Acute: |
Having a short and relatively severe course. |
Adjuvant chemotherapy: |
The use of drugs in addition to surgery or radiation to treat cancer. |
Anemia: |
A condition characterized primarily by an abnormally low number of red blood cells; symptoms include shortness of breath, lack of energy and fatigue. |
Antibody: |
A protein produced by a plasma cell in the lymphatic system or bone marrow. |
Alopecia: |
The loss of hair from the body or scalp. |
Antiemetic: |
A medicine to prevent or relieve nausea or vomiting. |
Benign: |
Used to describe a tumor that is neither cancerous nor capable of invading local tissue; for example, some types of moles or warts. |
Benign tumor: |
Non-cancerous growth that does not spread to other
parts of the body.
|
Biological Therapy: |
Use of biological (substances produced by our own cells) or biological response modifiers in the treatment of cancer. |
Biopsy: |
Removal and microscopic examination of a sample of tissue to see if cancer cells are present. |
Blood Count: |
A measurement of the number of red cells, white cells, and platelets in a sample of blood. |
Bone marrow: |
The inner, spongy tissue of a bone where red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets are formed. |
Brachytherapy:
|
Also known as internal radiation therapy, brachytherapy
is a type of radiation therapy in which radioactive materials sealed
in fine hollow tubes, seeds or wires is directly placed into or near
a tumor. |
Cancer: |
A general term for more than 100 diseases that have uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells that can invade and destroy healthy tissue. |
Carcinogen: |
Any cancer-causing substance or agent. |
Carcinoma in situ: |
Cancer that involves only the top layers without invading deeper tissue. |
Carcinoma: |
Cancer that arises in the epithelial cells that cover external and internal body surfaces. |
CAT Scan: |
Computerized Axial Tomography; a radiographic procedural x-ray plot the location, size and shape of tumors inaccessible to direct visualization. |
Chemotherapy: |
The treatment of malignancies and other diseases with chemical agents; use of cytotoxic chemicals to destroy rapidly-dividing cancer cells throughout the body. |
Clinical Trial: |
In cancer research a trial generally refers to the evaluation of treatment methods such as surgery, drugs or radiation. This study may also include methods of prevention; detection or diagnosis. |
Combination Chemotherapy: |
The use of several drugs at the same time, or in a particular order, to treat cancer. |
Combination Therapy: |
The use of two or more modes of treatment -- surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy -- in conjunction, alternately or together, to achieve optimum results against cancer. |
Complete Response: |
The disappearance of all malignant disease that can be clinically detected. |
Disease-free interval: |
The interval between a complete disappearance of the cancer (complete response) and the time of relapse. |
Dosimetrist: |
A person who plans and calculates the proper radiation dose for treatment. |
Dysplasia: |
Abnormal cervical cells that are not cancer. |
External radiation: |
Therapy that uses a machine located outside of the body to aim high-energy rays at cancer cells. |
Gray: |
A measurement of absorbed radiation dose; 1 gray =100 rads |
Hematuria: |
Any condition in which the urine contains blood or red blood cells. |
Hormone: |
A chemical product from the endocrine glands. When secreted into the body fluids, it affects the other organs. |
Iatrogenic myelosuppression: |
Inhibition of blood cell production, usually caused by medical treatment, such as cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy. |
| |
|
Immunotherapy: |
Treatment that is directed at producing immunity or resistance to a disease or condition. |
Implant: |
A small container of radioactive material placed in or near a cancer. |
Infusion: |
The process of putting fluids into a vein by letting them drip slowly. |
Injection: |
The use of a syringe to “push” fluids into the boyd; often called a “shot.” |
Interstitial radiation: |
A type of therapy in which radioactive substances are implanted into or close to the area needing treatment. |
Intraoperative radiation: |
A type of external radiation used to deliver a large dose of radiation therapy to the tumor bed and surrounding tissue at the tie of surgery. |
Intravenous: |
Into the vein, anticancer drugs are often given by IV injection or infusion. |
Laser: |
A powerful beam of light that can develop intense heat when focused at close range. Used in some surgical procedures. |
Malignant: |
Used to describe a tumor made up of cancerous cells |
Metastasis: |
The spread of cells from a primary tumor to a distant site usually transported via the blood or lymphatic system. |
MRI: |
A magnetic field study. A non-invasive diagnostic scanning technique that provides valuable information about the body's biochemistry. |
Mutagen: |
A chemical or physical agent that induces permanent, transmissible genetic damage. |
Myelosuppression: |
Suppression of bone marrow activity, with resulting decrease in production of blood cells, especially granulocytes as platelets, a common side effect of anti-cancer drugs. |
Oncologist: |
A physician trained to treat patients who have cancer. |
Oncology: |
Study, science or treatment of neoplasms and tumors. |
Palliative therapy: |
A treatment that may relieve symptoms without curing the disease. |
Rad: |
Short form for “radiation absorbed dose”; a measurement of the amount of radiation absorbed by tissues (100 rads = 1 gray). |
Radiation therapist: |
A person with special training who runs the equipment that delivers the radiation. Sometimes called a “radiation technologists.” |
Radiation: |
Energy carried by waves or a stream of particles. |
Regression: |
Shrinkage or abatement of cancer growth. |
Remission: |
Reduction of a clinically-detectable disease for as long as possible, even though the cancer may not have been eliminated. |
Shunt: |
A device used to establish an artificial passage by which body fluid is diverted from one circulatory path to another. |
Simulation: |
A precoess involving specian X-ray pictures that are used to plan radiation treatment so that the area to be treated is precisely located and marked before treatment. |
Staging: |
The process of learning whether cancer has spread from its original site to another area in the body. |
Stomatitis: |
Sores in mouth. |
Survival: |
Usually expressed as the ration of those who survive a disease per number of persons diagnosed with the disease in a given amount of time. |
Synergism: |
Cooperative effects of two agents giving a total effect greater than the sum of the two agents taken independently. |
Teletherapy: |
Treatment in which the radiation source is at a distance from the body. Linear accelerators and cobalt machines are used in teletherapy. |
Vascular Access Device: |
A tube or system of drug delivery that is surgically placed into a large vein in the chest or arm so that chemotherapy can be given easily. |
