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The terms and definitions listed have been compiled to provide you with a better understanding of words frequently used in cancer care.
A
Acute – A sudden start of symptoms or disease.
Adjuvant therapy – Treatment used in addition to the main treatment. It usually refers to hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy added after surgery to increase the chances of curing the disease or keeping it in check.
Adrenal glands – Two small organs near the kidneys that release hormones.
Allogenic – From a donor whose tissue type closely matches the patient’s. For leukemia, the patient usually has an allogenic transplant.
Alopecia – The loss of hair, which may include all body hair as well as scalp hair.
Alternative Treatment -The use of unproven remedies alone to the ruling out of standard treatment. A broad term which includes treatment methods which are outside the range of established Western medicine, and refers to treatments that do not have the approval of the United States Food and Drug Administration.
Analgesic – Any drug that relieves pain. Aspirin is a mild analgesic.
Anemia – A condition in which a reduced number of red blood cells may cause symptoms including tiredness, shortness of breath, and weakness.
Angiogenesis (An-JEE-o-gen-i-sis) – The way tumors develop new blood vessels to provide nourishment so they can grow.
Antibodies – A substance formed by the body to help defend it against infection.
Antigen – Any substance that causes the body to produce natural antibodies.
Antineoplastic agent – A drug that prevents, kills, or blocks the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Autologous – Patient’s own cells.
B
Benign – Not cancerous; does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body.
Biological Therapy – Treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system to fight infection and disease. Also called immunotherapy.
Biopsy – The removal of sample tissue which is then examined under a microscope to check for cancer cells. When only a sample tissue is removed, the procedure is called incisional biopsy; when the whole tumor is removed, it is called excisional biopsy. Removing tissue or fluid with a needle is called needle biopsy or needle aspiration.
Blood cells – Very small structures produced in the bone marrow; they consist of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Blood count – The number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in a sample of blood.
Bone marrow – The spongy material found inside the bones.
Bone Marrow Transplantation – A procedure in which doctors replace bone marrow that has been destroyed by treatment with high doses of anti-cancer drugs or radiation. The replacement marrow may be taken from the patient before treatment or may be donated by another person. When the patient’s own marrow is used, the procedure is called autologous (aw-TOL-o-gus) bone marrow transplantation. When another person donates marrow that is compatible with the patient, it is called allogeneic (al-lo-gen-ic).
Bone scan – A picture of the bones using a radioactive dye that shows any injury, disease, or healing. The is a valuable test to determine if cancer has spread to the bone, if anticancer therapy has been successful, and if affected bony areas are healing.
Breast self-examination (BSE) – A manual self-exam of the breasts.
C
Cancer – A term for disease in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissue and can spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body.
Cancer in situ – The stage where the cancer is still confined to the tissue in which it started.
Cancer Survivor -The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship maintains in its charter: “From the time of discovery and for the balance of life, an individual diagnosed with cancer is a survivor.”
Carcinogen (kar-SIN-o-jin) – A substance or agent that is known to cause cancer. For example, nicotine in cigarettes is a carcinogen that causes lung cancer.
Carcinogenesis (kar-SIN-o-jin-o-sis) -The steps that lead to cancer. Theories indicate that multiple steps are necessary for a cell to become cancerous including initiation and promotion.
Carcinoma – A cancer that arises from the lining of an organ or system. They are the commonest cancers.
CAT scan or Computerized Axial Tomography (CT scan) – A test using computers and x-rays to create images of various parts of the body.
Catheter (KATH-e-ter) – A thin plastic tube. When a catheter is placed in a vein, it provides a pathway for drugs, nutrients, or blood products. Blood samples can also be removed through the catheter.
Chemoprevention – A strategy to prevent or intervene at a very early stage in the development of cancer through the use of a drug or natural substance.
Chemotherapy – Treatment with anti-cancer drugs.
Chromosomes – Structures in the cell nucleus that are made up of genes; the carriers of heredity.
Chronic – Continue over a long period of time.
Clinical trials – Research studies that involve patients.
Colonoscopy -A process to look at the colon or large bowel through a lighted, flexible tube.
Colony-stimulating factors – Substances that stimulate the production of blood cells. Treatment with colony stimulating factors (CSF) can help the blood-forming tissue recover from the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These include granulocyte colony stimulating factors (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors (GM-CSF).
Complementary Treatment – The use of non-traditional treatments in combination with approved therapies.
Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT Scan) – Detailed pictures of areas of the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. Also called computerized tomography scan (CT Scan).
