Definitions

Abnormal (ab-NOR-mal): Not normal. Normal means what healthy people have or without illness.

Acute Fatigue (a-CUTE fa-TEEG): Feeling exhausted for a short time.

Adenocarcinoma (ADD-en-O-CAR-sin-O-ma): A form of cancer that affects the cells inside organs and tissues in the body.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy (ad'ju-vant kee-MO-THER-a-PEE): One or more anticancer drugs used together with surgery or radiation therapy as part of the treatment of cancer. Adjuvant usually means "in addition to" initial treatment.

Adjuvant Treatment (ADD-jew-vant): A second type of treatment added to the main treatment to increase the person's response to fighting cancer. Usually surgery is the main or primary treatment and chemotherapy or radiation are the adjuvant treatment. The adjuvant treatment may happen before, during, or after the main treatment.

Allogenic Bone Marrow Transplant (al-O-jen-ICK): Using a family's bone marrow for transplantation.

Alopecia (al-o-PEE-sha): Hair loss.

Androgen (AN-dro-jin): A male hormone.

Anorexia (AN-or-EX-ee-a): Loss of appetite.

Antibiotic (an-TIE-by-O-tik): A medication used to treat illnesses and infection.

Antibody (an-TIE-bod-ee): A protein in the blood that fights against specific toxins, germs, and other things that do not normally belong in the body (antigen).

Antiemetic (ant-I-e-MET-ick): A medicine that controls or prevents nausea and vomiting.

Antigen (ANT-i-jin): Anything that attacks the body or is unfamiliar to the body. Antigens include foreign proteins, bacteria, viruses, pollen and other materials.

Apheresis (A-fer-EE-sis): In peripheral stem cell transplantation harvesting, blood is removed from the body, then a machine takes out the stem cells and the blood is returned to the body. After chemotherapy, the stem cells are reinfused.

Aspiration (as-per-A-shun): Withdrawing fluid.

Asymptomatic (a-SIMP-tow-MA-tik): No evidence of signs, symptoms, or warning signals of illness.

Atypical (a-TIP-i-kal): Not normal; not usual.

Autoimmune (AW-tow IM-yoon): A person's antibodies kills normal cells in the body instead of germs and other things that don't belong in the body.

Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation (aw-TOL-o-gus): The patient's own bone marrow is treated to remove disease, then used again to replace the bone marrow. Abbreviated as ABMT.

A matching donor's bone marrow is used to replace a patient's bone marrow.

Autopsy (AWE-top-see): Examining the body to find out the cause of death.

Barium Enema (BA-re-um EN-e-ma): A test that uses a liquid with barium sulfate given by enema in the large bowel to get pictures of the intestinal tract. See chapter 2 diagnostics.

Benign (be-NINE): Not cancerous; abnormal cells which do not spread to nearby areas or other parts of the body.

Bilateral (BI-lat-er-al): Involving both sides of an area of the body.

Biological Response Modifier (BY-o-loj-i-kal RE-sponse MOD-i-fy-er): A medication that can improve the body's natural ability to respond to and fight illnesses; activating the body's natural immune system.

Biological Therapy (by-o-LOG-i-kul th-E-ra-pe): Treatment to activate or restore the body's ability to fight infection and illness; Also called immunotherapy. Biologicals (substances produced by our own cells) or biological response modifiers (substances that affect the patient's defense systems) used in the treatment of cancer.

Biopsy (BY-op-see): The procedure which removes part or all of a certain tissue in the body that is questionable. This tissue is checked under a microscope by a pathologist to determine if the tissue is normal or cancerous.

Incisional Biopsy (in-SIZ-yon-al): A biopsy that removes a small sample of tissue.

Excisional Biopsy (x-SIZ-yon-al): A biopsy that removes the whole area of tissue.

Needle Biopsy (NEE-del): Also called Needle Aspiration (NEE-del AS-per-A-shun); A biopsy that uses a needle to remove tissue or fluid. See chapter 2 diagnostics.

Blood Count: Also called CBC (complete blood count). A sample of blood is sent to the lab for evaluation to determine if the number of white cells, red cells, and platelets are normal. See chapter 2 diagnostics.

Bone Marrow (BOWN MA-row): The soft fatty substance found in the soft part of the bones. Bone marrow makes blood cells.

Bone Marrow Biopsy and Aspiration (BI-op-see a-sper-a-shun): A procedure where a needle is inserted in the bone to remove the bone marrow for evaluation by the pathologist to detect disease. See chapter 2 diagnostics.

