Cancer terminology
Hissy_Fitz
Member Posts: 1,834
Chemotherapy Terms
Chemotherapy encompasses a wide variety of therapy treatments. Terms such as "adjuvant," "neoadjuvant," "consolidation," and "palliative" often add to the confusion surrounding chemotherapy if not properly defined and explained. The purpose of this page is to increase the level of understanding about various chemotherapy protocols currently used.
Adjuvant chemotherapy - Chemotherapy given to destroy left-over (microscopic) cells that may be present after the known tumor is removed by surgery. Adjuvant chemotherapy is given to prevent a possible cancer reoccurrence.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy - Chemotherapy given prior to the surgical procedure. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be given to attempt to shrink the cancer so that the surgical procedure may not need to be as extensive.
Induction chemotherapy - Chemotherapy given to induce a remission. This term is commonly used in the treatment of acute leukemias.
Consolidation chemotherapy - Chemotherapy given once a remission is achieved. The goal of this therapy is to sustain a remission. Consolidation chemotherapy may also be called intensification therapy. This term is commonly used in the treatment of acute leukemias.
Maintenance chemotherapy - Chemotherapy given in lower doses to assist in prolonging a remission. Maintenance chemotherapy is used only for certain types of cancer, most commonly acute lymphocytic leukemias and acute promyelocytic leukemias.
First line chemotherapy - Chemotherapy that has, through research studies and clinical trials, been determined to have the best probability of treating a given cancer. This may also be called standard therapy.
Second line chemotherapy - Chemotherapy that is given if a disease has not responded or reoccurred after first line chemotherapy. Second line chemotherapy has, through research studies and clinical trials, been determined to be effective in treating a given cancer that has not responded or reoccurred after standard chemotherapy. In some cases, this may also be referred to as salvage therapy.
Palliative chemotherapy - Palliative is a type of chemotherapy that is given specifically to address symptom management without expecting to significantly reduce the cancer
Chemotherapy encompasses a wide variety of therapy treatments. Terms such as "adjuvant," "neoadjuvant," "consolidation," and "palliative" often add to the confusion surrounding chemotherapy if not properly defined and explained. The purpose of this page is to increase the level of understanding about various chemotherapy protocols currently used.
Adjuvant chemotherapy - Chemotherapy given to destroy left-over (microscopic) cells that may be present after the known tumor is removed by surgery. Adjuvant chemotherapy is given to prevent a possible cancer reoccurrence.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy - Chemotherapy given prior to the surgical procedure. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be given to attempt to shrink the cancer so that the surgical procedure may not need to be as extensive.
Induction chemotherapy - Chemotherapy given to induce a remission. This term is commonly used in the treatment of acute leukemias.
Consolidation chemotherapy - Chemotherapy given once a remission is achieved. The goal of this therapy is to sustain a remission. Consolidation chemotherapy may also be called intensification therapy. This term is commonly used in the treatment of acute leukemias.
Maintenance chemotherapy - Chemotherapy given in lower doses to assist in prolonging a remission. Maintenance chemotherapy is used only for certain types of cancer, most commonly acute lymphocytic leukemias and acute promyelocytic leukemias.
First line chemotherapy - Chemotherapy that has, through research studies and clinical trials, been determined to have the best probability of treating a given cancer. This may also be called standard therapy.
Second line chemotherapy - Chemotherapy that is given if a disease has not responded or reoccurred after first line chemotherapy. Second line chemotherapy has, through research studies and clinical trials, been determined to be effective in treating a given cancer that has not responded or reoccurred after standard chemotherapy. In some cases, this may also be referred to as salvage therapy.
Palliative chemotherapy - Palliative is a type of chemotherapy that is given specifically to address symptom management without expecting to significantly reduce the cancer
0
Comments
-
Wow,
Haven't posted and am
Wow,
Haven't posted and am so glad I have.
Never have I even imagined that there are so many terms to describe the seemingly simple term "chemotherapy". LOL!
Thank you Charlene again for providing us with actual useful info in the oftentime unuseful maze of cancer madness.
I'm actually adding this one to my favorites to reference in the future.
Take good care and thanks again.
Sharon0
Discussion Boards
- All Discussion Boards
- 6 CSN Information
- 6 Welcome to CSN
- 121.9K Cancer specific
- 2.8K Anal Cancer
- 446 Bladder Cancer
- 309 Bone Cancers
- 1.6K Brain Cancer
- 28.5K Breast Cancer
- 398 Childhood Cancers
- 27.9K Colorectal Cancer
- 4.6K Esophageal Cancer
- 1.2K Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine)
- 13K Head and Neck Cancer
- 6.4K Kidney Cancer
- 671 Leukemia
- 793 Liver Cancer
- 4.1K Lung Cancer
- 5.1K Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
- 237 Multiple Myeloma
- 7.1K Ovarian Cancer
- 62 Pancreatic Cancer
- 487 Peritoneal Cancer
- 5.5K Prostate Cancer
- 1.2K Rare and Other Cancers
- 540 Sarcoma
- 731 Skin Cancer
- 653 Stomach Cancer
- 191 Testicular Cancer
- 1.5K Thyroid Cancer
- 5.8K Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- 6.3K Lifestyle Discussion Boards