|
GLOSSARY
|
| Note:
these definitions have been taken from several sources, depending
on which source had what we felt was the clearest definition. If you've
heard terms we haven't defined here, and you'd like to know what they
are, let
us know. |
|
Allogenic
Transplantion
|
A procedure
in which a patient receives bone marrow from another person other
than an identical twin.
|
| |
|
Autologous
Transplantion
|
A procedure
in which bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells are removed
from a patient, stored while the patient receives high-dose therapy,
and reinfused into the same patient. This type of transplant may
be used when a patient with a disease of the marrow is in remission
(such as acute myelogenous leukemia), or when the marrow is not
overtly abnormal (such as with lymphoma which requires intensive
therapy).
|
| |
|
|
Bone
Marrow
(also known as Stem Cell Transplants)
|
The spongy
tissue which occupies the central cavity of bones and which plays
a major role in the development of blood cells. After puberty, marrow
in the spine, ribs, breast bone, hip, shoulders, and skull are most
active in blood cell formation.
|
| |
|
| Chronic
Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) |
This is what Dave has.
(This is a tough one to describe. ) CML results from an acquired
(not inherited) injury to the DNA of a stem cell in marrow. This
injury causes pieces of two chromosomes, number 9 and number 22,
break off and reattach themselves to the other chromosome (the #9
piece attaches to #22 and vice versa), a process known as translocation.
The new #22 is known as the Philadelphia chromosome, because
that's where it was discovered. This new chromosome then starts
producing abnormal cells which cause the disease.
The cause of this translocation
and the resulting CML is unknown. In very few cases, the cause can
be traced back to very high doses of irradiation, such as the survivors
of an atomic bomb blast (fortunately not something most of us have
been exposed to!), or high-dose radiotherapy used in treating other
cancers.
If you'd like more detailed
information, let
me know and I'll send it
to you.
|
| |
|
| Donor |
The
person from whom bone marrow is harvested. Donors are referred to
as "related" if he or she is a brother or sister of the
patient; or "unrelated" if they are not related to the patient. |
|
|
|
|
Gleevec
|
Drug developed
by Novartis and tested by Dr. Druker in Oregon. It works by inhibiting
the critical protein that causes CML, without harming the other
cells. It was approved by the FDA in May, 2001.
|
|
|
|
|
Hemagram
|
The official
name for a blood test.
|
| |
|
|
Hematocrit
(Hct)
|
Another
way of measuring the amount of hemoglobin.
|
| |
|
|
Hemoglobin
(Hb or Hgb)
|
A bright
red substance that gives red cells their color. It transports oxygen
and carbon dioxide between the lungs and all of the body's other
organs. When the hemoglobin level drops, the condition is known
as anemia.
|
| |
|
| Leukemia |
Simply: cancer of the
white blood cells. More technically: cancer that begins in developing
blood cells in the bone marrow. As a result, large numbers of immature
blood cells are produced and released into the bloodstream, and
the cancer cells in the marrow crowd out normal developing cells.
European physicians who,
in the 19th century, observed patients with marked elevation of
their white blood cells, coined the term "Weisses blut"
or "white blood". Later, the term leukemia , which is
derived from the Greek words "leukos" meaning "white"
and "haima" meaning "blood", was used to indicate
the disease.
The major forms of leukemia
are divided into 4 categories. Myelogenous leukemia and lymphocytic
leukemia each have an acute or chronic form (therefore, there is
ALL, AML, CLL, and CML). The terms myelogenous or lymphocytic denote
the cell type involved.
Acute leukemia is a rapidly
progressing disease that affects mostly cells that are unformed
or primitive (not yet fully developed or differentiated). These
immature cells cannot carry out their normal functions.
Chronic leukemia progresses
slowly and permits the growth of greater numbers of more developed
cells. In general, these more mature cels can carry out some of
their normal functions.
|
| |
|
|
Platelets
(Plt)
|
Simply:
the cells that make your blood clot. Technically: small blood cells
that stick to the site of blood vessel injury, aggregate with each
other, and seal off the injured blood vessel to stop bleeding.
|
| |
|
| Stem
Cells |
cells
that are found in the bone marrow; they have the ability to multiply
and they generate all of the cells found in the blood. These are precious
cells and are life-giving in instances of bone marrow transplants. |
| |
|
|
White
Blood Cells
(Wbc)
|
A synonym
for leukocytes. These are the cells that help protect you from infection.
There are 5 major types of white blood cells: neutrophils, eosinophils,
basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|