Dictionary

leukemia: A cancerous disease of the blood characterized by the proliferation of white blood cells.

lymphatic system: The tissues and organs that produce and store cells that help the body fight infection and disease.

lymphoid leukemia: A form of leukemia in which the abnormal cells in the bone marrow are a type of blood cell called lymphocytes. With chronic lymphoid leukemia, cancerous cells live in the bone marrow, blood, spleen and lymph nodes, where they cause swelling.

lymphoma: Cancer of the lymphatic system.

malignant: Dangerous to one's health. Often used to describe a tumor, malignant refers to cancerous growths.

metabolism: The chemical and physiological processes by which the body builds and maintains itself and by which it breaks down food and nutrients to produce energy and sustain life.

monocytes: A type of white blood cell that destroys invading bacteria.

multiple myeloma: A type of cancer that begins in plasma cells.

myeloid leukemia: A form of cancer that begins in the blood-forming tissue, primarily the bone marrow and lymph nodes.