Cancer Dictionary

Use our drug profile search engine to review information about current FDA appproved cancer drugs.

A chemotherapy drug or supportive care agent may be referred to by different names. Typically, when a drug is first approved by the FDA for clinical use, the tradename selected by the manufacturer is used. However, the same agent may also be referred to by its chemical name. Once the original manufacturers patent on the drug has expired, other manufacturers, with FDA approval, are allowed to produce and market the same chemical compound which is typically referred to as a "generic" form of the original. Sometimes these manufacturers will market the generic form under a new tradename to help identify it in the marketplace. Finally, the actual chemical name of the compound is sometimes used by medical professionals rather than the tradename or generic name.

Our drug dictionary is organized by alphabet, including both generic and trade names. Alternately, you may view a list of drugs by "class."

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A

Abdomen

The portion of the body between the thorax and the pelvis. The abdominal cavity contains the inferior portion of the esophagus, the stomach, the intestines, the liver, the spleen, the pancreas, and other organs.

Abdomen

‘The portion of the body between the thorax and the pelvis. The abdominal cavity contains the inferior portion of the esophagus, the stomach, the intestines, the liver, the spleen, the pancreas, and other organs.

Abdominoperineal

Pertaining to the abdomen and the perineum, including the pelvic area, female vulva and anus, and male anus and scrotum.

Abdominoperineal

Pertaining to the abdomen and the perineum, including the pelvic area, female vulva and anus, and male anus and scrotum.

Abdominoscopy

A procedure for examining the contents of the peritoneum in which an electrically illuminated tubular device is passed through a trocar into the abdominal cavity. Also called peritoneoscopy.

Abdominoscopy

A procedure for examining the contents of the peritoneum in which an electrically illuminated tubular device is passed through a trocar into the abdominal cavity. Also called peritoneoscopy.

Abduction

Movement of a limb away from the body.

ABL

The designation of a human gene on chromosome 9. If a mutation occurs in this gene, it may be responsible for the occurence of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.

Ablative Therapy

Treatment that removes or destroys the function of an organ, as in surgical removal of the organ or the administration of some types of chemotherapy that cause the organ such as the bone marrow to stop functioning.

Achlorhydria

An abnormal condition characterized by the absence of hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice. Hydrochloric acid helps digest food.

Acid phosphatase

An enzyme found in the prostate gland. Levels in the blood were used in the past to determine the stage of prostate cancer but are no longer used routinely with the advent of PSA testing.

Acini

The sac-like part of the milk-producing glands in the breast. Several acini form a lobule.

Acoustic

Related to hearing or sound.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

A life-threatening disease caused by HIV that is characterized by a breakdown of the body's immune defenses.

Actinic Keratosis

A precancerous condition of thick and scaly patches of skin.

Active Immunity

Immunity produced by the body in response to stimulation by a disease-causing organism or a vaccine.

acupoints

Points or places along the body's meridians where needles or pressure are applied

acupressure

Hand or finger pressure applied to an acupuncture point on the body

Acupuncture

Well studied Chinese therapy that uses placement of needles to relieve various symptoms including the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy.

Acute

A sudden onset of symptoms or disease.

Acute Leukemia

Leukemia that progresses rapidly.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

A quickly progressing disease in which too many immature white blood cells called lymphoblasts are found in the blood and bone marrow. Also called ALL or acute lymphocytic leukemia

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)

AML is a malignant disorder involving white cells which results in the excessive accumulation of myeloid blast cells in both the marrow and the bloodstream. AML occurs in all ages and is the more common acute leukemia in adults. AML affects a different type of white cell than those affected by ALL.

Acute urinary retention

A complete inability to urinate that requires immediate medical attention.

Adduction

Movement of a limb towards the body.

Adenocarcinoma

Any one of a large group of malignant, epithelial cell tumors of the glands. Specific tumors are diagnosed and named by cytologic identification of the tissue affected.

Adenoid Cystic Cancer

A rare form of cancer that usually begins in the salivary glands.

Adenoma

A benign growth starting in the glandular tissue.

Adenovirus

A group of viruses that cause respiratory tract and eye infections. Adenoviruses used in gene therapy are altered to carry a specific tumor-fighting gene.

Adjuvant Therapy

Adjuvant therapy is a treatment that is added to increase the effectiveness of a primary therapy. Adjuvant therapy may consist of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biologic or hormonal therapy alone or in combination added after surgery to increase the chances of curing the cancer or prolonging a remission.

Adrenal Gland

Either of two secretory organs perched atop the kidneys and surrounded by the protective fat capsule of the kidneys. Their main function is to produce hormones which regulate metabolism and control fluid balance and blood pressure. In addition, they produce small amounts of “male” hormones (androgens) and “female” hormones (estrogens and progesterone).

Advanced Cancer

A stage of cancer in which the disease has spread from the primary site to other parts of the body. When the cancer has spread to only the surrounding areas, it is called locally advanced. If it has spread further by traveling through the bloodstream, it is called metastatic.

Agammaglobulinemia

An almost total lack of the body's ability to produce antibodies.

Agaricus mushrooms

A fungi found in the Brazilian rainforests whose main active constituent has been identified as the polysaccharide-protein complexes called Beta-1,6-D-glucan.

Age-specific PSA

An adjustment of the PSA value that accounts for the natural, gradual increase in PSA that occurs with age as the prostate enlarges.

Aggressive

A type of cancer that generally grows quickly.

Agonists

A drug or other substance having a specific cellular affinity that produces a predictable response.

Alexander technique

A type of movement therapy intended to reduce muscular tension. This technique is useful as a complementary therapy in treating stress, muscular fatigue and neck and back pain.

Allergen

Any substance that causes an allergy.

Allergy

An inappropriate and harmful response of the immune system to normally harmless substances.

Allogeneic BMT

Any bone marrow transplant between two individuals, whether they are related or unrelated.

allopathic medicine

Mainstream or modern medicine; based on principles proven through scientific research. Contrast with “alternative medicine.”

Aloe

plant, a member of the lily family, is a common household plant originally from Africa. The most common and widely known species of aloe plant is aloe vera.

Alopecia

Hair loss. This often occurs as a result of chemotherapy or less commonly, when radiation therapy is given to the head.

alpha-1-adrenergic blockers

A class of drugs used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that work by relaxing smooth muscle tissue within the prostate. Also called alpha-blockers.

Alternative Medical Systems

are medical systems involving complete systems of theory and practice that have evolved independent of and often prior to the conventional biomedical approach. Homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, and Ayurveda are examples of alternative medical systems.

Alternative Therapy

Treatments or techniques that are used instead of standard medical treatment to fight cancer. Also called unproven, unconventional, or unorthodox treatments.

Amyloidosis

A group of diseases in which protein is deposited in specific organs (localized amyloidosis) or throughout the body (systemic amyloidosis). It may be either primary (with no known cause) or secondary (caused by another disease, including some types of cancer). Generally, primary amyloidosis affects the nerves, skin, tongue, joints, heart, and liver. Secondary amyloidosis often affects the spleen, kidneys, liver, and adrenal glands.

Analgesic

Any drug that relieves pain. Aspirin and acetaminophen are mild analgesics.

Anaphylactic shock

A life-threatening allergic reaction characterized by a swelling of body tissues including the throat, difficulty in breathing, and a sudden fall in blood pressure.

Anaplasia

A change in the structure and orientation of cells, characterized by a loss of differentiation and reversion to a more primitive form. Anaplasia is characteristic of malignancy.

Anaplastic

Pertaining to anaplasia.

Anastomosis

A surgical joining of two healthy bowel segments, ducts, or blood vessels to allow flow from one to the other.

Androgen

Any steroid hormone that increases male characteristics.

Anemia

A decrease in the red blood cells and, therefore, the hemoglobin concentration of the blood. This results in a decreased ability of the blood to carry oxygen. If severe, anemia can cause a pale complexion, weakness, fatigue, and shortness of breath on exertion.

Anesthesia

The loss of feeling or sensation as a result of drugs or gases. General anesthesia causes loss of consciousness (”puts you to sleep”). Local or regional anesthesia causes loss of feeling only to a specified area.

Anesthesiologist

A doctor who uses drugs or gases (anesthetics) to put you to sleep or to make you comfortable during surgery.

Aneuploid

Cells that contain an abnormal amount of DNA.

Angiogram

An x-ray of blood vessels. A dye is injected into an artery to outline the blood vessels on the x-ray machine.

Angiography

A procedure to x-ray blood vessels. The blood vessels can be seen because of an injection of a dye that shows up in the x-ray pictures.

Angiomyolipoma

A benign tumor consisting of blood vessels, fatty tissue and muscle elements, usually occurring in the kidney.

Anti-CEA Antibody

An antibody against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a protein present on certain types of cancer cells.

Antiandrogen

A drug that blocks the action of the male sex hormones.

Antiangiogenesis

The inhibition of blood vessel formation by a drug so that cancer growth is limited by lack of blood supply.

Antibiotic

An antimicrobial agent, derived from cultures of a microorganism or produced semisynthetically, used to treat infections. Some cancer treatments may suppress a person's immune system, so antibiotics may be used to prevent or treat infection.

Antibodies

Proteins that are made by lymphocytes (a type of white blood cells) in response to foreign substances called antigens.

Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity (ADCC)

An immune response in which antibody, by coating target cells, makes them vulnerable to attack by immune cells.

Anticipatory nausea and vomiting

A conditioned response where cues that remind the patient of chemotherapy set off the identical physical response used to reduce or prevent nausea and vomiting.

Anticoagulants

Drugs that help prevent blood clots from forming. Also called blood thinners.

Anticonvulsants

Drugs that prevent or relieve convulsions or seizures.

Antiemetic

A drug that prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting (emesis), which are common side effects of chemotherapy.

Antiestrogen

A substance (for example, the drug tamoxifen) that blocks the effects of estrogen on tumors. Antiestrogens are used to treat some cancers that depend on estrogen for growth.

