Use the alphabet links below to find definitions of terms related to Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Absolute Neutrophil Count - (ANC) Number of white blood cells in your body.

Acute leukemia - Leukemia that progresses rapidly.

Acyclovir - An antiviral agent used to prevent or treat cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex infections that may occur when the body is immunosuppressed. 

Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation - A procedure in which a patient receives bone marrow from a compatible, though not genetically identical, donor.

Amphotericin-B - An antifungal drug used to treat infection. 

Antibiotic - Drugs used to treat infection. 

Antibody -A protein produced by certain white blood cells in response to a foreign substance (antigen). 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.

Anticoagulant - Drugs that help prevent blood clots from forming. Also called blood thinners. 

Antigen - Any foreign or "non-self" substance that, when introduced into the body, causes the immune system to create an antibody.

Apheresis (Pheresis) - Procedure involving drawing blood which is then circulated through a cell separator machine to remove specific components and then returned to the patient. This is the procedure used to draw platelets from donors, or stem cells collected in a peripheral stem cell transplant.

Asymptomatic - Presenting no signs or symptoms of disease.

Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation - A procedure in which bone marrow is removed from a patient and then is given back to the patient following intensive treatment.

Bilateral - Affecting the right and left side of body.

Biopsy - The removal of a sample of tissue, which is then examined under a microscope to check for cancer cells.

Bone Marrow - The soft, spongy tissue in the center of large bones that produces white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

Bone Marrow Ablation - The destruction of bone marrow using radiation or drugs. 

Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy - The removal of a small sample of bone marrow (usually from the hip) through a needle for examination under a microscope to see whether cancer cells are present.

Bone Marrow transplantation - A procedure in which doctors replace marrow destroyed by treatment with high doses of anticancer drugs or radiation. The replacement marrow may be taken from the patient before treatment or may be donated by another person.

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.

CAT Scan (CT) - A series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body; the pictures are created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. Also called computed tomography scan or computed axial tomography scan.

Catheter (KATH-et-er) - A tube that is placed in a blood vessel to provide a pathway for drug or nutrients.

CBC - (Complete Blood Count) Measures white and red blood cells and platelets in the blood.

Cell - The basic unit of any living organism.

Central Venous Access Catheter - A tube surgically placed into a blood vessel for the purpose of giving intravenous fluid and drugs. It also can be used to obtain blood samples. This device avoids the need for separate needle insertions for each infusion. 

Chemotherapy - Treatment with anticancer drugs.

Clinical trials - Research studies that involve patients. Each study is designed to find better ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, or treat cancer and to answer scientific questions.

Combination Chemotherapy - Treatment in which two or more chemicals are used to obtain more effective results.

Cryoperservation - The process of freezing cells for storage.

Diagnosis - The process of identifying a disease by the signs and symptoms. 

Dialysis - The process of cleansing the blood by passing it through a special machine. Dialysis is necessary when the kidneys are not able to filter the blood.

Engraftment - When transplanted marrow begins to produce cells.

Etiology - The study of the causes of abnormal condition or disease.

Five-Year Survival - Statistical factor often used to judge the success of treatment.

Graft - Healthy skin, bone, or other tissue taken from one part of the body to replace diseased or injured tissue removed from another part of the body.

Graft-Versus-Host Disease - A reaction of donated bone marrow against a patient's own tissue. Also called GVHD.

Growth Factor - Substances made by the body that function to regulate cell division and cell survival. Some growth factors are also produced in the laboratory and used in biological therapy.

Hodgkin's Disease - A malignant disease of the lymphatic system that is characterized by painless enlargement of lymph nodes, the spleen, or other lymphatic tissue. It is sometimes accompanied by symptoms such as fever, weight loss, fatigue, and night sweats. 

Human Leukocyte Antigen - A substance located on the surface of white blood cells that plays an important role in our body's immune response to foreign substances. These antigens are used to determine the suitability of match between a donor and a recipient.

Immune System - The complex group of organs and cells that defends the body against infection or disease.

Immunosuppression - The use of drugs or techniques to suppress or interfere with the body's immune system and its ability to fight infections or disease. Immunosuppression
may be deliberate, such as in preparation for bone marrow or other organ transplantation to prevent rejection by the host of the donor tissue, or incidental, such as often results from chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer.

Infusion - The introduction of a fluid, including drugs, into the blood stream. Also called intravenous infusion.