Bone Marrow Transplantation (bown MAH-row trans-plan-TAY-shun): A procedure that first kills the diseased bone marrow by chemotherapy or radiation, then replaces it with healthy bone marrow. Abbreviated as BMT.

Cancer (CAN-ser): A word used to describe more than 100 illnesses that causes normal body cells and tissue to become abnormal and uncontrollable, then spread to destroy other normal tissue in the body.

Carcinogen (car-SIN-o-jin): Anything in the environment that will cause cancer; Anything liquid, solid, or gas that harms the body's natural ability to make normal cells.

Catheter (KATH-eh-terr): A tube usually made of plastic placed in the body to allow fluids to drain in or out easily. Can be permanent or temporary.

Cell (SELL): The smallest unit or part of the body. Cells group together to make organs and tissue in the body.

Central Venous Catheter (SEN-tral VEE-nus CATH-e-ter): A thin flexible tube placed in a large vein to give fluids/ medicines. See chapter 4 treatments/chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy (kee-mow-THER-a-pee): Treatment using medicine that kills or slows cancer. The medicine can be liquid that is given directly into the vein or certain organs of the body, or it can be given as a pill that can be swallowed. See chapter 4 treatments.

Clinical Trials (klin-I-kal TRY-als): Treatment using new methods being researched. These methods have been studied on animals and have shown that the animal responded well to the treatment. The systematic investigation of the effects of materials or methods, according to a formal study plan and generally in a human population with a particular illness or class of diseases. In cancer research, a clinical trial generally refers to the evaluation of treatment methods such as surgery, drugs or radiation techniques, although methods of prevention, detection or diagnosis also may be the subject of such studies. See chapter 4 treatments.

Colony-Stimulating factors (KOL-on-nee STIM-u-late-ing FAK-tors): Treatment using medicine to help stimulate the body make certain blood cells. Abbreviated as CSF.

Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factors (GRAN-u-low-sight): Abbreviated as G-CSF.

Granulocyte-macrophage Colony Stimulating Factors (-MA-krow-faj): Abbreviated GM-CSF. See chapter 4 treatments.

Combination Chemotherapy (kee-mo-ther'apee): Use of two or more anticancer drugs.

Combination Therapy (ther'a-pee): The use of two or more modes of treatment like surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy in combination, alternately or together, to achieve optimum results against cancer.

Control Group: In clinical studies this is a group of patients which receives standard treatment, a treatment or intervention currently being used and considered to be of proved effectiveness based on past studies. Results in patients receiving newly developed treatments may then be compared to the control group. In cases where no standard treatment yet exists for a particular condition, the control group would receive no treatment. No patient is placed in a control group without treatment if there is any beneficial treatment known for that patient.

Diagnosis (die-agg-NO-sis): A term that names the disease that causes your symptoms.

Double-blind: Characteristic of a controlled experiment in which neither the patient nor the attending physician knows whether the patient is getting one or another drug or dose. In single blind studies, patients do not know which of several treatments they are receiving, thus preventing personal bias from influencing their reactions and study results. In either case, the treatment can be quickly identified, if necessary, by a special code.

Chronic Fatigue (KRON-ick fa-TEEG): When you feel exhausted or tired for a long time.

CT or CAT Scan: Also called computed axial tomography scan. A test that involves an X-ray of certain parts of the body. See chapter 2 diagnostics.

Cyst (SIST): An abnormal sac like object filled with liquid which may or may not be cancerous.

Cytology (si-TOL-o-jee): The study of cells under the microscope.

Diagnosis (DI-ag-NO-sis): Identifying and discovering the presence of a certain illness.

Diuretics (DIE-ur-et-ics): Medicine that helps the body get rid of excess water and salt.

Endoscopy (en-DOS-ko-pee): A procedure that allows the doctor to look inside the body using a tube with a light called an endoscope. See chapter 2 diagnostics.

Epidemiology (EP-id-ee-me-OL-o-jee): The study of illnesses that discovers who it affects, why, and how often it happens.

Estrogen (ES-tro-jin): A female hormone.

Etiology (ET-ee-OL-o-jee): The study of what causes illnesses.

Fecal Occult Blood Test (FEE-kal o-kult): A test to check for blood in the feces/stool. Sometimes the blood cannot be seen very easily, so this test shows if there is blood in the bowel or stool. Also called a guaiac test.

