Glossary of Oncology Terms 
 
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A 
Adjuvant Therapy - Cancer treatment that involves surgery followed by 
chemotherapy and/or radiation to decrease the risk of the cancer recurring. 
Antibody - A substance formed by the immune system which defends the body 
against bacteria, viruses, toxins (antigens) or tumors. 
Antigen - A substance, such as a bacteria, virus or toxin, that triggers a 
response by the immune system, the human body's defense mechanism. Cancer may 
have antigens the immune system may attack. 
Attending Physician - The doctor who is primarily responsible for a patient's 
care. 
B 
Benign - Non-malignant; not life-threatening. 
Benign Hematology - The study and treatment of blood, blood-forming tissues, and 
blood-related diseases that are not life-threatening. 
Biological Response Modifiers - Natural or man- made substances that boost or 
restore normal immune defenses. 
Biomarker - A biochemical characteristic that can be used to measure the 
progress of disease or the effects of treatment. 
Biopsy - Surgical removal of body tissue which will be used for identifying 
disease. 
Bone Marrow - The body's `factory' for three types of blood cells: leukocytes 
(white blood cells) which help fight infection; erythrocytes (red blood cells) 
which carry oxygen throughout the body; and thrombocytes (platelets) which cause 
blood clotting. 
Bone Marrow Aspiration - The removal and examination of bone marrow cells. 
Bone Marrow Donor - A person who donates healthy bone marrow to a patient who 
has had high-dose cancer treatment. The patient is given the donor's healthy 
marrow during a bone marrow transplant. 
Bone Marrow Harvest - A procedure to collect healthy bone marrow which will be 
stored and used in a future bone marrow transplant. 
Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) - A procedure to replace a patient's diseased or 
treatment-damaged bone marrow with healthy marrow. The new marrow can be marrow 
that has been previously removed from the patient and stored until needed 
(autologous transplant); or marrow that is donated either from a genetically 
matched relative or unrelated donor (allogeneic transplant) or from the 
patient's genetically identical twin (syngeneic transplant). 
C 
CA 125 - A protein that can be found in the blood and is useful in detecting and 
evaluating ovarian cancer. 
CT Scan (computer tomography scan) - A diagnostic test which uses x-rays and a 
computer to view organs and areas inside the body. 
CEA - A protein that can be found in the blood and is useful in detecting and 
evaluating colon cancer. Chemosensitizers - Drugs or chemicals that enhance the 
effects of anticancer drugs and improve their efficiency. 
Chemotherapy - The use of chemicals (medicines) to treat cancer. 
Chromosome - A linear strand of DNA and proteins in the nucleus of a cell. 
Chromosomes carry genes and function in the transmission of hereditary 
information. 
Clinical Trials - Studies that evaluate new drugs or new types of treatment. 
D 
E 
F 
G 
Gene - A hereditary unit that is located in a specific place on a chromosome. 
Genes determine physical characteristics, such as hair or eye color. When genes 
are missing or damaged, cancer may occur. 
Gene Therapy - Using genes inserted into the patient's body or tumor to 
stimulate the immune system to fight cancer. 
Gynecologic Oncology - The study and treatment of cancers of the female 
reproductive organs. 
H 
HMO (health maintenance organization) - A type of medical insurance coverage 
which specifically states which doctors and medical institutions patients may 
use and which medical tests and procedures will be paid for by the HMO. 
Hematology - The study and treatment of blood and blood-forming tissues. 
Hyperthermia - The treatment of cancers with heat. 
I 
Immune System - The body's natural defense system which produces antibodies to 
fight against foreign substances such as bacteria, viruses, toxins, and cancers. 

Immunology - The study of the body's natural defense system. 
Immunotherapy - Stimulating the body's natural defense system to attack and 
destroy cancers. 
Indemnity Plan - A type of health care insurance that generally does not 
restrict a patient's choice of doctors and medical institutions. 
Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) - Treating the tumor site with radiation 
immediately following surgery to remove the tumor. 
J 
K 
L 
Lumpectomy - Surgical removal of a small cancerous or non-cancerous tumor; 
generally used to refer to removal of a breast lump. 
M 
MRI Scan (magnetic resonance imaging scan) - A diagnostic test that uses 
magnetic fields to produce two- or three-dimensional images of organs inside the 
body. 
Malignant - Cancerous; life-threatening. 
Mammogram - Breast x-ray used to detect breast cancer. 
Managed Care - Medical insurance coverage provided by a health maintenance 
organization. (See HMO above.) 
Mastectomy - Surgical removal of the entire breast. Radical mastectomy is 
surgical removal of the breast muscle and any number of lymph nodes; bilateral 
mastectomy is surgical removal of both breasts. 
Matched Unrelated Transplants (MUDs) - Refers to bone marrow transplantation 
procedures in which the patient and the bone marrow are genetically matched but 
not family members. 
Medical Oncology - The study and treatment of cancers with chemicals, biological 
products or immunotherapy. Kingsbury Center's Medical Oncology 
Metastasis - Refers to a cancer which has spread to other parts of the body. 
Multidisciplinary - Several branches of medicine, science, or other professions 
working together toward common goals 
N 
National Cancer Institute (NCI) - The primary agency of the U.S. government 
which provides research grants to study cancer, develop new drugs, and test 
cancer prevention strategies. 
Neurologic Oncology - The study and treatment of cancers of the brain and 
nervous system. 
O 
Oncology - The study and treatment of cancers. 
Oncologist - A doctor who specializes in treating cancer patients. 
P 
PET Scan (positron emission tomography scan) - A diagnostic test that uses a 
sophisticated camera and computer to produce images of how your body is 
functioning. PET scans show the difference between healthy and abnormally 
functioning tissues. 
PSA (prostate specific antigen) - A protein which comes from the prostate gland. 
The PSA test, which measures the levels of prostate specific antigen in the 
blood, is one test for prostate cancer. 
Prostate - A male sex gland that produces a thick fluid which forms part of 
semen. 
Q 
R 
Radiation Oncology - The study and treatment of cancers using radiation (x-rays, 
gamma rays or electrons). Kingsbury Center's Radiation Oncology 
Radiation Therapy - The use of x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons to treat 
cancers. 
Radiosurgery - A technique for treating brain tumors that cannot be reached with 
surgery. The doctor uses CT scans to target the tumor with high doses of 
radiation. 
S 
Surgical Oncology - Treating cancers by surgically removing tumors. Kingsbury 
Center's Surgical Oncology 
Surgery - Treating diseases or other medical conditions by operating on a 
patient to remove or repair parts of the body. 
T 
U 
Ultrasound - A diagnostic test that uses sound waves to create images of organs 
and other areas inside the body. 
Urology - The study and treatment of diseases that affect the urinary system. 
V 
W 
White Blood Cells - Cells which help fight infections; also called leukocytes. 
X 
Y 
Z 
This resource was initially modified from the list at the Arizona Cancer Center 
in Tucson.
 
 
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Prepared by
Jeffrey P. Newcomer, MD
jeffn@coos.dartmouth.edu