Intravenous - Injected in a vein. Also called IV.

Leukemia - Cancer of the blood cells.

Lymph nodes - Small, bean-shaped organs located along the channels of the lymphatic system. The lymph nodes store special cells that can trap bacteria or cancer cells traveling through the body in lymph. Clusters of lymph nodes are found in the underarms, groin, neck, chest, and abdomen. Also called lymph glands. 

Lympahtic System - The tissues and organs that produce, store, and carry white blood cells that fight infection and disease. This system includes the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes and a network of thin tubes that carry lymph and white blood cells. These tubes branch, like blood vessels, into all the tissues of the body.

Lymphoma - Cancer that arises in cells of the lymphatic system.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) - A procedure in which a magnet linked to a computer is used to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body.

Mucositis - A complication of some cancer therapies in which the lining of the digestive system becomes inflamed. Often seen as sores in the mouth. 

Multiple Myeloma - Cancer that affects plasma cells. The disease causes the growth of tumors in many bones, which can lead to bone pain and fractures. In addition, the disease often causes kidney problems and lowered resistance to infection.

Neutropenia - An abnormal decrease in the number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell. 

Neutrophil - A type of white blood cell. 

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma - Cancer that originates in the lymphatic system, but is not Hodgkin's Disease.

Oncology - The study of tumors encompassing the physical, chemical, and biologic properties.

Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation - A procedure that is similar to bone marrow transplantation. Doctors remove healthy immature cells (stem cells) from a patient's blood and store them before the patient receives high-dose chemotherapy and possibly radiation therapy to destroy the leukemia cells. The stem cells are then returned to the patient, where they can produce new blood cells to replace cells destroyed by the treatment.

Platelets - Blood cells that help clots form to help control bleeding. Also called hrombocytes.

Protective Isolation - Isolation of a patient in a controlled environment that is designed to prevent infection. Visitors and medical staff often must wear gowns, gloves, masks and booties when they enter the room.

Protocol - Treatment plan.

Radiation therapy - Treatment with high-energy rays (such as x-rays) to kill cancer cells. The radiation may come from outside the body (external radiation) or from radioactive materials placed directly in the tumor (implant radiation). Also called radiotherapy.

Recur - To occur again. Recurrence is the reappearance of cancer cells at the same site or in another location.

Red Blood Cells - Cells that carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Also called erythrocytes.

Relapse - The return of signs and symptoms of cancer after a period of improvement. 

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

Side Effects - Problems that occur when treatment affects healthy cells. Common side effects of cancer treatment are fatigue, nausea, vomiting, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss, and mouth sores.

Staging - Doing exams and tests to learn the extent of the cancer, especially whether it has spread from its original site to other parts of the body.

Stem Cell - The cells from which all blood cells develop.

Stem Cell Transplant - A method of replacing immature blood-forming cells that were destroyed by cancer treatment. The stem cells are given to the person after treatment to help the bone marrow recover and continue producing healthy blood cells. 

Stool Blood Test - A test to check for hidden blood in the bowel movement.

Syngeneic Stem Cell Transplant - A procedure in which a patient receives bone marrow from an identical twin.

Total Body Irradiation - Radiation therapy to the entire body. Usually followed by bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplantation. 

Ultrasound - A test that bounces sound waves off tissues and internal organs and changes the echoes into pictures (sonograms). Tissues of different densities reflect sound waves differently.

Umbilical Cord Blood - Blood from the placenta (afterbirth) that
contains high concentrations of stem cells needed to produce new
blood cells. 

Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplant - The injection of umbilical cord blood to restore a person's blood production system that has been suppressed by anticancer drugs and/or radiation therapy. It is being studied in the treatment of cancer and severe blood disorders such as aplastic anemia. Cord blood contains high concentrations of stem cells needed to produce new blood cells. 

Virus - Small living particles that can infect cells and change how the cells function. Infection with a virus can cause a person to develop symptoms. The disease and symptoms that are caused depend on the type of virus and the type of cells that are infected.
X-Ray - Small living particles that can infect cells and change how the cells function. Infection with a virus can cause a person to develop symptoms. The disease and symptoms that are caused depend on the type of virus and the type of cells that are infected.

White Blood Cells - Cells that help the body fight infection and disease. These cells begin their development in the bone marrow and then travel to other parts of the body.