Antifungal Agent

A drug used to treat fungal infections.

Antigen

Any substance that, when introduced into the body, is recognized by the immune system as foreign.

Antigen-presenting cells

B cells, cells that “present” antigen in a form that T cells can recognize.

Antimetabolites

Antimetabolites are substances that interfere with the body's chemical processes, such as creating proteins, DNA, and other chemicals needed for cell growth and reproduction. In treating cancer, antimetabolite drugs disrupt DNA reproduction, which in turn prevents cell division and growth on tumors.

Antimicrobial

Pertaining to a substance that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth or replication.

Antineoplastic

Pertaining to a substance, procedure, or measure that prevents the proliferation of malignant cells.

Antineoplastic Agent

A drug that prevents, kills, or blocks growth and spread of cancer.

Antineoplastons

are an alternative form of cancer treatment that involves using a group of synthetic chemicals called antineoplastons to protect the body from disease. Antineoplastons are made up mostly of peptides and amino acids originally taken from human blood and urine.

Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)

A group of antibodies that react against normal components in the cell's nucleus.

Antioncogene

A tumor-suppressing gene. It may act by controlling celllular growth. When an antioncogene is inactivated, tumor cellular proliferation begins and tumor activity accelerates.

antioxidant

A natural or synthetic substance, such as vitamin E, that prevents or delays the oxidation process in cells or tissue.

Antiserum

A serum that contains antibodies.

Antithymocyte Globulin

A protein preparation used to treat and prevent graft-versus-host disease.

Antitoxins

Antibodies that inactivate toxins produced by certain bacteria.

Antivirals

Drugs used to treat infections caused by viruses.

Anus

The end opening of the digestive system, where solid waste is discharged.

Aphagia

A condition characterized by the loss of the ability to swallow as a result of organic or psychologic causes.

Apheresis

The process of removing components of a patient's or donor's blood and returning the unneeded parts. This process makes it possible to remove desired elements from large volumes of blood. Platelets, red cells, white cells, stem cells, or plasma can be removed separately. Apheresis can also be used to remove undesirable elements from the blood.

Aplastic Anemia

Bone marrow failure with markedly decreased production of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets leading to increased risk of infection and bleeding.

Apoptosis

A series of events that occurs within a cell that leads to its death.

Appendix

Lymphoid organ in the intestine.

Areola

The dark area of skin that surrounds the nipple of the breast.

aromatherapy

The therapeutic use of odors distilled from plant oils; said to be useful in treating headaches, anxiety, and tension.

Arrhythmia

An irregular heartbeat.

Art Therapy

A form of treatment used to help people with physical and emotional problems by using creative activities to express emotions. It provides a way for people to come to terms with emotional conflicts, increase self-awareness, and express unspoken and often unconscious concerns abouth their illness.

Arterial Embolization

Blocking an artery so that the blood cannot flow to the tumor.

Arterial perfusion

Treatment in which blood is drawn from a patient, pumped through a machine that adds anticancer drugs and returned to the major artery supplying the area being treated.

Arteriography

X-rays of blood vessels, which are taken after an injection of dye.

Arthralgia

Joint pain.

Arthrography

Method of radiographically visualizing the inside of a joint.

Ascites

Abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen.

Aspergillosis

An infectious fungal disease that occurs most often in the skin, ears, nasal sinuses, and lungs.

Aspirate

To withdraw fluid or air from a cavity. The process is usually aided by use of a syringe or a suction device.

Aspiration Biopsy

The removal of living tissue, for microscopic examination, by suction through a fine needle attached to a syringe.

Astrocytomas

A type of tumor that begins in the brain or spinal cord in small, star-shaped cells called astrocytes. Cells from higher-grade, more abnormal-looking tumors usually grow faster and are more malignant than cells from lower-grade tumors.

Asymptomatic

To be without noticeable symptoms of disease. Many cancers may grow without producing symptoms, especially in the early stages. Screening tests, such as mammography, try to discover developing cancers at the asymptomatic stage, when the chances for cure are usually the highest.

Ataxic Gait

Awkward, uncoordinated walking.

Attenuated

Pertaining to the dilution of a solution or the reduction in virulence or toxicity of a microorganism or a drug by weakening it.

Atypical

Not usual; abnormal. This often refers to the appearance of precancerous or cancerous cells.

Atypical Hyperplasia

A benign condition in which tissue has certain abnormal features. This condition may predispose people to certain types of cancer.

Atypical nevi

Moles whose appearance is different than normal moles. They may be larger and have irregular borders. Their color may not be uniform, and they may be flat or raised above the skin surface. Any mole that appears irregular may be suspect for skin cancer.

aura

An atmosphere said to surround a person. In alternative medicine, it is believed that everyone has a surrounding aura (energy field), visible to some people, that indicates the individual's state of health.

Austrailian Aboriginal Indigenous Medical System (IMS)

An alternative medical system based on the religion, spirituality, herbal medicine, and rituals of Australian Aboriginal culture used to treat medical and emotional problems.

Autoantibody

An antibody that reacts against a person's own tissue.

Autograft

Surgical transplantation of any tissue from one part of the body to another location in the same individual.

Autoimmune Disease

A disease that results when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissue. Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus are autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmunity

A condition in which the body's immune system mistakenly fights and rejects the body's own tissue.

Autologous Lymphocytes

A person's own white blood cells.

Autologous Marrow (Stem Cell) Infusion

This technique, often referred to as transplantation, involves the harvesting of stem cells from a patient's marrow or blood. The stem cells are usually frozen for later use. The patient is then given intensive therapy, and the stem cells are reinfused via an indwelling catheter. The blood or marrow may be obtained from a patient with a disease of the marrow when in remission, (for example, acute myelogenous leukemia), or when the marrow is not overtly abnormal (for example, lymphoma requiring intensive therapy). Technically, this procedure, which formerly used marrow stem cells, is not transplantation, which implies taking tissue from one individual (donor) and giving it to another (recipient). The purpose of the procedure is to restore blood cell production from the preserved and infused stem cells after intensive therapy has severally damaged the patient's remaining marrow. This procedure may be supplemented by autologous blood and can be recovered there by apheresis.

Autologous Transplant

Tissue taken from a patient and returned to the same patient.

Autosome

Any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome and that appears as a homologous pair in the somatic cell. Humans have twenty two pairs of autosomes, which are involved in transmitting all genetic traits and conditions other than those that are sex-linked.

Avascular

Not receiving a sufficient supply of blood. The reduced flow may be the result of blockage by a blood clot or other deliberate measures.

Axilla

A pyramid-shaped space forming the underside of the shoulder between the upper arm and the side of the chest. Also called armpit.

Axillary Dissection

A surgical procedure in which the lymph nodes in the armpit (axillary nodes) are removed and examined to find out if cancer has spread to those nodes and to remove any cancerous lymph nodes.

Axillary Nodes

The lymph nodes found in the axilla, or armpit region of the body.

Ayurveda

is a CAM alternative medical system that has been practiced primarily in the Indian subcontinent for 5,000 years. Ayurveda includes diet and herbal remedies and emphasizes the use of body, mind, and spirit in disease prevention and treatment.

Ayurvedic medicine

An ancient traditional medicine system based on Hindu philosophy and ancient Indian civilization. The human body is seen as a microcosm of the universe, consisting of the five elements of fire, water, earth, air, and ether. Each element corresponds to one of the five senses: sight, taste, smell, touch, and hearing. It embraces the concept of an energy force in the body similar to the Chinese concept of qi and emphasizes the balance of mind, body, and spirit to maintain health.

Azotemia

Retention of excessive amounts of nitrogenous compounds in the blood. This toxic condition is caused by failure of the kidneys to remove urea from the blood and is characteristic of uremia.

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B

B Cells

Small white blood cells crucial to the immune defenses. Also known as B lymphocytes, they are derived from bone marrow and develop into plasma cells that are the source of antibodies.

Bach flower remedies

The use of oils from one or more of thirty-eight different flowers as self-treatment therapies for mental, emotional, and sometimes physical discomfort.

bacteria

Single-cell microorganisms living in air, soil, and water and as parasites in the bodies of plants and animals. Some types cause disease in humans.

Bacterium

A microscopic organism composed of a single cell. Many but not all bacteria cause disease.

Banding of Chromosomes

The staining of chromosomes with dyes that bring out or highlight bands or regions on the chromosome. The bands give the chromosomes more specific features, allowing better distinctions to be made among them.

Barium Enema

The use of a milky white solution (barium sulfate) given by an enema to allow x-ray examination of the lower intestinal tract.

Barium Solution

A liquid containing barium sulfate, which shows up on x-rays. It outlines organs of the body do that they can be seen on x-ray film.

Barium Swallow

The use of a milky white solution (barium sulfate) given orally to allow x-ray examination of the upper intestinal tract.

Barrett's Esophagus

A condition in which the cells lining the lower part of the esophagus have changed or been replaced with abnormal cells that could lead to cancer. The backing up of stomach contents (reflux) may irritate the esophagus and over time cause Barrett's esophagus.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

The most common type of skin cancer, arising from the innermost layer of skin. In general, it is caused by exposure to sunlight.

Basal Cells

Small, round cells found in the lower part, or base, of the epidermis, the outer layer of skin.

Basophils

A type of white blood cell that participates in certain allergic reactions.

BCG

A substance that activates the immune system. Filling the bladder with a solution of BCG is a form of biological therapy for superficial bladder cancer. Also called Bacillus Calmette-Guerin.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

A noncancerous condition in which an overgrowth of prostate tissue pushes against the urthera and the bladder, blocking the flow of urine.

Benign Tumor

An abnormal mass of tissue that is not cancerous, that will not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body.

Beta Glucan

is found naturally in a variety of substances including oats, barley, and some fungi including mushrooms eaten by the Chinese. The form most often used in supplements is derived from the cell walls of baker's yeast. Beta glucan works by triggering the activating receptors of phagocytes in your body.