Frozen Section (FRO-zen SEKT-shun): The procedure where a part of tissue is removed by biopsy, then frozen, then cut into tiny thin slices, stained with a dye, then examined by the pathologist under the microscope immediately while the surgeon is waiting so that a decision can be made if more surgery is needed at that moment. See chapter 2 diagnostics.

Gene Therapy (JEEN): Treatment that changes the part of the body that is responsible for passing on family traits through the generations. It is believed by researchers that if the genes that make a person at risk for illnesses like cancer can be changed, then the next generation of children may have a lower chance of inheriting the illness.

Graft Verses Host Disease: The term used to describe the body rejecting bone marrow that has been reinfused during transplantation.

Harvest: The process in bone marrow transplant where blood cells are grown and treated before chemotherapy, then reinfused when chemotherapy is over.

Hormone Therapy (HOR-moan): Treatment that prevents certain cancer cells from growing by starving the cancer from the hormones that will cause it to grow and spread.

Hormones (HOR-moans): Chemicals produced naturally by glands in the body to control certain organs or cells in the body by regulating growth, metabolism, and reproduction. A chemical product of the endocrine glands of the body, which, when secreted into body fluids, affects other organs.

Hospice (HOS-piss): An organization that provides physical and emotional care to people who have a terminal illness and their families.

Infusion (in-FYOU-shun): Giving medication through a vein slowly.

Injection (in-JEKT-shun): Using a needle to give medicine in the muscle or tissue. Shot.

Imagery (IM-a-jer-EE): The method to relax and fight cancer by thinking of things that represent you killing cancer.

Imaging (IM-a-jing): A procedure that takes pictures of areas inside the body.

Immune System (IM-yoon SIS-tem): The part of the body that naturally fights infection and illnesses from invading the body. A complex network of organs, cells and specialized substances distributed throughout the body and defending it from foreign invaders that cause infection or illness.

Immunoglobulins (IM-yoon-o-GLOBE-ins): Proteins that fight infection.

Immunology (IM-u-NOL-o-jee): The study of how the body resists diseases and infections.

Immunotherapy (IM-you-no-THER-a-pee): See Biological Therapy. An experimental method of treating cancer, using substances which stimulate the body's immune defense system.

Impotence (IM-po-tens): Not being able to have an erection; happens when a male is not able to have a hard penis for intercourse/sex.

Informed Consent: The process in which a patient learns about and knows the purpose and aspects of a clinical trial and then agrees to participate. Of course, a patient may decline to participate. This process includes a document defining how much a patient must know about the potential benefits and risks of therapy before being able to agree to undergo it knowledgeably. (Informed consent is required in federally conducted, funded or regulated studies and by many state laws.) If a patient signs an informed consent form and enters a trial, he or she is still free to leave the trial anytime, and can receive other available medical care.

Interferon (in-ter-FEAR-on): A protein substance produced by white blood cells and other types of cells exposed to certain viruses. In test animals, interferon has shown some activity against tumors. Studies of its usefulness in treating some types of human cancer are under way. One of many new agents available as biological therapy. See Biological Response Modifier.

Interleukin-2 (in-ter-LOO-kin): Also called IL-2. See Biological Response Modifier.

Intra-arterial (IA) (IN-tra ar-TEER-e-al): Into an artery.

Intracavitary (IC) (IN-tra CAV-it-air-y): Into a cavity or space, specifically the abdomen, pelvis, or the chest.

Intralesional (IL) (IN-tra LEE-shun-al): Into the cancerous area in the skin.

Intramuscular (IM) (IN-tra MUS-Q-lar): Into a muscle.

Intrathecal (IT) (IN-tra THEE-kal): Into the spinal fluid.

Intravenous (IV) (IN-tra VEE-nus): Into a vein.

Investigational New Drug: A drug allowed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used in clinical trials but not approved by the FDA for commercial marketing.

Local Treatment (LOW-kal): Treatment that focuses on a specific area of the body.

Lymph (LIMF): A clear fluid made in the body that travels through the body by the lymphatic system carrying white cells and antibodies that help fight infection and disease.

Lymph Nodes (LIMF NO-dz): Also called lymph glands. Small sacs in the body found along the lymphatic system that collects bacteria, cancer, and other substances that do not naturally belong in the body.

Lymphatic System (lim-FAT-ik): The tissues and organs linked throughout the body that make, store, and allow lymph cells to travel to other parts of the body to fight infection and diseases.

Malignant (ma-LIG-nant): Cancerous; containing cancer cells.

Mammogram (MAM-o-gram): An X-ray of the breast. It is used as an early detection of cancer and other abnormal conditions of the breast. See chapter 2 diagnostics.

