effect of a drug or medication that occurs in addition to the wanted effect of treating a disease. Examples in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma include hair loss and nausea as a result of chemotherapy
|
| Sign |
Any evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease detected by a medical professional but not necessarily obvious to a patient. For example, an abnormality seen on an X-ray or clinical examination
|
| Spleen |
An organ that sits in the upper abdomen, on the left-hand side, behind the stomach. It forms part of the immune system
|
| Splenectomy |
Surgery to remove the spleen. This is occasionally carried out if, for example, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has spread to the spleen from the lymph nodes
|
| Stable disease |
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that is neither decreasing nor increasing in severity
|
| Stage |
One of the main ways of characterising a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is a way of describing how many groups of lymph nodes are affected, whether the lymphoma is only in the lymph nodes or whether it is in other organs as well, and whether the lymphoma has crossed the diaphragm. Staging can also be used to describe the presence of certain symptoms, such as B symptoms
B symptoms
Diaphragm
|
| Stem cell rescue treatment |
When a patient who has had high dose chemotherapy, which destroys the bone marrow, is given a stem cell transplant, either with their own cells, or with those from a closely matched donor. The patient is therefore 'rescued' from being susceptible to infection
High dose therapy
Bone marrow
|
| Stem cells |
Immature cells most often found in the bone marrow, but also in the blood. Stem cells have the potential to become one of several types of cells, and so can help to regenerate the immune system after disease or chemotherapy, for example
|
| Steroid |
Drugs that are used to treat severe inflammation. Steroids may be used with chemotherapy to help treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
|
| Support group |
A group of people who meet on a regular basis to share their experiences of a disease, such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Often organised by hospitals or survivors, they help people to come to terms with the impact of a disease on their lives
|
| Survival at 1 year |
The percentage of patients who survive for 1 year after having been given a particular treatment for a disease
|
| Symptom |
A sensation or change that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a disease
|
| Systemic |
Something that affects the whole body rather than just a part of it. Systemic usually refers to a disease
|
| T cell |
A type of white blood cell involved in fighting infection and disease. T cells are one of the two main types of lymphocyte. Unlike B cells, they directly kill tumour cells and cells infected with a virus
B cell
|
| Terminal |
A stage of disease or condition that results in the patient having a predictable and short life expectancy
|
| Thymus |
An organ in the upper part of the chest that forms part of the immune system
|
| Time to progression |
The length of time it takes a particular disease to increase in severity from one stage to the next, usually after a patient has been treated
|
| Time to treatment failure |
The length of time it takes for a particular therapy to no longer be effective in the treatment of a disease
|
| Torso |
Area of the body that includes the chest and the abdomen. Contains all the major organs of the body, such as the heart, lungs, stomach, liver, kidneys and spleen
Chest
Abdomen
Diaphragm
|
| Toxicity |
Level of harm caused by, in the case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a treatment through its side effects
|
| Treatment cycle |
One complete sequence of a particular therapy, often repeated. For example, a complete course of radiotherapy may involve six cycles
|
| Tumour |
An abnormal group of cells that results from uncontrolled cell division, often forming a lump. Tumours can either be benign or malignant
|
| Ultrasound scan |
A technique that produces images of the internal organs of the body by using sound waves, which bounce off the various tissues and organs to produce echoes. These are then converted into images by a computer
|
| Vaccine |
A compound that is designed to cause a specific response by the immune system to a disease or tumour
|
| Virus |
An infectious agent that is too small to be seen under a microscope and contains only genetic material such as DNA within a protein coat. Although viruses can cause disease in humans, weakened versions can be used to help boost the immune system's response to a disease
DNA
Immune system
|
| Watch-and-wait |
An approach to disease management in which no active treatment is given but patients are seen regularly in the outpatients' clinic for monitoring and assessment
|
| White blood cell |
One of the types of blood cells and involved in the immune system. Lymphocytes are one form of white blood cell
Lymphocyte
|
| White blood cell count |
A test that is used to measure the number of white blood cells a patient has in their blood
|
| X-ray |
A test that uses radiation passed through the body to create a picture of the organs and bones inside. Can be used to detect tumours within the body
|