Beta-sitosterols

a specific form of sitosterol that may be derived from the herb saw palmetto or pygeum.

Betulinic acid

is a CAM biologic/orthomolecular therapy derived from a number of plant sources, including white birch trees, but can also be made chemically from betulin.

Bilateral

Having two sides or occurring on two sides.

Bile

A yellow-green secretion of the liver that is stored in the gallbladder. It passes through the common bile duct into the duodenum where it helps digest fat.

Bile duct

One of the muscular ducts through which bile passes from the liver and gallbladder to the duodenum. Also called Biliary duct.

Biliary duct

One of the muscular ducts through which bile passes from the liver and gallbladder to the duodenum. Also called bile duct.

Bilirubin

The orange-yellow pigment of bile, formed principally by the breakdown of hemoglobin in red blood cells after termination of their normal lifespan. The characteristic yellow pallor of jaundice is caused by the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood and in the tissues of the skin. Testing for bilirubin in the blood provides information for diagnosis and evaluation of liver disease, biliary obstruction, and hemolytic anemia.

Bioelectromagnetic Application

Type of complementary or alternative treatment, such as electrostimulation, as categorized by the National Cancer Institute.

biofeedback

The use of electrical devices to recognize changes in body functions (such as heart rate, perspiration, and temperature) to achieve relaxation or muscle control. Sometimes used to treat incontinence, stress, and anxiety-related conditions.

Biologic/Orthomolecular Therapies

are CAM therapies that seek to correct imbalances on a molecular level. They often use very high doses of vitamins, minerals, or horomones to prevent and treat a wide variety of conditions.

Biological Response Modifiers

Substances, whether natural or synthesized, that boost, direct, or restore normal immune defenses. BRMs include interferons, interleukins, thymus hormones, and monoclonal antibodies.

Biological Therapy

Treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system to fight infection and disease. Also called immunotherapy.

Biomarkers

Substances sometimes found in an increased amount in the blood, other body fluids, or tissues that may suggest the presence of some types of cancer.

Biopsy

The removal of a piece of tissue from an organ or other part of the body for microscopic examination to confirm or establish a diagnosis, estimate prognosis, or follow the course of a disease.

biorhythms

Individual physical, mental, or emotional cycles, lasting typically twenty-two to thirty-three days; often charted by naturopathic physicians to better understand behavior and determine most opportune times for treating depression and illness.

Biotechnology

The use of living organisms or their products to make or modify a substance. Biotechnology includes recombinant DNA techniques (genetic engineering) and hybridoma technology.

Bladder

The hollow organ that stores urine.

Bladder Calculi

Calcium stones that may occur in the bladder.

Bladder irrigation

The washing out of the bladder by a continuous or intermittent flow of saline or a medicated solution. The bladder also may be irrigated by an oral intake of fluid.

Bladder Neck

The junction between the bladder and the prostate.

Bladder sphincter

A circular muscle surrounding the opening of the urinary bladder into the urethra which can voluntarily control urination.

Blank

Individuals have the ability to express two HLA antigens within each category of antigens (one set being inherited from each biological parent). When an individual has apparently inherited the same antigen from both parents, the HLA typing of that individual is designated by the shared HLA antigen followed by a “blank” (-). For example, if one parent contributes an HLA-A2, B7, DR4 set of antigens and the second parent contributes an HLA-A2, B8, DR4 set, the child's HLA typing will be denoted an HLA-A2,-;B7,8;DR4-.

Blast Cells

An immature precursor of a blood cell.

Blast Phase

Refers to advanced chronic myelogenous leukemia. In this phase, the number of immature, abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood is extremely high.

Bleb

An accumulation of fluid under the skin.

Blocking antibody

An antibody that fails to cross-link and cause agglutination. When such antibodies are present in high concentration, they interfere with the action of other antibodies by occupying all the antigenic sites.

Blood

The liquid pumped by the heart through all the arteries, veins, and capillaries. The blood is composed of a clear yellow fluid, called plasma, and the formed elements (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets). The major function of the blood is to transport oxygen and nutrients to the cells and to remove carbon dioxide and other waste products from the cells for detoxification and elimination.

Blood albumin

The plasma protein circulating in blood serum responsible for colloid osmotic gradients which keeps serum in the vasculature – not in interstitial spaces. Also called serum albumin.

Blood Cells

Made in the bone marrow, consist of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Blood Count

The measurement of the number of red cells, white cells, and platelets in the blood.

Blood gas

Gas dissolved in the liquid part of the blood. Blood gases include oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen.

Blood Transfusion

The infusion of blood or blood products.

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

The most prevalent of nonprotein nitrogenous compounds in blood. The BUN, determined by a blood test, is directly relatd to the metabolic function of the liver and the excretory function of the kidney.

Blood-Brain Barrier

A protective network of blood vessels and cells that filter blood flowing to the brain.

bodywork

A broad term used to identify a variety of techniques to promote relaxation through massage, manipulation, controlled movement, reflexology, and other hands-on procedures. It includes standard Swedish massage, the Alexander technique, the Feldenkreis method, Rolfing, Hellerwork, and other variations.

Bolus dose

A relatively large amount of intravenous medication administered rapidly to decrease the response time.

Bombard

To shower a drug or tissue sample with radioactive particles from a nuclear isotope source.

Bond specificity

The nature of enzyme action that causes the disruption of only certain bonds between atoms.

Bone (Skeletal) Survey

X-rays of the entire skeleton.

Bone graft

The transplantation of a piece of bone from one part of the body to another to repair a skeletal defect.

Bone Marrow

Soft tissue located in the cavities of the bones. The bone marrow is the source of all blood cells.

Bone Marrow Ablation

Destruction of cancerous bone marrow using radiation drugs.

Bone Marrow Biopsy and Aspiration

A procedure in which a needle is inserted into the cavity of a bone, usually the hip or breast bone, to remove a small amount of bone marrow for microscopic examination.

Bone Marrow Depression

A decrease in the number of blood cells made in the marrow. This condition can be caused by chemotherapy, radiation, or disease.

Bone Marrow Harvest

The removal of a portion of the bone marrow for bone marrow transplant.

Bone Marrow Metastases

Tumor cells that have spread from the original tumor and are growing in the bone marrow.

Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT)

This is a technique developed to restore the marrow of patients who had lethal injury to that site. Such injury can occur because of primary marrow failure, destruction of marrow by disease, or intensive chemical or radiation exposure.

Bone Scan

An imaging method that gives important information about the bones, including the location of cancer that may have spread to the bones. It can be done as an outpatient procedure and is painless, except for the needle stick when a low-dose radioactive substance is injected into a vein. Images are taken to see where the radioactivity accumulates, indicating an abnormality.

Bone tissue

A hard form of connective tissue composed of osteocytes and a calcified collagenous intercellular substance arranged in thin plates. Also called bony tissue.

botanical medicine

Use of the entire plant or herb for therapeutic purposes.

Bowel

Part of the digestive system between the stomach and the anus, also called the intestine.

Bowman's disease

A form of intraepidermal carcinoma (squamous cell). It is characterized by red-brown scaly or crusted lesions that resemble a patch of psoriasis of dermatitis.

Brachytherapy

Radiation treatment in which radioactive pellets, or “seeds”, are placed inside the body as near to the cancer as possible. There are two types of brachytherapy: 1) Permanent seed implantation: low-dose pellets inserted into the body permanently. 2) High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy: highly radioactive seeds place in the body temporarily.

Brain Metasteses

Tumor(s) that have spread from another primary origin that are growing in the brain.

Brain Scan

An imaging method used to find abnormalities in the brain, including brain cancer and cancer that has spread to the brain from other places in the body. This procedure can be done in an outpatient clinic. It is painless, except for the needle stick when a radioactive substance is injected into a vein. The images taken will show where radioactivity accumulates, indicating an abnormality.

Brain Stem

The stemlike part of the brain that is connected to the spinal cord.

Brain Stem Glioma

A tumor located in the part of the brain that connects to the spinal cord (the brain stem).

Brain Stem Tumor

A growth in the part of the brain that connects to the spinal cord.

Brawny arm

A swollen arm caused by lymphedema, usually after a mastectomy.

BRCA1

A gene which, when damaged (mutated), places a woman at greater risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer, compared with women who do not have the mutation. In a woman with BRCA1 mutation, the estimated lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is about 50% compared with about 12% in the general population. A person who has the mutated gene has a 50% chance of passing on the gene to each of her children. A genetic test is available, but it is recommended only for woman who are known to be at risk because several women in their family have had breast or ovarian cancer at an early age (before menopause). The ACS recommends that any women considering the test receive genetic counseling.

BRCA2

A gene which, when damaged or mutated, puts the carrier at a much higher risk for developing breast cancer and/or ovarian cancer than the general population. In a woman with a BRCA2 mutation, the estimated lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is 50-60%. BRCA1 and BRCA2 together account for about 80% of the breast cancer that occurs in women with strong family histories of the disease. BRCA is thought also to raise the risk for breast cancer in men. A genetic test for BRCA2 is available but is only recommended for women or men with strong family histories of breast or ovarian cancer. The ACS recommends that any women considering the test receive genetic counseling.

Breast Augmentation

Surgery to increase the size of the breast.

Breast Cancer

Cancer that starts in the breast. The main types of breast cancer are ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma, medullary carcinoma, and Paget's disease of the nipple. Lobular carcinoma in situ is sometimes considered to be a type of breast cancer, but some breast specialists feel it is not a true cancer.

Breast Conservation Therapy

Surgery to remove a breast cancer and a small amount of benign tissue around the cancer, without removing any other part of the breast. This procedure is also called lumpectomy, segmental excision, limited breast surgery, or tylectomy. The method may require an axiliary dissection and usually requires radiation therapy in addition to the breast conservation surgery.

