Familial (or Hereditary) Amyloidosis
Familial (or Hereditary) Amyloidosis: A very rare form of the amyloidosis, it is found in nearly every ethnicity. The amyloid deposits of this type are usually made up of the mutated transthyretin protein which is manufactured by the liver.
Febrile
Febrile: fever.
Foley Catheter
Foley Catheter: a tube placed in the bladder to drain urine.
Gallium Scan
Gallium Scan: gallium, a radioactive material, is injected into the blood stream, where it collects in bones or other tissues where cancer cells are growing rapidly.
Germ Cell Tumors
Germ Cell Tumors: the most common type (over 9 out of 10 cases) of testicular cancer, germ cell tumors begin in the cells that make sperm. Most germ cell cancers begin as carcinoma in situ (CIS), a cancer that is not invasive (has not spread from where it started). Germ cell cancers are divided into two types: seminomas and nonseminomas.
Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD)
Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD): a condition where transplanted cells from the donor attack the cells of the host's body. In the first 100 days, the tissues most likely to be attacked are the skin, GI tract , and the liver.
Graft Versus Malignancy or Leukemia
Graft Versus Malignancy or Leukemia: a phenomenon where transplanted cells of the donor attack the patient's malignant cells.
Granulocytes
Granulocytes: white blood cells that have granules containing enzymes and other substances that destroy the germs that cause infections. Monocytes, neutrophils, basophils and eosinophils are testicular cancer granulocytes.
Growth Factor Drugs
Growth Factor Drugs: drugs such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and cytokines may help stimulate the bone marrow to produce new blood cells.
Growth Factors
Growth Factors: a protein that stimulates the production and growth of blood cells, e.g., Neupogen (G-CSF), Aranesp or Neulasta.
HLA Typing (Human Leukocyte Antigen Typing)
HLA Typing (Human Leukocyte Antigen Typing): molecular testing of blood DNA used to find donors for allogeneic transplant . This test is run primarily from blood samples.
Harvest
Harvest: the process of collecting stem cells from patients' or donors' peripheral blood , bone marrow or cord blood.
Hematocrit
Hematocrit (crit, Hct): the percentage of red blood cells (normal ranges for women are 37-47% and men are 42-54%).
Hematology
Hematology: a medical specialty that focuses on diseases of the blood and blood forming tissues.
Hematuria
Hematuria: blood in the urine.
Hemorrhagic Cystitis
Hemorrhagic Cystitis: bleeding from the lining of the bladder caused by irritants, such as cytoxan and ifosphamide or viruses such as BK, CMV or adeno.
Hemoglobin (Hgb)
Hemoglobin (Hgb): iron-containing protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen (normal ranges for hemoglobin are between 12 - 18 Gm/dl).
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV): a virus that causes infections such as cold sores. Over 90% of adults have been exposed to this virus by age 20.
High-Dose Chemotherapy
High-Dose Chemotherapy: There are several chemotherapy drugs that can be utilized. Chemotherapy regimens vary depending on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer, and the available chemotherapy protocols. Your physician will discuss the best drugs and doses for your disease.
High-Dose/Myeloablative Regimens
High-Dose/Myeloablative Regimens: The purpose of high-dose regimens is to destroy a greater number of cancer cells than with standard doses of chemo/radiotherapy.
Hodgkin Lymphoma: HL
Hodgkin Lymphoma: HL
Hormone Therapy
Hormone Therapy: removing hormones or blocking their action to stop cancer cells from growing. Hormones produced by glands in the body can cause certain cancers to grow, when the cancer cells have certain places where hormones can attach, called receptors.
Immunophenotyping
Immunophenotyping: identifying cells based on the types of antigens or markers on the surface of the cell to diagnose the subtype of AML.
Immunosuppressive Therapy
Immunosuppressive Therapy: administering drugs that alter or suppress the immune system to correct an autoimmune disorder that’s causing the body’s immune system to attack and damage cells in the bone marrow.
Incisional Biopsy
Incisional Biopsy: removal of part of a lump or suspicious tissue.
Infertility
Infertility: the inability to start or maintain a pregnancy.
Intrathecal Chemotherapy
Intrathecal Chemotherapy: administering anticancer drugs by injecting them into the fluid-filled space between the thin layers of tissue covering the brain and spinal cord.
Irradiation
Irradiation: treatment with x-rays or other radioactive substances. See TBI.