Glossary To find a term in this glossary, select a letter (the first letter of the word you are seeking) or browse the complete glossary. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z B Benign (be-NINE) Not cancerous; does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body. Biological therapy (by-o-LOJ-i-kul) Treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system to fight infection and disease. Also called immunotherapy. Biopsy (BY-op-see) The removal of a sample of tissue, which is then examined under a microscope to check for cancer cells. When only a sample of tissue is removed, the procedure is called incisional biopsy; when the whole tumor is removed, it is excisional biopsy. Removing tissue or fluid with a needle is called needle biopsy or needle aspiration. Bone marrow transplantation A procedure in which doctors replace marrow destroyed by treatment with high doses of anticancer 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. Return to alphabet C Cancer A term for diseases 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. Carcinogen (kar-SIN-o-jin) A substance or agent that is known to cause cancer. Catheter (KATH-e-ter) A thin plastic tube. When a catheter is place in a vein, it provides a pathway for drugs, nutrients, or blood products. Blood samples also can be removed through the catheter. Chemotherapy (kee-mo-THER-a-pee) Treatment with anticancer drugs. Clinical trials Research studies that involve patients. 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). CT or CAT scan Detailed pictures of areas of the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. Also called computed tomography scan or computed axial tomography scan. Return to alphabet E Endoscopy (en-DOS-ko-pee) A procedure in which the doctor looks inside the body through a lighted tube called an endoscope. Estrogen (ES-tro-jin) A female hormone. Return to alphabet F Fecal occult blood test (FEE-kul-o-KULT) A test to check for hidden blood in stool. (Fecal refers to stool. Occult means hidden.) Return to alphabet G Gene therapy Treatment that alters 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. Return to alphabet H Hormone therapy Treatment that prevents certain cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow. Hormones Chemicals produced by glands in the body. Hormones control the actions of certain cells or organs. Return to alphabet I Imaging Procedures that produce pictures of areas inside the body. Immune system The complex group of cells and organs that defends the body against infection and disease. Immunotherapy (IM-yoo-no-THER-a-pee) See Biological therapy. Impotence (IM-po-tens) Inability to have an erection. Interferon (in-ter-FEER-on) 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. Interleukin-2 (in-ter-LOO-kin) A type of biological response modifier (a substance that can improve the body's natural response to disease). It stimulates the growth of certain disease-fighting blood cells in the immune system. Also called IL-2. Return to alphabet L Local treatment Treatment that affects the tumor and the area close to it. Lymph (limf) 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. Bacteria or cancer cells that enter the lymphatic system may be found in the nodes. Also called lymph glands. Lymphatic system (lim-FAT-ik) 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. Return to alphabet M Malignant (ma-LIG-nant) Cancerous. Mammogram (MAM-o-gram) An x-ray of the breast. Melanoma Cancer of the cells that produce pigment in the skin. Melanoma usually begins in a mole. Metastasis (meh-TAS-ta-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 used to deliver drugs, toxins, or radioactive material directly to the tumor cells. MRI A procedure using a magnet linked to a computer to create pictures of areas inside the body. Also called magnetic resonance imaging. Return to alphabet O Oncologist (on-KOL-o-jist) A doctor who specializes in treating cancer. Return to alphabet P Pap test Microscopic examination of cells collected from the cervix. It is used to detect changes that may be cancer or may lead to cancer, and it can show noncancerous conditions, such as infection or inflammation. Also called Pap smear. Pathologist (path-OL-o-jist) A doctor who identifies diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope. Pelvic Having to do with the pelvis, the lower part of the abdomen, located between the hip bones. 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. Progesterone (pro-JES-ter-own) A female hormone. Prognosis (prog-NOS-sis) The probable outcome or course of a disease; the chance of recovery. Return to alphabet R Radiation therapy (ray-dee-AY-shun) 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 is the placement of radioactive material inside the body as close as possible to the cancer. Radioactive (RAY-dee-o-AK-tiv) Giving off radiation. Radionuclide scanning An exam 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. 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. Return to alphabet S Screening Checking for disease when there are no symptoms. Side effects Problems that occur when treatment affects healthy cells. Common side effects of cancer treatment are fatigue, nausea, vomiting, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss, and mouth sores. Sigmoidoscopy (sig-moy-DOS-ko-pee) A procedure in which a doctor looks inside the rectum and the 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 loss of fertility. Stage The extent of a cancer, especially whether the disease has spread from the original site to other parts of the body. Stool The waste matter discharged in a bowel movement; feces. Surgery An operation. Systemic treatment (sis-TEM-ik) Treatment that reaches cells all over the body by traveling through the bloodstream. Return to alphabet T Tissue (TISH-oo) A group or layer of cells that together perform a specific function. Toxins Poisons produced by certain animals, plants, or bacteria. Tumor A mass of excess tissue. 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. Return to alphabet U Ultrasonography (ul-tra-son-OG-ra-fee) An exam in which sound waves are bounced off tissues and the echoes are converted into a picture (sonogram). Ultraviolet radiation (ul-tra-VI-o-let ray-dee-AY-shun) Invisible rays that are part of the energy that comes from the sun. Ultraviolet radiation can burn the skin and cause skin cancer. It is made up of two types of rays, UVA and UVB. Skin specialists recommend that people use sunscreens that block both kinds of radiation. Return to alphabet W White blood cells Cells that help the body fight infection and disease. Return to alphabet X X-rays High-energy radiation used in low doses to diagnose disease or injury, and in high doses to treat cancer. Return to alphabet No terms found ... There are no terms in this glossary for these letters: A, D, J, K, N, Q, V, Y, and Z. Return to alphabet .