Breast Implant

A manufactured sac that is filled with silicone gel (a synthetic material) or saline (sterile saltwater). The sac is surgically inserted to increase breast size or restore the contour of a breast after mastectomy. Because of concern about possible (but unproven) side effects of silicone, silicone implants are presently available only to women who agree to participate in a clinical trial in which side effects are carefully monitored.

Breast Reconstruction

Surgery that rebuilds the breast contour after mastectomy. A breast implant or the woman's own tissue provides the contour. If desired, the nipple and areola may also be re-created. Reconstruction can be done at the time of mastectomy or any time later.

Breast Self-Exam (BSE)

A technique of checking one's own breasts for lumps or suspicious changes. The method is recommended for all women over the age of 20, to be done once a month, usually at a time other than days before, during, or immediately after her menstrual period.

Breast Specialist

A term describing health care professionals who have a dedicated interest in breast health. While they may acquire specialized knowledge in this area, medical licensing boards do not certify a specialty in breast care.

Bromelain

is a natural enzyme found in pineapples. Bromelain supplements are promted as a CAM remedy for various health problems including joint inflammation and cancer.

Bronchi

Plural of bronchus.

Bronchioalveolar Carcinoma

A subtype of adenocarcinoma which develops around scars on the outer edges of the lungs. This tumor often produces mucin, the main component of mucus.

Bronchoscope

A flexible, lighted instrument used to examine the trachea and bronchi, the air passages that lead into the lungs.

Bronchoscopy

The insertion of a flexible, lighted tube through the mouth into the lungs to examine the lungs and airways.

Bronchus

Any one of several large air passages in the lungs through which pass inhaled and exhaled air.

Burkitt's Lymphoma

A cancer of the lymph tissues that is characterized by a tumor or tumors in the jaw and/or abdomen.

Bypass

An operation in which the surgeon creates a new pathway for the movement of substances in the body.

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C

CA125

A blood protein that can be measured and is an important tumor marker in ovarian cancer.

Cachexia

Extreme weight loss, including muscle and fat wasting, associated with malnutrition that is caused by a chronic illness, such as cancer.

Calcification

The accumulation of calcium salts in tissues.

Calibration

To check, adjust, or determine the graduations of a quantitative measuring instrument by comparison with a standard.

Calix

Any of the branches or recesses of the pelvis of the kidney into which the renal pyramids project.

Calyx

Variant of calix.

CAM

An acronym for complementary and alternative medicine, which is the most commonly used phrase to described medical therapies practiced outside conventional Western medicine.

Canaliculus

A small canal or duct in the body, as one of the minute channels in compact bone.

Cancell/Entelev

is a CAM biologic / othomolecular therapy consisting of a dark liquid made up of common chemicals, including nitric acid, sodium sulfite, potassium hydroxide, sulfric acid, inositol, and catechol.

Cancer

A term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissue and can spread through the blood stream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body.

Cancer Care Team

The group of health care professionals who cooperate in the diagnosis, treatment, after-care, and counseling of people with cancer. The breast cancer care team may include any or all of the following and others: primary care physician and/or gynecologist, pathologist, oncology specialists (medical oncologist, radiation oncologist), surgeon, nurse, oncology nurse specialist, oncology social worker. Whether the team is linked formally or informally, there is usually one person who takes the job as “referee”.

Cancer Cell

A cell that divides and reproduces abnormally and can spread throughout the body.

Cancer In Situ

Cancer limited to the surface of tissue with no invasion of adjacent tissue.

Cancer of Unknown Primary Origin

Cancer cells are found in the body, but the place where the cells first started growing cannot be found.

Cancer-Related Checkup

A routine health examination for cancer in persons without obvious signs or symptoms of cancer. The goal of the cancer-related check-up is to find the disease, if it exists, at an early stage, when chances for cure are greatest. Clinical breast examinations, Pap smears, and skin examinations are examples of methods used in cancer-related check-ups.

Cancriform

Or of resembling a cancer.

Candidiasis

A common fungal infection.

Capsule Formation

Scar tissue that may form around a breast (or other type of) implant as the body reacts to the foreign object. Sometimes called a contracture.

Capsuloma

A neoplasm of the capsule or subcapsular area of the kidney.

carbohydrate

The major class of foods that includes starches, sugars, cellulose, and gums.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)

A blood tumor marker.

Carcinogen

A substance or agent that is known to cause cancer.

Carcinogenesis

The origin or growth of cancer.

Carcinoid

A type of cancerous intestinal or lung tumor that secretes excessive amounts of the hormone serotonin.

Carcinoma

A cancerous growth that originates in the tissues that line or cover an organ.

Cardiac

Pertaining to the heart.

Cardiomegaly

An enlargement of the heart.

Cardiopulmonary

Related to the heart and lungs.

Cartilage

Firm, rubbery tissue that cushions bones at joints. A more flexible kind of cartilage connects muscles with bones and makes up other parts of the body, such as the larynx and the outside part of the ears.

Case Manager

The member of a cancer team-usually a nurse or oncology nurse specialist- who coordinates the patient's care throughout diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. The case manager is a new concept that provides a guide through the complex system of health care by helping cut through red tape, getting responses to questions, managing crises, and connecting the patient and family to needed resources.

Castration

Surgical removal or destruction of the testicles in men or the ovaries in women.

CAT Scan or CT Scan

A computerized X-ray system that delivers very detailed pictures.

Cat's Claw (Uncaria Tomentosa)

is a South American woody vine being studied for its immune-stimulating properties.

Cataract

A condition in which the lens of the eye becomes clouded, resulting in painless loss of vision that often can be relieved surgically.

Catheter

A hollow, flexible tube inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel to allow the passage of fluids or the adminstration of medications.

catheterization

The process of inserting a catheter or small tubular device into a vessel, body cavity, or organ such as the bladder or heart in order to examine it with a tiny video camera, to inject or remove fluids, or to open passageways.

Cauterization

A treatment technique using a heating instrument or caustic chemicals to burn and destroy abnormal cells or to stop bleeding.

Cautery

A device or agent used in the coagulation of tissue by heat or caustic substances.

Cecum

The large pouch forming the beginning of the large intestine (colon).

Cell

The basic unit of which all living things are made. Organs are clusters of cells that have developed tasks. Cells replace themselves by splitting and forming new cells (mitosis). The processes that control formation of new cells and death of old cells are disrupted in cancer.

Cellular Immunity

Immune protection provided by the direct action of immune cells (e.g. graft rejection).

Cellulitis

The inflammation of an area of the skin.

Central American Indigenous Medical System (IMS)

An alternative medical system based on the religion, spirituality, herbal medicine, and rituals of Central American culture used to treat medical and emotional problems.

Central Nervous System

The body system made up of the brain and spinal cord. The central nervous system is a natural sanctuary site for some leukemia cells and sometimes must be treated with chemotherapy or radiation or the two in combination which is know as CNS prophylaxis.

Central Nervous System Metastases (CNS Metastases)

Tumor cells that have spread from the original tumor and are growing in the central nervous system.

Central Nervous System Tumors (CNS Tumors)

Tumors of the brain and central nervous system, including brain stem glioma, carniopharyngioma, medulloblastoma, and meningioma.

Cerebellum

The portion of the brain in the back of the head between the cerebrum and the brain stem that is responsible for the regulation and coordination of complex voluntary muscular movement and maintenance of posture and balance.

Cerebral Hemispheres

The two halves of the cerebrum.

Cerebrospinal Fluid

Fluid that fills the spaces in and around the brain and spinal cord.

Cerebrum

The largest part of the brain. It is divided into two halves, or hemispheres and is responsible for controlling and integrating motor, sensory, and higher mental functions, such as thought, reason, emotion, and memory.

Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia

A general term for the growth of abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix. Numbers from 1 to 3 may be used to describe how much of the cervix contains abnormal cells.

Cervical Nodes

Lymph nodes in the neck.

Cervix

The lower, narrow end of the uterus that forms a canal between the uterus and vagina.

Cesium chloride

is a salt form of the element cesium. Cesium is a rare, naturally occuring element of alkali metal similar in chemical structure to lithium, sodium, and potassium.

channels

Passageways in the body through which the hypothesized life force identified as qi or prana is said to travel; also called meridians.

Chaparral (Larrea divericata coville, Larrea tridentata (DC) coville)

is an herb that comes from the leaves of the creosote bush, an evergreen desert shrub. The term “Chaparral” refers to a plant community dominated by evergreen shrubs that have small, stiff leaves and grow in dense clusters to heights of 4-8 ft. in the American West and Southwest.

Chelation Therapy

is a CAM biologic/orthomolecular therapy involving the injection of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), a chemical that chelates (binds) heavy metals which include iron, lead, mercury, cadmium, and zinc.

Chemoembolization

A procedure in which the blood supply to the tumor is blocked surgically or mechanically, depriving the tumor of nutrients from the blood. Anticancer drugs (chemotherapy) can then be administered directly into the tumor permitting a higher concentration of the drug to be in contact with the tumor for a longer period of time.

Chemoprevention

Prevention or reversal of disease using drugs, chemicals, vitamins, or minerals. While this idea is not ready for widespread use, it is a very promising area of study. The Breast Cancer Prevention Trial has shown that the drug tamoxifen can prevent some cases of breast cancer among women with high risk of this disease. However, the drug has some serious side effects.

Chemoprotective

Agents used to protect healthy tissue from the toxic effects of anticancer drugs.

Chemosensitive

Able to be changed by chemicals.

Chemosensitivity assay

A laboratory test to analyze the responsiveness of a tumor to a specific drug.

