Autologous stem cell transplant |
A medical procedure to replace stem cells that have been damaged or destroyed with healthy stem cells taken from the bloodstream of the patient prior to starting chemotherapy or radiotherapy |
Chemotherapy |
A type of cancer treatment using medicine that kills the cancer cells by damaging them so that they cannot reproduce and spread |
Coronavirus |
A group of viruses that cause disease in mammals and birds but may also affect humans |
COVID-19 |
A disease caused by a type of coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 |
Daratumumab |
A type of targeted therapy. It is a type of monoclonal antibody and is administered through a drip into a vein in your arm or chest |
Dexamethasone |
A synthetic steroid used in the treatment of some types of cancer. It is administered orally |
First-line (treatment) |
The initial treatment given to a patient |
Growth factors |
A type of drug used to increase the production of white blood cells in order to reduce the risk of infection |
Immune system |
The organs and processes of the body that help to prevent and fight off infections |
Immunosuppressive drugs |
Types of drugs that suppress or reduce the strength of the body's immune system |
Induction therapy |
Initial treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy before a second planned treatment |
Intravenous immunoglobulin |
A substance made from antibodies that have been taken from the blood of many healthy donors, which is used to help prevent infections in patients who have had a stem cell or organ transplant. It is administered through a drip into a vein in your arm or chest |
Lenalidomide |
A type of targeted therapy that is thought to work in several ways. It is administered orally |
Maintenance therapy |
Treatment that is given to help keep cancer from coming back after it has disappeared following the initial therapy |
Neutropenia |
An abnormally low level of neutrophils in the blood, which increases risk of infection |
Neutrophils |
A type of white blood cell that play an important role in fighting off infection |
Prophylactic |
A drug that is given to prevent disease |
Radiotherapy |
Treatment involving the use of high-energy radiation, which is commonly used to treat cancer |
Refractory (disease) |
A disease that does not respond to treatment |
Regimen |
Treatment plan |
Relapsed (disease) |
A disease that has returned after a period of improvement |
Remission |
A disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer |
Stem cells |
Cells that can develop into many different cell types |
Steroid |
A type of drug used to relieve swelling and inflammation. Some steroid drugs also have antitumour effects |
Targeted therapy |
A type of cancer treatment that uses drugs or other substances to precisely identify and attack cancer cells, usually while doing little damage to normal cells |
White blood cells |
A type of blood cell that is part of the body’s immune system. White blood cells help the body fight infections |
Adaptations to Multiple Myeloma Management Glossary
