CTCL glossary: definitions

A

• Allogeneic stem cell transplant: Although uncommon, this treatment can potentially offer a cure. In an allogeneic stem cell transplant, stem cells are collected from the bone marrow or blood of a healthy donor and transplanted to provide new and healthy cells.
• Antigens: Proteins located on the surface of all cells that help with identification. The immune system uses antigens to determine whether cells are a necessary part of the body or need to be destroyed.

B

• Biopsy: A procedure in which a piece of tissue or a sample of cells is removed and tested in a lab. Your doctor may do several skin biopsies and may also do biopsies of your lymph nodes or bone marrow.
• Blood test: Your doctor will check your blood for signs of cancer, including counting any lymphoma cells they find.

C

• Chemotherapy: An infusion, injection, or pill treatment with drugs that helps to stop or slow the growth of rapidly dividing cancer cells. See also, Topical chemotherapy.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan: A CT scan combines a series of x-ray images taken from different angles around your body. A computer process creates cross-sectional images (slices) of the different layers of your body, giving more detailed information than standard x-rays.
• Cutaneous: Related to or affecting the skin.
• Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL): A general term for many lymphomas of the skin including Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary Syndrome, to name a few. It is a rare cancer that affects white blood cells called T cells.

D

• Dermatitis: A common condition that causes swelling and irritation of the skin. It can be caused by many things and is marked by skin symptoms like itching, dryness, or rash.
• Dermatologist: A skin specialist who can help you better manage the effects of CTCL on your skin.

E

• Eczema: A condition (sometimes called atopic dermatitis) that causes skin symptoms like itching, dryness, and inflammation.
• Erythroderma: A term for when 80%-100% of a patient's skin has a sunburn-like redness (or erythema) with different amounts of scaling.
• Extracorporeal photopheresis: A procedure that filters white blood cells through UV light. Treated cells are then put back (re-infused) into the body.

F

• Flow cytometry: A type of test that uses special antibodies (or defense proteins) and a laser beam to find out levels of normal and abnormal (cancer) cells in a skin or blood sample. This tool can help inform diagnosis.

H

• Hematologist/Oncologist: A doctor who specializes in cancers, like CTCL, that affect blood cells. This specialist is important when CTCL affects a person’s blood, lymph nodes, and/or other parts of the body.

I

• Infusion nurse: A registered nurse who specializes in giving IV (intravenous) fluids, including chemotherapy.
• Interferon: A treatment given by injection that has anti-cancer effects and boosts the immune system.
• Intravenous (IV): A method of giving medicines through a needle or a thin tube that is put into a vein.

L

• Lymph nodes: Small bean-shaped glands located in the lymphatic system (part of the immune system). Thousands of lymph nodes are located throughout the body, with clusters of them in the neck, under the arms, and in the chest, abdomen, and groin. Lymph nodes help trap and destroy harmful bacteria and viruses.
• Lymphoma: A cancer of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) that may involve lymph nodes, organs, and the immune system. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a type of lymphoma that appears on the skin.

M

• Monoclonal antibodies: Proteins that aim at a specific target (or antigen) on a cancer cell's surface. Developed to help fight specific cancers, including CTCL, and are typically given by IV infusion.
• Mycosis Fungoides (MF): The most common type of CTCL. Symptoms primarily affect the skin, but the cancer can spread to the blood, lymph nodes, and sometimes organs over time.

N

• Nitrogen mustard: An ointment that helps slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.
• Nurse practitioner (NP): A registered nurse with advanced training in patient care who can aid with disease treatment and management.

P

• Pathologist: A doctor who looks at biopsies (tissue samples) under a microscope to study a disease. Pathologists confirm a cancer diagnosis.
• Pharmacist: A licensed healthcare professional who can help provide information to patients about prescribed medicines.
• Phototherapy: UV (ultraviolet) light that helps control skin symptoms.
• Physical exam: Your doctor will check your overall health, including a close look at your skin.
• Physician assistant (PA): A licensed healthcare professional who works closely with physicians to create care plans and provide patient care.
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan: An imaging test that helps show how your tissues and organs are functioning. A drug, called a tracer, is injected into your vein before the scan. This helps pinpoint the location of a disease.
• Psoriasis: A skin disease that can cause a rash on the skin with itchy, scaly patches. Most commonly, these patches are on the knees, elbows, torso, and scalp.
• Psychiatrist/Psychologist: A mental health specialist who can help you learn how to emotionally cope with CTCL.

R

• Radiation: High-energy beams used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
• Radiation oncologist: A cancer specialist who is an expert in treating cancers with radiation.
• Radiologist: A doctor with special training in diagnosing diseases by reading x-rays and other types of scans.
• Rare disease: In the United States, a rare disease is defined as a condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people.
• Registered nurse (RN): A healthcare professional who can help with symptom and side effect management and who is a source of support.
• Retinoids: Pills or creams that can help lessen skin shedding and improve regrowth.

S

• Scans: To examine your lymph nodes and other organs, your doctor may use computed tomography (CT) scans and positron emission tomography (PET) scans.
• Sézary Syndrome (SS): A less common, but still serious, type of CTCL. Most patients have a red, itchy rash covering the majority of the body. This cancer affects both the skin and the blood and can spread to other parts of the body like the lymph nodes and organs.
• Social worker: A professional who can help you navigate the emotional, social, and insurance challenges of CTCL.
• Stage: How far along your cancer is at the time of diagnosis. It helps pinpoint if the cancer is local to one part of the body or if it has spread to other parts of the body.
• Stem cells: In cancer, this term usually refers to the immature blood cells found in the bone marrow and in the blood. Stem cells have the potential to develop into different types of blood cells.
• Steroids: Creams, ointments, oral medications, or injections that help lessen inflammation.

T

• T cells: A type of white blood cell in the body. In the case of CTCL, T cells can travel to the upper layers of the skin and inside the body.
• Topical chemotherapy: A lotion or cream with anti-cancer medication.

W

• White blood cells: Blood cells that help defend the body against infections. A T cell is a type of white blood cell that plays a part in your immune system—your body’s way of fighting germs.