Chemosensitizer

A drug that makes tumor cells more sensitive to the effects of chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy

The use of chemicals (drugs or medications) to kill malignant (cancer) cells. Numerous chemicals have been developed for this purpose, and most act to injure the DNA of cells. When the DNA is injured, the cells cannot grow or survive. Successful chemotherapy depends on the malignant cells being at least somewhat more sensitive to the chemicals than the normal cells. Because the cells of the marrow, the intestinal tract, the skin, and hair follicles are most sensitive to these chemicals, injury to these organs are common side effects of chemotherapy, i.e., mouth sores, diarrhea, rashes, and hair loss.

chi

see “qi”

Chinese herbal medicine

A mainstay of the 3,000-year-old Chinese system of comprehensive health and healing. Thousands of different herbs are used to treat specific complaints.

chiropractic

The largest nonsurgical and drugless system of healing in the West. Chiropractic assumes that a smooth flow of nerve impulses from the brain to all parts of the body through the spinal column is necessary for maintaining homeostasis or equilibrium among different parts of the body, and thus good health. Misaligned vertebrae, called subluxations, are thought to interfere with the transmission of nerve impulses. The chiropractor uses manipulation to reposition spinal bones.

Chlorella (Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Chlorella vulgaris)

is a single-celled freshwater algae. It reportedly contains a very high amount of chlorophyll, the chemical that gives plants their green color and is an essential component in photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert light into chemical energy.

Cholangiocarcinoma

An adenocarcinoma of the intrahepatic bile ducts.

Cholangiogram

A radiographic image of the bile ducts that is obtained by cholangiography.

Cholangiography

A radiographic examination of the bile ducts following administration of a radiopaque contrast medium.

Cholangiopancreatography

Radiographic examination of the bile ducts and pancreas following administration of a radiopaque contrast medium.

Cholangiosarcoma

A tumor of the connective tissues of the bile ducts.

Cholecystectomy

The surgical removal of the gallbladder.

Cholesterol

The most common type of steriod in the body, it is carried in the bloodstream by lipoproteins. Cholesterol is necessary to the normal permeability and function of cell membranes, the membranes that surround the cell.

Chondrosarcoma

A cancerous growth of cartilage that can develop within a bone or on its surface. It usually occurs in adults.

Chordoma

A type of bone cancer that usually starts in the lower spinal column.

Choriocarcinoma

A malignant tumor of the trophoblast.

Choroid plexus tumor

A rare type of cancer tht occurs in the ventricles of the brain. It usually occurs in children younger than 2 years old.

chromatotherapy

The unproven belief that colored lights can help cure serious diseases such as cancer.

Chromosome

A linear strand of DNA and associated proteins in the nucleus of animal and plant cells. Chromosomes carry genes (specific sequences of DNA) and function in the transmission of hereditary information.

Chronic

Refers to a disease or disorder that shows little change in symptoms from day to day but implies a continuing disease process with progressive deterioration.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is a malignant disorder involving the over-production of mature lymphocytes which results in the abnormal accumulation of these cells in the marrow, the bloodstream, and the lymph system. CLL usually involves the lymph nodes. It usually effects older persons, with an average age of 60, and is more common in men.

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia is a malignant disorder involving the predominance of granulocytes (a particular type of white blood cell) of all stages of development which results in the abnormal accumulation of these cells in both the marrow and the bloodstream. CML may occur at any age in either sex. It is uncommon before 10 years of age, and occurs at an average age of 45.

Chyloderma

Swelling of the scrotum as a result of chronic lymphatic obstruction.

Chyme

The thick semifluid mass of partly digested food that is passed from the stomach to the duodenum.

Cirrhosis

A chronic liver disease characterized by the replacement of normal tissue with fibrous tissue and the loss of functional liver cells. It can result from alcohol abuse, nutritional deprivation, or infection especially by the hepatitis virus.

Clinical Trials

Research studies that involve patients.

Clonal (monoclonal)

A population of cells derived from a single primitive cell. Virtually all neoplasms (an abnormal overgrowth of cells benign and malignant), are derived from a single cell with a DNA mutation, and thus, are clonal. The mutated primitive cell has an alteration in its DNA that forms an oncogene and leads to its transformation into a cancer-causing cell. The cancer is the total accumulation of cells that grow from the single mutated cell.

Clone

A group of genetically identical cells or organisms descended from a single cell.

Coactivated T Cells

T cells that have been coated with monoclonal antibodies to enhance their ability to kill tumor cells.

Coenzyme Q-10

is an enzyme that regulates numerous chemical reactions in the body.

Colectomy

An operation to remove all or part of the colon.

Coley Toxins

are a CAM form of cancer immunotherapy that involves injections of inactive bacterial cultures.

collagen

An insoluble protein found in skin, bone, cartilage, and other connective tissue.

Colon

The long, coiled, tubelike organ extending from the cecum to the rectum that removes water from digested food. The remaining material, solid waste called stool, moves through the colon to the rectum and leaves the body through the anus.

Colon Cancer

Refers to cancerous tumors of the large intestine.

Colon therapy

is the cleansing of the large intestine (colon) through the administration of water, herbal solutions, or other substances, such as coffee.

colonic irrigation

A form of hydrotherapy that uses large amounts of water to irrigate the large bowel. It is said to relieve constipation, detoxify the colon, and aid elimination.

Colonoscopy

A procedure to look at the colon or large bowel through a lighted, flexible tube.

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-macrophage colony-stimulating factors (GM-CSF).

Colorectal Cancer

Refers to cancerous tumors of the large intestine.

colored-light therapy

An unproven therapy that uses different colors of lights for therapeutic purposes. Some colors are believed to have a specific effect on specific diseases. Red light, for example, is believed to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system.

Colostomy

A surgical procedure by which an opening is created between the colon and the outside of the abdomen to allow stool to be emptied into a collection bag.

Colostrum

is a thick yellow fluid, rich in protein, growth factors, and immune factors. It is secreted by the mammary glands of all female mammals during the first few days of lactation. Is also contains essential nutrients and protease inhibitors that keep it from being destroyed by the processes of digestion.

Colposcope

An endoscopic instrument that magnifies the epithelia of the vagina and cervix to allow direct observation and study of these tissues.

Colposcopy

Examination of the vagina and cervix with an instrument called a colposcope.

Combination Chemotherapy

A treatment involving two or more anticancer drugs, given simultaneously or in succession.

Combination Therapy/Combined Modality Therapy

The use of two or more modes of treatment- surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy- in combination, alternately or together, to achieve optimum results against cancer.

Common bile duct

The duct formed by the juncture of the cystic and hepatic ducts.

Community Clinical Oncology Program (C-COP)

A program which links community physicians with the National Cancer Institute (NCI's) clinical research programs, so that more cancer patients can participate in clinical trials in their own communities.

Complement

A complex series of blood proteins whose action “complements” the work of antibodies. Complement destroys bacteria, produces inflammation, and regulates immune reactions.

Complement Cascade

A precise sequence of events, usually triggered by an antigen-antibody complex, in which each component of the complement system is activated in turn.

complementary medicine

Medical care that is adjunctive (used in addition to) traditional medical care. Most complementary therapies are beneficial in promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and controlling symptoms.

Complementary Therapy

Treatments or techniques that are used in addition to the standard treatment prescribed by the doctor. Also called unproven, unconventional, unorthodox, or integrated treatments.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

A test to check the number of red cells, white cells, and platelets in a sample of blood.

Computed Tomography (CT or CAT) Scan

This is a technique for imaging body tissues and organs. X-ray transmissions are converted to detailed images using a computer to synthesize X-ray data. The images are displayed as a cross-section of the body at any level from the head to the feet. A CT scan of the chest or abdomen permits detection of an enlarged lymph node, liver, or spleen. A CT scan can be used to measure the size of these and other structures during and after treatment.

Conditioning

The process of preparing the patient to receive donated marrow. Often done through the use of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Condylomata Acuminata

Genital warts caused by certain human papillomaviruses.

Confirmatory Typing (CT)

A repeat tissue typing test done to confirm the compatibility of the donor and patient. This is one of the final tests done before transplant.

Congenital

Existing before or at birth, though not necessarily detected at that time. The condition may or may not be hereditary.

Congenital Disorder

Any disorder present at birth.

Congestive Heart Failure

A buildup of fluid in the lungs or extremities, or both (especially in the legs). This occurs if the heart cannot pump the blood adequately.

Conization

Surgery to remove a cone-shaped piece of tissue from the cervix and cervical canal. Conization may be used to diagnose or treat a cervical condition.

Connective tissue

The supporting or framework tissue of the body, including collagenous, elastic and reticular fibers, adipose tissue, cartilage and bone. Also called interstitial tissue.

Consolidation Therapy

A second round of chemotherapy to further reduce that number of cancer cells.

Constant Region

That part of an antibody's structure that is characteristic for each antibody class.

Constipation

Difficult, incomplete, or infrequent evacuation of dry, hardened feces from the bowel.

Continent Reservoir

A pouch formed from a piece of small intestine to hold urine after the bladder has been removed.

Continuous Infusion

The slow introduction of fluid into a vein or artery over a period of time.

Contracture

An abnormal, often permanent shortening, as of scar tissue or muscle, that results in distortion or deformity, especially of a joint in the body.

Control Group

In a clinical study, a group of patients who are designated to receive treatment currently considered to be the most effective available. Treatment results in the control group are then compared to the results achieved in a group of patients that received a new “experimental” treatment.

Cooley's Anemia

Another name for thalassemia major.

Cooperative Group

A group of physicians and/or hospitals formed to treat a large number of patients in the same way so that new treatment can be evaluated quickly. Clinical trials of new cancer treatments require many more patients than a single doctor or hospital can care for.

Core Biopsy

The removal of tissue samples with a needle to check for cancer cells.

Coriolus versicolor

is a mushroom used in traditional Chinese herbal remedies. A protein-bound polysaccharide K (PSK) from the mushroom is being studied as a possible cancer treatment.

Corpus

The body of the uterus.

Corticosteriods

Any of the steroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex or their synthetic counterparts. They may be used to suppress the immune system in bone marrow transplants in order to prevent graft-versus-host disease in patients.

counseling

Professional guidance or direction provided through talk therapy.

cranial osteopathy

A specialized diagnostic and therapeutic process based on reducing subtle movements of the bones of the skull through manipulation. Because the bones of the skull become fused in early childhood, this technique is improbable as well as unproven.