Mass (mass): A group of cells stuck together that don't belong in the body.

Meditation (med-I-TAY-shun): The technique used to relax the body by thinking of pleasurable things.

Megadoses (MEG-a-DOW-sez): Extremely high amounts.

Megavitamins (MEG-a-Vi-ta-MINZ): Extremely high amounts of vitamins beyond the recommended dose.

Metabolism (meh-TAB-o-lizm): The process whereby the body takes food and uses it for energy.

Metastasis (meh-TASS-ta-sis): Also called mets. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another usually by traveling through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. The transfer of disease from one part of the body to another. In cancer, metastasis is the migration of cancer cells from the original tumor site through the blood and lymph vessels/tubes to produce cancers in other tissues. Metastasis also is the term used for a secondary cancer growing at a distant site.

Monoclonal Antibodies (mon-o-KLO-nal AN-tie-BOD-eez): Substances that find cancer cells in the body and stick to them. One of several new substances used in biological therapy. These antibodies, all alike, are mass-produced and designed to home in on target cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies are products of new scientific techniques and may prove useful in both cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Morbidity (more-BID-i-tee): A term used to describe many people with a sickness or illness.

Mortality (more-TAL-i-tee): A term used to describe the number of deaths resulting from a particular illness.

MRI: Also called magnetic resonance imaging. A test that makes a picture of areas inside the body. See chapter 2 diagnostics.

Multimodality Therapy (mul-ti-mo-dal-i-tee ther- a-pee): The combined use of more than one method of treatment, for example, surgery and chemotherapy.

Neoplasm (nee-o-PLAZ-m): A new abnormal growth or mass.

Oncologist (on-CALL-o-jist): A doctor who specializes in cancer treatments.

Oncology (on-CALL-o-jee): A specialty in science that focuses on cancer causes, diagnosis, and treatment.

Organ Donation (or-GUN do-NAY-shun): After you die, you allow parts of your body to be used in people for transplants.

Palliative Treatment (PAL-e-a-tiv): Treatment given to relieve side effects of cancer to improve how the person feels but will not cure or slow the illness.

Pap Test: A test that collects cells from the female cervix and vagina. The cells are then sent to the pathologist to look at under the microscope to determine whether the cells are normal or abnormal. This is used as an early screening to detect cancer and other illnesses.

Pathologist (path-OL-o-jist): A doctor who specializes in determining if cells/tissue samples are normal or if disease is present.

Pathology (path-OL-o-jee): The study and diagnosis of illness by looking at samples of body tissue under a microscope.

Pelvic (PELL-vik): Having to do with the pelvis.

Pelvis (PELL-vis): The area of the body between the hip bones.

Peripheral Stem Cell Support (per-I-fer-al): Using cells from the blood similar to the bone marrow to replace bone marrow removed for a transplant. See chapter 4 treatments.

Peripheral Neuropathy (purr-IF-er-al ner-OP-a-thee): A condition of the nervous system that usually begins in the hands and/or feet with symptoms of numbness, tingling, burning and/or weakness. Can be caused by certain anti cancer drugs.

Per os (PO): By mouth; orally.

Platelet (PLAYT-let): Part of the blood that is responsible for controlling bleeding by forming clots.

Placebo (pla-see'bo): An inactive substance resembling a medication, given for psychological effect or as a control in evaluating a medicine believed to be active. It is usually a tablet, capsule, or injection that contains a harmless substance but appears to be the same as the medicine being tested. A placebo may be compared with a new drug when no one knows whether any drug or treatment will be effective.

Port: A small plastic or metal container surgically placed under the skin and attached to a central venous catheter inside the body. Blood and fluids can enter or leave the body through the port using a special needle.

Precancerous (Pre-CAN-ser-us): Abnormal changes in cells that may become cancerous if not treated or removed.

Prevention (pre-VENT-shun): Lowering a risk of getting an illness; reducing the chances of developing a illness.

Progesterone (pro-JER-ter-own): A female hormone.

Prognosis (prog-NO-sis): The prediction of chance of recovery from a illness according to national statistics and physicians' experiences; an educated guess on the outlook for the future.

Progressive Relaxation (pro-GRESS-iv re-lax-A-shun): A method used to relax that involves thinking of parts of your body releasing stress one at a time.

Prosthesis (pross-THEE-sus): A replacement for part of the body that has been removed or lost.

Protocol (PRO-tow-Kol): The outline or plan for use of an experimental procedure or experimental treatment.

