S
Sarcoma [sar-ko-muh]
A cancer of connective tissue such as bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, nerve sheath, or blood vessels.
stem cell transplant
The process of infusing healthy stem cells into persons who have undergone high-dose chemotherapy for one of many forms of leukemia, immunodeficiency, lymphoma, anemias, or metabolic disorders. There are three types of stem cell transplants: autologous, allogeneic and syngeneic. Healthy stem cells are collected from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and umbilical cord blood. Once the healthy stem cells are infused into the patient’s blood stream, the cells move from the blood vessels to the center of the bones, where they begin making new blood cells.
stem cells
Cells from which all blood cells derive.
steroids [ster-oids]
Drugs used to treat and prevent graft-versus-host disease and to destroy lymphocytes.
T
Total Parental Nutrition (TPN)
The procedure in which nutrients are supplied directly to the bloodstream.
toxicity [tock-sis-i-tee]
The quality of substance that causes ill effects.
tumor
An abnormal lump or mass of tissue. Tumors can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).
U
unrelated bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant
A marrow or blood stem cell transplant where the donor is not related to the patient.
unrelated donor (URD)
The bone marrow transplant donor is not related to the recipient but is closely matched. URD’s are used when no related match can be found.
W
white blood count (WBC)
A test to determine the total number of leukocytes in the blood.
Wilm’s tumor
A malignant tumor from the kidney, developed while child is still in the womb. Usually occurs in children younger than 5 years old.