Craniosacral Therapy

Type of complementary or alternative therapy which involves massage or manipulation of the head, neck, and spine.

Cryocautery

A treatment that freezes and destroys abnormal tissues without harming normal surrounding tissue.

Cryopreservation

The freezing of cells for use at a later time.

Cryosurgery

Treatment performed with an instrument that freezes and destroys abnormal tissues.

Cryotherapy

The use of cold to treat disease.

crystal healing

Sometimes called gem therapy; uses quartz crystals and gemstones, which are believed to emit electromagnetic energy, for healing purposes; often used in combination with color therapy.

Culdocentesis

The removal of a small sample of fluid for microscopic examination from the space between the rectum and the uterus to check for cancer in that area.

Culture

A growth of bacteria or other microorganisms, cells, or tissues cultivated artificially in the laboratory to determine the cause of infection.

cupping

An ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic therapy that aims to lower blood pressure, improve circulation, and relieve muscle pain by making punctures in the skin and then covering them with a heated cup which creates suction. Cupping was aslo used in colonial American medicine.

Curettage

The use of a spoon-shaped instrument- a curette- to scrape abnormal tissue or tissue samples for analysis from the lining of a body cavity or from the skin.

Curette

A surgical instrument shaped like a scoop or spoon, used to remove tissue or growths from a body cavity.

Cutaneous

Related to the skin.

Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma

A disease in which certain cells of the lymph system (called T lymphocytes) become cancerous and affect the skin.

Cutis

Skin.

Cycle

The term designates an intensive, clustered period of chemotherapy (and/or radiotherapy). The treatment may be given for several days or weeks and represents one cycle of treatment. The treatment plan may call for two, three, or more cycles of treatment.

Cyst

A fluid-filled mass that is usually benign. The fluid can be removed for analysis.

Cystectomy

Surgery to remove the bladder.

Cystitis

An inflammation of the bladder.

Cystoscope

A thin lighted instrument used to examine the interior of the bladder.

Cystoscopy

Examination of the bladder using a lighted instrument inserted into the urethra. Tissue samples and small tumors can be removed for examination under a microscope.

Cytogenetics

The process of analyzing the number and shape of the chromosomes of cells. The individual who prepares, examines, and interprets the number and shape of the chromosomes in cells is called a cytogeneticist.

Cytokines

Powerful chemical substances secreted by cells. Cytokines include lymphokines produced by lymphocytes and monokines produced by monocytes and macrophages.

Cytology

The branch of biology that deals with the formation, structure, and function of cells.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

A virus which can cause pneumonia in post bone marrow transplant patients.

Cytopenia

A deficiency in the cellular elements of the blood.

Cytotoxic

Toxic to cells; cell-killing.

Cytotoxic Drug

A drug that kills specific cells in the body.

Cytotoxic T Cells

A subset of T lymphocytes that can kill body cells infected by viruses or transformed by cancer.

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D

Dance Therapy

the therapeutic use of movement to improve the mental and physical well being of a person. It focuses on the connection between the mind and body to promote health and healing.

Dark-field microscope

A microscope in which an object is illuminated only from the sides so that it appears bright against a dark background.

Daughter cell

Either of the two identical cells that form when a cell divides.

Debilitating

Causing a loss of strength or energy.

Debulking operation

The excision of a major part of a malignant tumor that cannot be completely removed surgically, performed to enhance the effectiveness of subsequent radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Decidua

A mucous membrane lining the uterus, modified during pregnancy and shed at parturition or during menstruation.

Deep fascia

A thin fibrous membrane forming an intricate network that envelops and separates muscles, forms sheaths for nerves and vessels, forms or strengthens ligaments around joints, envelopes various organs and glands, and binds all structures together into a firm compact mass.

Defect

A lack of or abnormality in something necessary for normal functioning: deficiency or imperfection

dehydration

The loss of water from the body. An abnormal and sometimes dangerous depletion of body fluids.

Demerol

A trademark name used for a narcotic analgesic (pain control medication)meperidine.

Dendritic Cells

White blood cells found in the spleen and other lymphoid organs. Dendritic cells typically use threadlike tentacles to enmesh antigen, which they present to T cells.

Deossification

The loss of mineral matter from bones.

Depth dose

The relationship between the dose at any depth from a beam of radiation and the dose at the entrance from that beam.

Dermatitis

Inflammation of the skin.

Dermatofibroma

A cutaneous nodule that is painless, round, firm, gray or red, elevated, and commonly found on the extremities. No treatment is required.

Dermatologist

A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin problems.

Dermis

The sensitive connective tissue layer of the skn lcoated below the epidermis, containing nerve endings, sweat and sebaceous glands, and blood and lymph vessels. Also called the cutis.

Detection

Finding disease. Early detection means that the disease is found at an early stage, before it has grown large and spread to other sites. (Note: Many forms of cancer can develop to an advanced stage without causing symptoms. Because of this, ovarian and pancreatic cancers, for example, are very difficult to detect.) Women who participate in early detection by performing monthly breast self-examination and getting medical attention for lumps and abnormalities in the breast, by having clinical breast exams by a health professional, and by having mammograms on the schedule recommended by the American Cancer Society. Mammography is the principal way to detect breast cancer early. A mammogram can show a developing breast tumor before it can be felt by the woman herself or even a highly skilled health care professional.

detoxification

The process of removing “toxic substances” from the body; treatment to free an individual from a chemical addiction.

Di Bella therapy

is a CAM biologic/ orthomolecular therapy consisting of a mixture of the drugs somatostatin, bromocriptine, as well as vitamins, melatonin, and sometimes other substances combined in varying amounts depending on the patient under treatment.

Diabetes

Any of several metabolic disorders marked by excessive discharge of urine and persistent thirst.

Diabetes Insipidus

A chronic metabolic disorder characterized by intense thirst and excessive urination. It is caused by deficient production or secretion of the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or inability of the kidney tubules to respond to ADH.

Diabetes Mellitus

A severe, chronic form of diabetes caused by insufficient production of insulin and resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Diagnosis

Identifying a disease by its signs, symptoms, imaging procedures, and laboratory findings. The earlier a diagnosis of cancer is made, the better the chance for long-term survival.

Dialysis

The removal of certain elements from the blood by a filtering process. This word is most often used to refer to a filtering process that is done when the kidneys are not functioning normal.

Diaphanography

Also called transillumination, this is a method of examining the breast. It is used primarily in younger women (40 years of age or less). This technique uses bright light to illuminate inner structures, in much the same way that children observe the blood and bones in their hands with a flashlight. It has limitations and by itself is not an adequate method of examination.

Diaphoresis

Perspiration, especially when copious and medically induced.

Diaphragm

The muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen.

Diathermy

The use of heat to destroy abnormal cells.

Dietary supplements

Congress defined the term “dietary supplement” in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. A dietary supplement is a product (other than tobacco) taken by mouth that contains a “dietary ingredient” intended to supplement the diet. Dietary ingredients may include vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes, organ tissues, and metabolites. Dietary supplements come in many forms, including extracts, concentrates, tablets, capsules, gelcaps, liquids, and powders. They have special requirements for labeling. Under DSHEA, dietary supplements are considered foods, not drugs.

dietary therapy

The use of diet, or prescribed food intake, to effect health benefits. Unproved or fad diets can be harmful because of severly imbalanced nutritional intake. Diets that claim to cure cancer and other diseases are fraudulent.

Diethylstilbestrol

A drug that was once widely prescribed to prevent miscarriage.

Differentiation

A process in development in which unspecialized cells or tissues are systemically modified and altered to achieve specific and characteristic physical forms, physiologic functions, and chemical properties (i.e. stem cells differentiating into different kinds of blood cells).

Digestive System

Group of organs that change food into material that can be used by the body.

Digestive Tract

The organs through which food passes when we eat. These are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, and rectum.

Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)

A test performed to screen for some types of cancer where a doctor's gloved finger is inserted into the rectum for palpation.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)

The most potent androgen inside prostate cells; formed from testosterone by the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase.

Dilate

To cause a physiologic increase in the diameter of a body opening, blood vessel, or tube.

Dilation and Curettage

A minor operation in which the cervix is opened and the cervical canal and uterine lining are scraped with a spoon-shaped instrument called a curette. This procedure is also called a D&C.

Dilator

A device used to stretch or enlarge an opening.

Dimethyl sulfoxide

is an industrial solvent, producted as a byproduct of paper manufacturing, that has been promoted as an alternative cancer treatment since the 1960s.

Dimpling

A pucker or indentation of the skin; on the breast, it may be a sign of cancer.

Diploid

Cells that contain a normal amount of DNA.

Disease Progression

When cancer continues to grow or spread.

Dissection

Surgery to divide, separate or remove tissue.

Diuresis

Discharge of urine, especially in unusually large amounts.

Diuretic

A substance or drug that tends to increase the discharge of urine.

Diverticulitis

Inflammation of a diverticulum, especially of the small pockets in the wall of the colon that fill with stagnant fecal material and become inflamed.

Diverticulum

A pouch or sac branching out from a hollow organ or structure.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

A nucleic acid that is found in the cell nucleus and that is the carrier of genetic information

Dorsolumbar

Of or relating to the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebral region of the back.

Dose intensity

In chemotherapy, the total amount of drug delivered over a period of time. The chemotherapy can be given all at once or over an extended period.

doshas

The three basic body types or life forces that underlie human functioning according to Ayurvedic belief. They are “Veda,” producing movement; “Kapha,” responsible for bodily structure; and “Pitta,” an interface between Veda and Kapha.

Double-Blind

A type of controlled experiment to test or compare the effectiveness of treatments in which neither the patient nor the physician knows which patients are receiving the treatment.