Cryosurgery – Use of extreme cold to freeze and destroy cancer cells.
Cyst – A buildup of fluid or semisolid material within a sac.
D
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) -The information code or blueprint of life; the building blocks of genes.
Diagnosis – Identification of a disease in a person’s body.
Differentiation – The development of form, function and specialization in a cell or tissue. Cancer cells range from well differentiated (look close to normal and are less aggressive) to less differentiated (look very different from normal cells and are usually more aggressive).
Drug resistance – The result of cell’s ability to resist the effects of a specific drug.
E
Edema – The buildup of fluid in part of the body.
Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) – A test that takes recordings of the electrical activity of the heart.
Endoscopy (en-DOS-ko-pee) – A procedure in which the doctor looks inside the body through a lighted tube called an endoscope.
Enzymes (EN-zimes) – Proteins that stimulate cell functions. Estrogen – A female hormone.
F
Fine-needle aspirate – A method in which a needle is inserted, under local anesthesia, to get hold of a sample for the evaluation of suspicious tissue.
Frozen section – A method in which tissue is removed and then quick-frozen and examined under a microscope by a pathologist.
G
Genes – Units of inherited material made up of DNA.
Gene Therapy -Treatment that changes genes (the basic units of heredity found in all cells in the body). In early studies of gene therapy for cancer, researchers are trying to improve the body’s natural ability to fight the disease or to make the tumor more sensitive to other kinds of therapy.
Genetic Information – Information about genes, gene products, or inherited characteristics that may be derived from an individual or family member.
Genome – The complete set of hereditary factors in all the chromosomes of an organism.
H
Hematologist – A doctor who specializes in the problems of blood and bone marrow.
Histology – The microscopic structure of organic tissues. The branch of biology dealing with the study of tissues.
Hodgkin’s disease – A cancer that affects the lymph nodes.
Hormones – Chemical produced by the endocrine glands of the body. Hormones control the actions of certain cells or organs.
Hormone Therapy – Treatment that prevents certain cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow.
Hospice – A place for supportive care for the terminally ill patient that is based on a philosophy stressing the physical and emotional needs of the patient and family.
I
Immune system – The complex group of cells and organs that defend the body against infection and disease.
Immunosuppression -Weakening of the immune system that causes a lowered ability to fight infection and disease.
Immunotherapy – The artificial stimulation of the body’s immune system to treat or fight disease.
Informed Consent -The medical and ethical principle that a patient should only consent to treatment after he/she fully understands the treatment or procedure, his/her rights and all of the medical options.
Interferon – A type of biological response modifier (a substance that can improve the body’s natural response to disease). It slows the rate of growth and division of cancer cells, causing them to become sluggish and die.
Interleukins – A type of biological response modifier (a substance that can improve the body’s natural response to disease). They stimulate the growth of certain disease-fighting blood cells in the immune system.
L
Lesion – A lump or abscess that may be caused by injury or disease, such as cancer.
Leukemia – Cancer of the blood. White blood cells may be produced in excessive amounts and are unable to work properly.
Lumpectomy – Removal of the lump and a small amount of surrounding breast tissue.
Lymph – An almost colorless fluid that travels through the lymphatic system and carries cells that help fight infection and disease.
Lymph nodes – Small, bean shaped organs located along the channels of the lymphatic system, also called lymph glands.
Lymphatic system -The tissues and organs, including the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes, that produce and store cells that fight infection and disease. This system also has channels that carry lymph.
Lymphoma – A cancer of the lymphatic system. Doctors differentiate the different lymphomas by the type of cell that is involved in the makeup of the tumor. Treatments depend on the type of cell that is seen.
M
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – A procedure using a magnet linked to a computer to create pictures of areas inside the body.
Malignant (ma-LIG-nant) – Cancerous.
Mammogram (mammography) – A low-dose x-ray / picture of the breasts to determine whether abnormal growths or cysts are present.
Mastectomy – The surgical removal of the breast.
Melanoma – A cancer of the pigment-forming cells of the skin or the retina of the eye.
Metastasis (ma-TAS-te-sis) -The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another. Cells in the metastatic (secondary) tumor are like those in the original (primary) tumor.
Monoclonal Antibodies – Substances that can locate and bind to cancer cells wherever they are in the body. They can be used alone, or they can be made to deliver drugs, toxins, or radioactive material directly to the tumor cells.
Mutation – A change in the cell that is permanent and can be passed on to offspring.
N
Nausea – The feeling of sickness.
Neoplasm – Any abnormal growth of cells or tissues. May be benign or malignant but the term usually is referring to a cancerous growth.
