Medical glossary’s can
sometimes be more confusing than helpful. We have tried to make ours as
pertinent as possible regarding the terminology you, or a loved one, may
encounter with a diagnosis/treatment of cancer.
Understandably,
we could not cover every word, but if you ever come across a word and/or term
that your doctor/physician/oncologist uses that you do not understand, ask them
to explain it.
Some
tips to navigating cancer terminology –
·
Ask
what the word means
·
Write
it down
·
Write
the explanation down
·
Read
back what you have written to make sure you have got it right
·
Keep a
journal
Remember
- listen, ask, write and repeat.
It
is not uncommon to be overwhelmed with the information being presented, but it
is necessary to ensure that you and/or your loved one understand it.
adeno
- prefix
meaning "gland."
adenocarcinoma
- a
cancer originating from the epithelium of a glandular organ.
adjuvant
therapy - post-surgical
therapy to prevent a cancer’s recurrence and destroy any cancer cells that
have metastasized; may also include palliative therapy.
amino
acid - a
peptide; the basic building block of proteins (or polypeptides).
antibody
- a
protein (immuno-globulin) molecule, produced by the immune system, that
recognizes a particular foreign antigen and binds to it; if the antigen is on
the surface of a cell, this binding leads to cell aggregation and subsequent
destruction. Antibodies attack viruses, bacteria, and other foreign substances
in the body.
antigen
- a
molecule (typically found in the surface of a cell) whose shape triggers the
production of antibodies that will bind to it.
antioxidant
-
a chemical found in some fruits and vegetables that is thought to reduce the
damage caused by free radicals.
apoptosis
-
genetically programmed cell death; the natural mechanism used by the body to
eliminate cells that are no longer needed.
benign
tumor - a
noncancerous tumor.
bone
marrow transplantation/BMT - a
procedure used in the treatment of cancer in which a patient’s diseased bone
marrow is destroyed with radiation or chemotherapy, and then replaced with
healthy marrow.
bone
marrow transplantation, allogeneic - BMT
using bone marrow from a donor.
bone
marrow transplantation, autologous - BMT
using bone marrow from the patient.
Brachytherapy
- a
radiation treatment in which tiny radioactive pellets are surgically placed in
or near a tumor, giving the tumor a high dose of radiation
cancer
- a
malignant tumor of potentially unlimited growth that expands locally by invasion
and systematically by metastasis.
Carcinogen
- a
substance that increases the risk of cancer.
Carcinoma
- cancer
originating from epithelial tissue which covers the body’s surface and lines
internal organs and glands; most common type of cancer.
Cell
- small
membrane-bounded compartment filled with a concentrated aqueous solution of
chemicals; the building blocks of all living creatures.
Chemotherapy
- the
treatment or control of cancer using drugs.
Chromosome
- a
linear end-to-end arrangement of genes and other DNA, sometimes with associated
protein and RNA.
clinical
trials - the
systematic evaluation of new medical treatments which have shown promise in
animal and laboratory tests.
deoxyribonucleic
acid/DNA - the
chemical found in the nucleus of most cells that is the fundamental substance of
which genes are composed; a double chain of linked nucleotides (having
deoxyribose as their sugars).
Diabetes
- any
of various abnormal conditions characterized by the secretion and excretion of
excessive amounts of urine.
Enzyme
- a
protein that functions as a catalyst, to speed up a chemical-specific reaction.
Epidemiology
- the
study of incidence, distribution and control of disease in a population and the
relationship between lifestyle, environment and disease.
Epithelium
- the
outside layer of cells.
Gene
- the
fundamental physical and functional unit of heredity that carries information
from one generation to the next; a segment of DNA composed of a transcribed
region and a regulatory sequence that makes transcription possible; genes code
for proteins.
gene
mutation - a
point mutation that results from changes within the structure of a gene.
gene
therapy - techniques
that introduce new genetic material into a patient, correcting genetic defects
that are causing disease.
Genome
- all
the genetic information necessary to build a living creature (i.e., the human
genome contains all the information necessary to build a human being).
Hodgkin’s
disease - cancer
of the lymphatic system; symptoms include enlargement of the lymph nodes, spleen
and liver, as well as progressive anemia.
Hormone
- a
substance secreted by an organ or gland into the bloodstream to be carried to
other organs and glands where it has a specific effect; there are two types of
hormone: steroid hormones (e.g., estrogen, testosterone) composed of cholesterol
are fat soluble and can easily cross the cell membrane; nonsteroid hormones
(e.g., insulin) composed of amino acids are water soluble, and cannot cross the
cell membrane.
immune
system - the
animal cells and tissues involved in recognizing and attacking foreign
substances within the body.