Doubling Time

The time it takes for a cell to divide and double itself. The doubling time of cancer cells depends on many things, such as the type of tumor, the resistance of the individual's body, and the location in which it tries to grow. A single cell needs 30 doublings to reach noticeable size (1cm)- a billion cells. Cancers vary in doubling time from 8 to 600 days, averaging 100 to 120 days. Thus, a cancer may be present for many years before it is felt.

Douching

Using water or a medicated solution to clean the vagina and cervix.

Drug resistance

The effect of a cell or microorganism not responding to a specific medication or class of medications.

Dry Orgasm

Sexual climax without the release of semen.

Duct

A hollow passage, especially one through which material is excreted or secreted.

Duct Ectasia

An abnormal dilation of a duct by lipids and cellular debris. In mammary duct the condition, which tends mainly to affect postmenopausal women, may be accompanied by inflammation and infiltration by plasma cells.

Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)

Cancer cells that start in the milk passages (ducts) and have not penetrated the duct walls into the surrounding tissue. This is a highly curable form of breast cancer that is treated with surgery or surgery plus radiation therapy. Also called intraductal carcinoma.

Dukes classification

A classification into three stages of the extent of spread of operable carcinoma of the large intestine.

Dumping Syndrome

A group of symptoms that occur when food or liquid enters the small intestine too rapidly. These symptoms include cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness.

Duodenal Gland

Any of the small, branched, coiled tubular glands situated deeply in the submucosa of the first part of the duodenum and secreting an alkaline mucus that helps neutralize gastric acid in the chyme.

Duodenojejunal Flexure

An abrupt bend in the small intestine at the junction of the duodenum and jejunum.

Duodenojejunostomy

The surgical formation of a passage between the duodenum and the jejunum.

Duodenum

The shortest, widest, and most fixed portion of the small intestine, taking an almost circular course from the pyloric valve of the stomach so that its termination is close to its starting point.

Dura Mater

The tough fibrous membrane covering the brain and the spinal cord and lining the inner surface of the skull.

Durable Power of Attorney

A legal document allowing someone else to manage your affairs for you. Unlike standard power of attorney, it continues if you become permanently incapacitated. In some states, can be used for health care decisions.

Dysphagia

Difficulty in swallowing

Dysplasia

The presence of abnormal cells. Abnormalities affect size, shape, and rate of multiplication.

Dysplastic Nevi

Unusual moles that may occur in greater numbers than normal moles and that may turn into melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer.

Dyspnea

Difficulty or painful breathing; shortness of breath.

Dysuria

Difficult or painful urination.

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E

Echoencephalography

A picture of the brain produced on a television screen by “echoes” of ultrasound, sound waves above the normal hearing range.

Edema

Build-up of fluid in the tissues, resulting in swelling. Edema of the arm can occur after radical mastectomy, axillary dissection of lymph nodes, or radiation therapy.

Effector cell

1. A terminally differentiated leukocyte that performs more than one specific function. 2. A muscle cell or gland cell.

Efferent

Directed away from a center, such as certain arteries, veins, nerves, and lymphatics.

Effusion

A collection of fluid in a body cavity, usually between two adjoining tissues.

Ejaculate

To release fluid (semen) through the penis during orgasm.

Ejaculation

The release of semen through the penis during orgasm.

Electroacupuncture

A variation of traditional acupuncture treatment in which acupuncture or needle points are stimulated electronically.

Electrocardiogram

A record of the electrical activity of the heart, often called an EKG. It records electrical impulses that precede contraction of the heart muscle.

Electrodessication

The application of electric current from a special instrument to control bleeding and destroy cancerous tissue.

Electroencephalography

Sometimes called EEG. This process records the brain's electrical activity by means of electrodes placed at various locations on the head.

Electrolarynx

A battery-operated instrument that makes a humming sound to help laryngectomees talk.

Electromagnetic fields

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs, also called electric and magnetic fields) are invisible lines of force that surround all electrical devices. The Earth also produces EMFs; electric fields are produced when there is thunderstorm activity, and magnetic fields are believed to be produced by electric currents flowing at the Earth's core.

electromagnetic therapy

A form of “energy medicine” that claims to diagnose and correct disturbed electromagnetic frequencies emitted by the body, thus curing disease and promoting health. Although electric energy is used in many traditional diagnostic devices such as X-rays and MRIs, there is no evidence that electromagnetic therapy cures disease.

Electroporation Therapy (EPT)

Treatment that generates electrical pulses through an electrode placed in a tumor to enhance the ability of anticancer drugs to enter the tumor cells.

Electrosurgery

The use of a combination of electric current and curettage to treat cancer.

Ellagic Acid

is a compound found in raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, walnuts, pecans, pomegranates, and other plant foods.

Embolization

The deliberate obstruction of a blood vessel to stop internal bleeding or to cut off blood flow to tumors.

Encapsulated

Confined to a specific area; the tumor remains in a compact form.

Endocervical

Within the cervix.

Endocervical Curettage

The removal of tissue from the inside of the cervix using a spoon-shaped instrument called a curette.

Endocrine

Pertaining to a process in which a group of cells secrete into the blood or lymph circulation a substance (for example, hormone) that has a specific effect on tissues in another part of the body.

Endocrine Glands

Glands that release hormones into the bloodstream. The ovaries are one type of endocrine gland.

Endocrine Therapy

Manipulation of hormones for therapeutic purposes.

Endometrial

Having to do with the lining of the uterus. Endometrial cancer usually affects women between 50 and 65 years of age.

Endometriosis

A benign condition in which endometrial tissue grows on the surface of the uterus and other nearby organs.

Endometrium

The membrane that lines the inside of the uterus.

Endoscope

A thin, lighted tube through which a doctor can look at tissues inside the body.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatogram (ERCP)

An x-ray of the common bile duct, a passage that carries bile from the liver or gallbladder to the duodenum.

Endoscopy

An examination in which the doctor looks at a hollow organ such as the esophagus or stomach through a long, flexible, lighted tube.

Enema

The introduction of a solution into the rectum for cleansing or therapeutic purposes.

energy therapies

A broad range of treatments based on the use of various energy forms to heal illness and disease. Electroacupuncture, electromagnetic therapy, dental energy medicine, microwave energy, and other approaches utilize a variety of electrical devices. The TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator) unit is useful for reduction of pain. The use of highly charged electric paddles in a hospital emergency department to restart a stopped heart is also a common practice. Most others are unproven.

Engraftment

A process in which a transplant becomes successfully integrated into the body. For example, bone marrow begins to manufacture new white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in the patient's marrow cavities after bone marrow transplantation.

Enteral feeding

The introduction of nutrients directly into the gastrointestinal tract by a feeding tube.

Enterectomy

The surgical removal of a portion of intestine.

Enterostomal Therapist

A health professional trained in the care of urostomies and other stomies.

Enterostomy

Surgical construction of an opening into the intestine through an incision in the abdominal wall.

Enzymatic Therapy

involves the consumption of enzyme supplements as an alternative form of treatment. Enzymes are proteins that stimulate and accelerate numerous biological reactions in the body. Digestive enzymes, many of which are produced in the pancreas, break down food and assist with the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream. Metabolic enzymes build new cells and repair damaged ones in the blood, tissures, and organs.

Enzyme

A protein, produced by living cells, that promotes the chemical processes of life without itself being altered.

Eosinophils

A type of white blood cell that participates in allergic reactions and helps to fight certain parasitic infections.

Ependymal Tumors

Brain tumors that begin in the ependyma, the cells that line the passageways in the brain where special fluids that protect the brain and spinal cord is made and stored.

Ependymoma

A typr of brain tumor.

Epidemiology

The branch of medicine that deals with the study of the causes, distribution, and control of disease in populations.

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor

A protein found on the surface of some breast cancer cells that allows epidermal growth factor to stimulate cell growth.

Epidermis

The surface layer of skin.

Epidermoid

A carcinoma of the lung, often beginning in the large bronchi. It tends to remain localized in the chest for longer periods than other types of lung cancer.

Epididymis

A long, narrow, convoluted tube in the spermatic duct system that lies on the posterior aspect of each testicle and connects with the vas deferens.

Epidural

An injection into the epidural space of the spine.

Epigastric

Pertaining to the area above the stomach.

Epiglottis

The flap that covers the trachea during swallowing so that food does not enter the lungs.

Epinephrine

Also called adrenaline. A hormone that stimulates the sympathetic nervous system resulting in increased heart rate, vasoconstriction or vasodilation and other metabolic effects.

Epithelial

Refers to the cells that line the internal and external surfaces of the body.

Epithelial Carcinoma

Cancer that begins in the cells that outline an organ.

Epitope

A unique shape or marker carried on in antigen's surface, which triggers a corresponding antibody response.

Epstein-Barr Virus

A common virus that remains dormant in most people. It has the potential to cause B cells to multiply uncontrollably in some patients with weakened immune systems.

Erythema

Redness of the skin.

Erythrocytes

A synonym for red cells.

Erythroleukemia

Leukemia that develops in erythrocytes. In this rare disease, the body produces large numbers of abnormal red blood cells.

Erythroplasia

Red sores, grainy or smooth, in the mucous membranes of the mouth which indicate an early cancer.

Erythropoiesis

The process of erythrocyte production involving the maturation of a nucleated precursor into a hemoglobin-filled nucleus-free erythrocyte (red blood cell) that is regulated by erythropoietin, a hormone produced by the kidney.

Erythropoietin

A glycoprotein hormone synthesized mainly in the kidneys and released into the bloodstream in response to anoxia (lack of Oxygen). The hormone acts to stimulate and to regulate the production or erythrocytes (red blood cells) and thus increases the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

Esophageal

Related to the esophagus.

Esophageal Speech

Speech produced which air trapped in the esophagus and forced out again.

Esophagectomy

An operation to remove a portion of the esophagus.

Esophagitis

Inflammation of the esophagus (food pipe).

Esophagoscopy

Examination of the esophagus using a thin, lighted instrument.

Esophagram

A series of x-rays of the esophagus. The x-ray pictures are taken after the patient drinks a solution that coats and outlines the walls of the esophagus.

