Booklet: What You Need to Know about Multiple Myeloma

Glossary for Multiple Myeloma

anemia (a-NEE-mee-a): A condition in which the number of red blood cells is below normal.

antibiotics (an-tih-by-AH-tiks): Drugs used to treat infection.

antibodies (AN-tih-BOD-ees): Proteins produced by certain white blood cells in response to foreign substances (antigens). Each antibody can bind only to a specific antigen. The purpose of this binding is to help destroy the antigen. Antibodies can work in several ways, depending on the nature of the antigen. Some antibodies disable antigens directly. Others make the antigen more vulnerable to destruction by white blood cells.

biological therapy (by-o-LAHJ-i-kul): Treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system to fight infection and disease. Also used to lessen side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments. Also called immunotherapy or biological response modifier (BRM) therapy.

bone marrow: The soft, sponge-like tissue in the center of large bones that produces white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

bone marrow aspiration (as-per-AY-shun): The removal of a small sample of bone marrow (usually from the hip) through a needle for examination under a microscope.

bone marrow biopsy (BY-ahp-see): The removal of a sample of tissue from the bone marrow with a needle for examination under a microscope.

bone marrow transplantation (trans-plan-TAY-shun): A procedure to replace bone marrow destroyed by treatment with high doses of anticancer drugs or radiation. Transplantation may be autologous (the person's marrow saved before treatment), allogeneic (marrow donated by someone else), or syngeneic (marrow donated by an identical twin).

calcium (KAL-see-um): A mineral found in teeth, bones, and other body tissues.

cancer: A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body.

chemotherapy (kee-mo-THER-a-pee): Treatment with anticancer drugs.

clinical trial: A research study that evaluates the effectiveness of new interventions in people. Each study is designed to evaluate new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of cancer.

colony-stimulating factors: Substances that stimulate the production of blood cells. Colony-stimulating factors include granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (also called G-CSF and filgrastim), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors (also called GM-CSF and sargramostim), and promegapoietin.

dialysis (dye-AL-ih-sis): The process of cleansing the blood when the kidneys are not able to filter the blood.

hair follicles (FOL-i-kuls): Shafts or openings on the surface of the skin through which hair grows.

hematologist (hee-ma-TOL-o-jist): A doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the blood.

hypercalcemia (hye-per-kal-SEE-mee-a): High levels of calcium in the blood.

immune system (im-YOON): The complex group of organs and cells that defends the body against infection or disease.

intravenous (in-tra-VEE-nus): IV. Injected into a blood vessel.

IV: Intravenous (in-tra-VEE-nus). Injected into a blood vessel.

kidneys (KID-neez): A pair of organs in the abdomen that remove waste from the blood. The waste leaves the body as urine.

local therapy: Treatment that affects cells in the tumor and the area close to it.

M proteins: Antibodies or parts of antibodies found in unusually large amounts in the blood or urine of people with multiple myeloma.

MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging (mag-NET-ik REZ-o- nans IM-a-jing). A procedure in which a magnet linked to a computer is used to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body.

multiple myeloma (mye-eh-LO-ma): Cancer that arises in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell.

oncologist (on-KOL-o-jist): A doctor who specializes in treating cancer.

pathologist (pa-THOL-o-jist): A doctor who identifies diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope.

peripheral stem cell support (per-IF-er-al): A method of replacing blood-forming cells destroyed by cancer treatment. Immature blood cells (stem cells) in the circulating blood that are similar to those in the bone marrow are removed from the person's blood before treatment. The cells are given back to the person after treatment. Also called peripheral stem cell transplantation.

plasma cells: A type of white blood cell that produces antibodies.

plasmacytoma (PLAS-ma-sye-TOE-ma): A tumor that is made up of cancerous plasma cells.

plasmapheresis (plas-ma-fer-EE-sis): The process of separating certain cells from the plasma in the blood by a machine. Only the cells are returned to the person. Plasmapheresis can be used to remove excess antibodies from the blood.

prednisone: Belongs to the family of drugs called steroids. It is used to treat several types of cancer and other disorders. Prednisone also inhibits the body's immune response.

prognosis (prog-NO-sis): The likely outcome or course of a disease; the chance of recovery.

radiation oncologist (ray-dee-AY-shun on-KOL-o-jist): A doctor who specializes in using radiation to treat cancer.

radiation therapy (ray-dee-AY-shun): Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses high-energy radiation from x-rays, neutrons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy) or from materials (radioisotopes) that produce radiation that are placed in or near the tumor or in the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy, implant radiation, or brachytherapy). Systemic radiation therapy involves giving a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that circulates throughout the body.

remission: Disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer. When this happens, the disease is said to be "in remission." A remission may be temporary or permanent.

risk factor: Anything that increases the chance of developing a disease.

staging: Doing exams and tests to learn the extent of the cancer within the body, especially whether the disease has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

systemic therapy (sis-TEM-ik): Treatment that uses substances that travel through the bloodstream, reaching and affecting cells all over the body.

tissue (TISH-oo): A group or layer of cells that together perform specific functions.

tumor (TOO-mer): An abnormal mass of tissue that results from excessive cell division. Tumors perform no useful body function. They may be either benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

white blood cells: Cells that help the body fight infection and disease.

x-ray: High-energy radiation used in low doses to diagnose diseases and in high doses to treat cancer.

        << Back                             Content Page