Radiation Oncologist: The doctor that specializes in radiation therapy treatments for cancer patients.

Radiation Recall: A reaction that can happen when chemotherapy is given after radiation therapy. It may happen several weeks or even months after radiation therapy has ended, and involves only the skin that has been previously irradiated.

Radiation Therapy (ray-dee-A-shun): Treatment using high energy X-rays or radioactive materials like cobalt and radium to kill or slow cancer cells. See chapter 4 treatments.

External Radiation: A machine outside the body uses rays to penetrate through the body to certain areas.

Internal Radiation: A material with radiation in it is placed inside the body.

Radioactive (RAY-dee-o-AK-tiv): Anything that gives off radiation; Something that has radiation in it and can expose others to it.

Radiosensitizers (ray-dee-o-sen-si-ty-zers): Drugs being studied to try to boost the effect of radiation therapy.

Randomized Clinical Trials (ran-duh-mized): A study in which patients with similar traits, such as extent of disease, are chosen or selected by chance to be placed in separate groups that are comparing different treatments. Because irrelevant factors or preferences do not influence the distribution of patients, the treatment groups can be considered comparable and results of the different treatments used in different groups can be compared. (There is no way at the time for the researchers to know which of the treatments is best.)

Regional Disease (REE-jun-AL diz-EEZ): Cancer or disease that has affected or spread to nearby areas.

Regression (ree-gresh-un): The state of growing smaller or disappearing; used to describe the shrinkage or disappearance of a cancer.

Risk/Benefit Ratio: The relation between the risks and benefits of a given treatment or procedure. Institutional Review Boards (IRBS) (located where the study is to take place) determine that the risks in a study are reasonable with respect to the potential benefits. It is also up to the patient to decide if it is reasonable for him or her to take part in a study.

Recurance (re-KER-ans): The term used to describe the return of the same cancer that has disappeared after treatment. Also called a relapse.

Remission (re-MISS-shun): Disappearance or decrease of the signs and symptoms of cancer after treatment has been given; not able to detect cancer in the body at the time of testing; cancer that has been eliminated or controlled.

Rescue (res-Q): The process where large doses of chemotherapy kill most of the cells in the body, then before major problems happen, blood cells are reinfused.

Risk Factor: Something that increases the chances of developing illnesses.

Screening: Checking for illnesses. Signs and symptoms of illness may or may not be present.

Secondary: A second type of disease or treatment.

Side Effects: Consequences or problems that happen because of treatment; treatment is given to control the disease, but may also cause the person to experience unusual symptoms.

Sigmoidoscopy (sig-moyd-OS-ko-pee): A procedure using a lighted tube to look inside the rectum and lower colon. This may be used as an early detection of illness.

Sperm Banking: A procedure where a man has his sperm frozen before cancer treatment so that if the treatment causes infertility, he is still able to father children.

Stage: A measurement used by doctors to determine whether the cancer is in an early or late phase so they can decide the best treatment.

Standard Treatment: A therapy that has been proven and accepted by scientists and doctors to help with fighting cancer.

Stomatitis (STO-ma-TITE-iss): Mouth sores.

Stool: Also called feces (FEE-sees). The body waste removed from the bowel.

Subcutaneous (SQ or SC)(Sub-Q-tay-nee-us): Under the skin.

Surgery: Also called an operation; cutting into the body or removing part of the body.

Syngenic Bone Marrow Transplant (SIN-jen-ICK): Using a stranger/friend's marrow for your transplant.

Systemic Treatment (sis-TEM-ik): Treatment that travels through the body to most areas of the body.

Tissue (TISH-shew): A group of cells in the body that work together for a specific purpose or reason.

Toxins (TOX-inz): Poisons made by animals, plants, bacteria, or chemicals in the environment that are dangerous to the body.

Tumor (TWO-mor): A group or mass of extra tissue that is not normal.

Tumor Markers: A test that involves taking a sample of blood to determine the progress of certain cancers.

Ultrasonography (ul-tra-son-OG-ra-fee): A test that uses sound waves to bounce off tissue to create a picture of inside the body.

Ultraviolet Radiation (ul-tra-VY-o-let Ray dee-AY-shun): Invisible rays of energy from the sun that can harm skin if the skin is not protected.

Visualization (viz-u-AL-I-zay-shun): The method used to relax the body and fight disease by imagining thoughts that symbolize killing cancer cells.

White Blood Cells: Abbreviated as WBC. The part of the blood that helps the body fight infection.