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – A cancer of the lymphatic system. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is related to Hodgkin’s disease but is made up of different cell types.
Nucleus -The part of the cell that holds most of the DNA and other organelles that control the cell.
O
OCN (Oncology certified nurse) – A registered nurse who has met the requirements and successfully completed a certification examination in oncology.
Oncogenes – Genes in the cell, that when switched on, cause abnormal cell growth and division.
Oncologist – A doctor who specializes in treating cancer. A radiotherapist specializes in treating cancer with radiation, and a medical oncologist specializes in treating cancer with drugs.
Oncology – The study and treatment of cancer.
Orally – Given by mouth.
P
Palliative treatment – Treatment aimed at the relief of pain and symptoms of disease but not intended to cure the disease.
Pap (Papanicolaou) smear – A test to detect cancer of the cervix.
Pathologist -A doctor who identifies diseases by studying cells and tissue under a microscope.
Pathology – The study of disease by the examination of tissues and body fluids under the microscope.
Peripheral stem cell support (per-IF-er-ul) – A method of replacing blood-forming cells destroyed by cancer treatment. Certain cells (stem cells) in the blood that are similar to those in bone marrow are removed from the patient’s blood before treatment. The cells are given back to the patient after treatment.
Placebo – A mock-up substance often used in clinical trials for comparison.
Primary tumor – The original cancer site. For example, breast cancer that has spread to the bone is still called breast cancer.
Progesterone (pro-JES-ter-own) – A female hormone.
Prognosis – The probable outcome or course of a disease; the chance of recovery.
Proteins – Combinations of amino acids (the basic building blocks of life that make up DNA) that carry out most of the work needed to live.
Protocol – A carefully thought out and well organized treatment plan.
PSA (Prostate-specific antigen) – A marker used to determine prostate disease; it may be benign or malignant.
R
Radiation therapy – Treatment with high-energy rays to kill or damage cancer cells. External radiation therapy is the use of a machine to aim high energy rays at the cancer. Internal radiation therapy is the placement of radioactive material inside the body as close as possible to the cancer.
Radioactive – Giving off radiation.
Radiologist – A doctor who specializes in the use of x-rays.
Radionuclide scanning – An examination that produces pictures (scans) of internal parts of the body. The patient is given an injection or swallows a small amount of radioactive material. A machine called a scanner then measures the radioactivity in certain organs.
Randomized – In a clinical trial, eligible patients (those that meet the strict criteria of the research project) are randomly placed in one of the treatment plans so that the study is not biased.
Recurrence – The reappearance of a disease after a period of remission. Regression – The shrinkage of cancer growth.
Remission – Disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer. When this happens, the disease is said to be “in remission.” Remission can be temporary or permanent.
Risk factor – Something that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease.
S
Sarcoma – A malignant tumor of muscles or connective tissue such as bone and cartilage.
Side effects – Problems that occur when treatment affects healthy cells.
Sigmoidoscopy (sig-moy-DOS-ko-pee) – A procedure in which the doctor looks inside the rectum and lower part of the colon (sigmoid colon) through a lighted tube. The doctor may collect samples of tissue or cells for closer examination. Also called proctosigmoidoscopy.
Sperm banking – Freezing sperm before cancer treatment for use in the future. This procedure can allow men to father children after the loss of fertility.
Stage – The extent of cancer, especially whether the disease has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.
Standard therapies – The measures or steps taken to treat a disease.
Stem Cells and Stem Cell Transplant – A variation of bone marrow transplantation in which immature blood cells called stem cells are taken from the patient’s blood and later, in the lab, stimulated with growth factors to produce more stem cells which are returned to the patient by transfusion.
Systemic disease – A disease that affects the entire body instead of a specific organ.
T
Testicular self-examination (TSE) – A simple manual self-examination of the testes.
Tissue – A group or layer of cells that together perform a specific function. Toxins – Poisons produced by certain animals, plants or bacteria.
Tumor markers – Substances found in abnormal amounts in the blood, in other body fluids, or in tumor tissue of some patients with certain types of cancer.
Tumor suppressor genes – Genes that constrain cell growth. These genes act as brakes on the growth of malignant cells.
U
Ultrasound/Ultrasonography – An examination in which sound waves are bounced off tissues and the echoes are converted into a picture (sonogram).
V
Virus – A tiny infectious agent that is smaller than bacteria.
W
White blood cells – Cells that help the body fight infection and disease.
X-rays – High-energy radiation used in low doses to diagnose disease or injury, and in high doses to treat cancer.