Immunology
- the
study of the immune system.
Immunotherapy
- therapy
for disease through enhancement or stimulation of the immune system.
Interferon
- a
group of proteins with antiviral and anti-tumor properties that is created by
infected cells in response to viruses and foreign nucleic acids; it can also be
created synthetically; the three types of inter-feron help immunocompromised
patients: alpha, made by leukocytes; beta, made by fibroblasts; and gamma, made
by lymphocytes.
invasive
cancer - cancer
which has spread to surrounding tissue.
Leukemia
- cancer
of the blood-forming tissues, leukocytes or the cells which give rise to
leukocytes.
Leukocytes
- white
blood cells or corpuscles, including neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils,
lymphocytes and monocytes.
localized
cancer - cancer
which has not spread beyond the origination site.
Lumpectomy
- removal
of a breast tumor only leaving behind the rest of the breast tissue; the
standard procedure for tumors less than one inch in diameter.
lymph
glands/nodes - nodules
or rounded bodies, varying in size from a pinhead to an olive, found clustered
in the neck, armpit, crotch and along the great vessels of the abdomen.
Lymphoma
- cancer
of the lymphatic system.
Malignant
- cancerous.
Mastectomy
- the
surgical removal of the breast.
melanoma,
malignant - the
most serious form of skin cancers; originates in the pigment cells of the skin,
eye and mucous membranes.
Metastasis
- the
spread of cancer cells to parts of the body distant from the origination site;
only cancerous tumors can metastasize.
molecular
genetics - the
study of the molecular processes underlying gene structure and function.
monoclonal
antibody/MAB - a
laboratory-made, highly specific antibody used to detect predetermined proteins
or portions of proteins.
Mutagen
- an
agent that is capable of increasing the mutation rate.
Mutation - 1) the process that produces a gene or a chromosome set
differing from the wild-type; 2) the gene or chromosome set that results from
such a process.
Myeloma
- a
cancer of the bone marrow.
non-invasive
cancer - the
earliest stage of cancer when it is located only in the origination site, before
metastasis.
Oncology
- the
study and treatment of cancer.
Oncoprotein
- the
protein coded for by an oncogene, capable of causing tumor formation; can be
either a mutated form of a normal cellular protein or a normal cellular protein
expressed at an inappropriate time.
P53
-
tumor suppressor gene.
Pap
test
- the collection of cervical cells using a cotton swab; the cells are then
examined under a microscope to determine if there are cancer cells present.
Pathogen
- an organism that causes disease in another organism.
Peptide
- an
amino acid; the basic building block of polypeptides (or proteins).
Placebo
-an
inactive substance given to satisfy a patient’s psychological need for
medication or used in studies testing the efficacy of a new drug.
Platelets
- the
cells in the bloodstream responsible for clotting.
polymerase
chain reaction/PCR - a
technique that amplifies nucleic acid sequences exponentially.
Protein
- long
linear polymers of amino acids joined head to tail by a peptide bond between the
carboxylic acid group of one amino acid and the amino group of the next;
proteins determine the shape and structure of the cell and also serve as
instruments of molecular recognition.
Protocol
- guidelines
to follow in a clinical trial; outlines how a study is to be conducted, who may
participate, how to administer treatment and how outcomes are to be recorded.
radiation
therapy/radiotherapy - the
use of radiation (high energy penetrating rays or subatomic particles) such as
X-rays and gamma rays to treat or control disease.
radical
mastectomy - the
surgical removal of the breast along with the underlying muscle, axillary lymph
nodes and fat tissue.
radical
prostatectomy - the
surgical removal of the prostate and surrounding tissue.
Recurrence
- return
of a disease after a period without symptoms or signs of the disease.
ribonucleic
acid/RNA - a
single-stranded nucleic acid similar to DNA, but having ribose sugar rather than
deoxyribose sugar, and uracil rather than thymine as the bases.
Sarcoma
- cancer
arising from connective tissue (bone, cartilage, muscle); also affects liver,
lungs, spleen, kidneys and bladder.
secondary
tumor - a
metastatic tumor, not the original tumor.
squamous
cell carcinoma - skin
cancer arising from the squamous "scaly" epithelium of the skin.
stem
cell - a
cell that gives rise to other cells; usually less differentiated than the cells
of the tissue.
T
cells/T lymphocytes - lymphocytes
responsible for the cell-mediated immune response; mature in the thymus gland.
Translocation
- detachment
of a piece of one chromosome and reattachment to another chromosome during
segregation; can cause abnormally long and short chromosomes.
Tumor
- an
abnormal mass of cells; can be benign or malignant.
tumor
suppressor gene - a
gene whose loss of function leads to cell transformation and the development of
a tumor.