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Glossary

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B

Benefit Design – A list of the services or medicines an insurance company will or will not cover. This may also be called a benefit plan design or benefit design plan.1

Benefit Investigation (BI) – An inquiry to see what an insurance company will cover. Can be completed by a specialty pharmacy or hub (such as TOGETHER with GSK Oncology). This will provide the patient's cost-sharing responsibility. May also be called a benefit verification.7

Biomarker – An indicator that can be used to measure your body’s response to a treatment, track a disease, or imply normal or abnormal health states. For example, a person who inherits certain mutations (changes) in a BRCA1 gene has a higher risk of getting breast, ovarian, prostate, and other types of cancer.8,9

Biomarker Status – State of a biomarker. For example, in ovarian cancer, BRCA mutation is a biomarker that may be described as BRCA-positive or BRCA-negative.8,10,11

Breast Cancer Susceptibility Gene (BRCA) – (pronounced bracka or B-R-C-A) – Refers to particular genes that produce proteins that suppress tumors. BRCA proteins help repair damaged DNA in cells. You may hear the terms BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins. Mutations in BRCA may mean that it no longer functions. A BRCA gene mutation can be inherited from a parent. When this happens, it is known as a germline BRCA (gBRCA) mutation. When there is a mutation in BRCA that is not passed from a parent to a child, it is called a somatic BRCA (sBRCA) mutation. See also BRCA Mutation, BRCA-negative, and BRCA-positive.9,11-13

BRCA Mutation – An alteration or change in the BRCA gene. See also BRCA, BRCA-negative, and BRCA-positive.9

BRCA-negative – This means a change (also called a mutation) is not present in the BRCA gene. A person without a mutation in the BRCA gene can still develop cancer. This may also be called wild type. See also BRCA.11,14

BRCA-positive – An alteration or change in the BRCA gene. BRCA-positive means a change (also called a mutation) has been noted in the BRCA gene.9,11

Bridge Program – A manufacturer-sponsored program that is designed to provide a limited free supply of medicine for eligible patients in case of an interruption in insurance coverage. The program is intended to prevent missed doses. May also be called bridge shipment.7

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References: 1. Glossary. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. https://www.cms.gov/apps/glossary/. Accessed May 4, 2018. 2. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Adverse Event. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/adverse-event. Accessed May 4, 2018. 3. Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Side Effect. Merriam-Webster website. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/side+effect. Accessed May 4, 2018. 4. Anemia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/anemia. Accessed May 4, 2018. 5. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Hemoglobin. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/hemoglobin. Accessed May 4, 2018. 6. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Glossary: Annual Limit. HealthCare.gov. https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/annual-limit/. Accessed May 4, 2018. 7. Data on file, Together with GSK Oncology Benefits. GSK, Inc. 8. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Biomarker. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/biomarker. Accessed May 4, 2018. 9. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: BRCA. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/search?contains=false&q=brca. Accessed May 4, 2018. 10. Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Status. Merriam-Webster website. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/status. Accessed May 4, 2018. 11. BRCA Mutations: Cancer Risk & Genetic Testing. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/brca-factsheet. Accessed May 4, 2018. 12. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Germline Mutation. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/germline-mutation. Accessed May 4, 2018. 13. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Somatic Mutation. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/somatic-mutation. Accessed May 4, 2018. 14. ZEJULA (niraparib) Prescribing Information. GlaxoSmithKline; 2020. 15. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Complete Blood Count. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/complete-blood-count. Accessed May 4, 2018. 16. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Glossary: Copayment. HealthCare.gov. https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/co-payment/. Accessed May 4, 2018. 17. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Glossary: Deductible. HealthCare.gov. https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/deductible/. Accessed May 4, 2018. 18. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Internal appeals. HealthCare.gov. https://www.healthcare.gov/appeal-insurance-company-decision/internal-appeals/. Accessed May 4, 2018. 19. Data on file, PR-30-5011-C. TESARO, Inc. 20. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Explanation of Benefits. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/explanation-of-benefits. Accessed May 4, 2018. 21. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Food and Drug Administration. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/fda. Accessed May 4, 2018. 22. Office for Civil Rights. What does the HIPAA Privacy Rule do? HHS.gov. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/faq/187/what-does-the-hipaa-privacy-rule-do/index.html. Accessed May 4, 2018. 23. Fair Health Glossary: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Fair Health Consumer. http://www.fairhealthconsumer.org/glossary. Accessed May 4, 2018. 24. Chen Y, Zhang L, Liu WX, Liu XY. Prognostic significance of preoperative anemia, leukocytosis and thrombocytosis in Chinese women with epithelial ovarian cancer. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2015;16(3):933-939. 25. Health Insurance Glossary. California’s Valued Trust. https://www.cvtrust.org/sites/default/files/media/downloads/HealthInsuranceGlossary.pdf. Accessed May 4, 2018. 26. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Maintenance Treatment. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/maintenance-therapy. Accessed May 4, 2018. 27. Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Median. Merriam-Webster website. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/median. Accessed May 4, 2018. 28. Hofmann SG, Sawyer AT, Witt AA, Oh D. The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: a meta-analytic review. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2010;78(2):169-183. 29. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Neutropenia. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/neutropenia. Accessed May 4, 2018. 30. American Cancer Society. Low white blood cell (neutrophil) counts and the risk of infection. American Cancer Society website. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/infections/infections-in-people-with-cancer/low-wbc-and-weak-immune-system.html. Accessed May 4, 2018. 31. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Off-label. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/off-label. Accessed May 4, 2018. 32. Thornton RG. Package inserts and the standard of care. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2003;16(4):502-504. 33. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: PARP Inhibitor. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/parp-inhibitor. Accessed May 4, 2018. 34. Sandhu SK, Schelman WR, Wilding G, et al. The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor niraparib (MK4827) in BRCA mutation carriers and patients with sporadic cancer: a phase 1 dose-escalation trial. Lancet Oncol. 2013;14(9):882-892. 35. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Pharmacist. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/pharmacist. Accessed May 4, 2018. 36. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Platelet. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/platelet. Accessed May 4, 2018. 37. Chemotherapy. Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance. https://ocrfa.org/patients/about-ovarian-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy/. Accessed May 4, 2018. 38. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Platinum. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/platinum. Accessed May 4, 2018. 39. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Glossary: Premium. HealthCare.gov. https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/premium/. Accessed May 4, 2018. 40. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Progression-free Survival. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/progression-free-survival. Accessed May 4, 2018. 41. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Red Blood Cell. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/red-blood-cell. Accessed May 4, 2018. 42. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Remission. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/remission. Accessed May 4, 2018. 43. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Response. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/response. Accessed May 4, 2018. 44. Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Threshold. Merriam-Webster website. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threshold. Accessed May 4, 2018. 45. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Thrombocytopenia. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/thrombocytopenia. Accessed May 4, 2018. 46. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Glossary: UCR (Usual, Customary, and Reasonable). HealthCare.gov. https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/ucr-usual-customary-and-reasonable/. Accessed May 4, 2018. 47. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Watchful Waiting. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/watchful-waiting. Accessed May 4, 2018. 48. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: White Blood Cell. National Cancer Institute website. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/white-blood-cell. Accessed May 4, 2018.

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