Acetaminophen: A medicine used to relieve pain.

Adjuvant therapy: Treatment given in addition to the primary treatment to enhance the effectiveness of the primary treatment.

Aerobic exercise: Exercise that improves respiratory and circulatory function by increasing oxygen consumption.

Aldesleukin: A manmade version of interleukin-2, a protein released by the immune system that helps fight bacteria, viruses, and some types of cancer cells.

Alopecia: Hair loss.

Alpha interferon: A form of interferon. Alpha interferons are used to treat several diseases, including some types of cancer. An example of an alpha interferon is INTRON(R) A (Interferon alfa-2b, recombinant) for Injection.

Anesthetic: A substance that causes loss of feeling or awareness. A local anesthetic causes loss of feeling in a specific part of the body into which the anesthetic has been applied or injected. A general anesthetic puts the person to sleep.

Antibiotics: Drugs used to kill bacteria.

Antibody: A protein secreted by certain lymphocytes. Each antibody attacks a particular antigen. A protein produced by the immune system in response to the presence of an antigen. It defends the body against substances identified by the immune system as potentially harmful.

Antigen: A foreign substance that activates the immune system by causing the body to form antibodies.

Autoimmune: Making antibodies against one's own cells.