Esophagus

The tube through which food passes from the throat to the stomach.

essential oil

Highly concentrated aromatic oil used in aromatherapy. The forty different oils designed to treat specific ailments are derived from roots, bark, leaves, wood, and sap of plants, trees, and herbs. The rinds of citrus fruits also provide fragrant essential oils. Because of their highly concentrated aromas, they are usually diluted in “carrier” oils or alcoholic solutions.

Essiac

is a mixture of herbs that are combined to make a tea. The original formula, handed down form Ojibwa medicine man included burdock root, slippery elm inner bark, sheep sorrel, and Turkish rhubarb.

Estradiol

The most potent naturally occurring estrogen.

Estrogen

A female hormone.

Estrogen Receptor Assay

Growth of normal breast cells and some breast cancers are stimulated by estrogen. Estrogen receptors are molecules that function as cells “welcome mat” for estrogen circulating in the blood. Breast cancer cells without these receptors (called estrogen receptor negative or ER negative) are unlikely to respond to hormonal therapy. The estrogen receptor assay is a laboratory test done on a piece of cancer in order to see whether estrogen receptors are present.

Estrogen Receptor Test

A test done during biopsy of cancerous breast tissue to determine if its growth is dependent on the hormone estrogen.

Estrogen Replacement Therapy

The use of exogenous estrogen (estrogen not produced by the body; estrogen from other sources) after the body has ceased to produce it because of natural or induces menopause. This type of hormone therapy is often prescribed to alleviate symptoms of menopause and has been shown to provide protective effects against heart disease and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Since estrogen nourishes some types of breast cancer, scientists are working on the question of whether estrogen replacement therapy increases breast cancer risk. Some new drugs called selective estrogen receptor modulators or SERMs are being studied. They seem to have many of the beneficial effects of estrogen replacement without increasing breast cancer risk. Recent studies suggest that some SERMs may actually reduce breast cancer risk.

etiology

The cause or origin of disease.

Evaluable Disease

Extent of disease that cannot be measured directly by size of the tumor but can be evaluated by other methods specific to a particular clinical trial.

Ewing's Sarcoma

A rare malignant tumor of the bone. It most often affects the thigh, shin, and upper arm bones or one of the pelvic bones. The condition is most common in children between the ages of 10 and 15.

Excision

The surgical removal of diseased tissue from surrounding healthy tissue.

Exocrine

Pertaining to the process of secreting outwardly through a duct to the surface of an organ or tissue or into a vessel, such as a gland that secretes through a duct.

Expectant Management

See watchful waiting.

Extended Radical Mastectomy

Removal of the breast, skin, nipple, areola, chest muscles, and all axillary and internal mammary lymph nodes on the same side.

External Energy Sources

Are sources of energy generated outside the body used to treat illness or disease within the body. Examples include the use of magnetic resonance fields, electrical currents or radiowaves.

External Radiation

Radiation therapy that uses a machine to aim high-energy rays at the cancer.

extract

A concentrated preparation such as an essence or concentrate created by withdrawing the active constituents by chemical or physical processes prepared as semiliquids, dry powders or solids.

Extravasation

The leaking of drugs out of the vein and into the skin.

Exudate

Fluid, cells, or other substances that have been discharged from cells or blood vessels through small pores or breaks in cell membranes. Perspiration, pus, and serum are sometimes identified as exudates.

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F

FACOG

Abbreviation for Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

FACR

Abbreviation for Fellow of the American College of Radiologists.

Fallopian Tubes

Part of the female reproductive tract. The long slender tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus.

Familial

Pertaining to a characteristic, condition, or disease that is present in some families and not others or that occurs in more family members than would be expected by chance.

Familial Polyposis

An inherited condition in which numerous polyps develop on the inside walls of the colon and rectum.

Fanconi's Anemia

A rare, inherited form of aplastic anemia.

Fascia

A sheet or thin band of fibrous tissue that covers muscles and various organs of the body.

Fast smear

A cytologic sample of tissue scrapings from the vaginal-cervical area, smeared on a microscope slide and fixed immediately for routine screening of female reproductive function.

fasting

Abstention from eating. In alternative medicine, fasting purports to cleanse the body of impurities, based on the notion that when the body is not digesting food, greater reserves of energy are available for use in immune function, cell growth and elimination processes. Because the body is deprived of necessary energy resources during fasting, it can be dangerous.

Fat Necrosis

The death of fat cells, usually following injury. Fat necrosis is a benign condition, but it can cause a breast lump, pulling of the skin, or skin changes that can be confused with breast cancer.

Fatal

Leading inevitably to death.

Fatigue

A feeling of low energy, “washed out feeling”, general tiredness.

Fatty Acids

A major component of fats which are used by the body for energy and tissue development.

FDA

Abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration.

Fecal Occult Blood Test

A test to check for hidden blood in stool. (Fecal refers to stool. Occult means hidden.)

Feces

Solid waste discharged from the bowels, also known as stool.

Feldenkrais method

A therapy designed to make the body work with gravity rather than against it by correcting physical habits of movement that unduly strain muscles and joints.

Feldenkrais Technique

uses gentle movement to retrain the nervous system, helping the body create new neural and muscular pathways while integrating the body and mind.

Femoral hernia

A hernia in which a loop of intestine descends through the femoral canal into the groin.

Femur

The thigh bone, which extends from the pelvis to the knee.

Ferrous

Pertaining to a compound of Iron.

Fertility

The ability to have children.

Fetoprotein

Any of several antigens normally present in a fetus and occurring abnormally in adults as a a result of certain neoplastic conditions or diseases of the liver.

Fever

An abnormal elevation of body temperature above 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

fiber

Indigestible parts of plants, some soluble, some insoluble. In the human digestive system, fiber absorbs water and assists elimination.

Fibroadenoma

A type of benign breast tumor composed of fibrous tissue and glandular tissue. On a clinical examination or breast self-examination, it usually feels like a firm, round, smooth lump. These usually occur in young women.

Fibroblast

A flat, elongated undifferentiated cell in the connective tissue that gives rise to various precursor cells which form the fibrous, binding, and supporting tissue of the body.

Fibrocystic Changes

A term that describes certain benign changes in the breast; also called fibrocystic disease. Symptoms of this condition are breast swelling or pain. Signs that a health care professional can observe on clinical breast examination are the presence of nodularity (nodules), lumpiness, and sometimes, nipple discharge. Because these signs sometimes mimic breast cancer, diagnostic mammography or microscopic examination of breast tissue may be needed to show that there is no cancer.

Fibroids

Benign tumors resembling fibrous tissues – many times prevalent in the uterine wall.

Fibrosarcoma

A rare cancerous tumor of the cells that make up a connective tissue. It is usually found in the tissues around the muscles in a limb, but can also affect a bone or the cells around the nerve fibers.

Fibrosis

Formation of fibrous (scar-like) tissue. This can occur anywhere in the body.

Field

The specific area of the body that receives radioactive substances from the machine that emits x-rays.

Filling Cystometry

A test that involves filling the bladder with fluid, assessing the sensation of urinary urgency felt by the patient, and measuring the pressure within the bladder.

Fine-Needle Aspiration

A procedure in which a needle is inserted, under local anesthesia, to obtain a sample for the evaluation of suspicious tissue.

Fissure

A cleft or groove on the surface of an organ, often marking its division into parts, such as the lobes of a lung or a cracklike lesion of the skin.

Fistula

An abnormal opening between two area of the body.

Five-Year Survival

The period of time used as the statistical basis for successful treatment. A patient with cancer is usually considered cured after five years without recurrence of disease.

Flaccid

Lacking normal muscle tone; weak, soft and flabby.

Flank

The posterior portion of the body between the ribs and the ileum. Flank pain is sometimes associated with the kidney.

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum)

is an annual plant cultivated for it's fiber, which is used in making linen. Flaxseed and its oil are used in herbal remedies.

Flow Cytometry

A test of tumor tissue to see how fast the tumor cells are reproducing and whether the tumor cells contain a normal or abnormal amount of DNA. This test is used to help predict how aggressive a cancer is likely to be.

flower remedies

see “Bach flower remedies”

Fluid Therapy

The regulation of water balance in patients with impaired renal, cardiovascular, or metabolic function by careful measurement of fluid intake against daily losses.

Fluoroscope

An x-ray machine that makes it possible to see internal organs in motion.

Fluoroscopy

An x-ray test using radioactive substances that makes it possible to see internal organs in motion.

Foley Catheter

A small tube inserted through the urethra that allows urine to drain from the bladder into a bag.  Has a balloon at its top so that it remains in place when filled with water.

Folic Acid

is a B-complex vitamin found in many vegetables, beans, fruits, whole grains, and some fortified breakfast cereals. It helps in the metabolism of DNA, and is especially important for the development of blood cells.

Follicle

A small bodily cavity or sac.

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

A pituitary hormone that stimulates sperm production by the testes.

Follicular Cell

An epithelial cell lining a follicle, such as that of the thyroid or ovary.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The federal agency responsible for determining the safety of food, drugs, and cosmetics for public consumption.

food guide pyramid

Pyramid-shaped display of optimal nutritional intake, developed by the US Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services.

Fractionated Radiation Therapy

Treatment in which radiation is given in several small doses.

free radical

An unstable molecule with an odd number of electrons, produced as a by-product of oxidation. Free radicals are potentially harmful to the body, as interaction with DNA can lead to impaired cell function, and they may be a factor in development of cancer.

friction

A type of massage employing small circular movements of the fingers and thumbs or the heel of the hand. One of six major massage techniques.

Frozen Section

Microscopic examination of a specimen of tissue that has been quick-frozen. This method gives a quick diagnosis, sometimes while confirmed in a few days by a more detailed study called a permanent section.

Fulguration

Destroying tissue using an electric current.

Fundus

The upper, dome-shaped portion of the uterus.

Fungus

Member of a class of relatively primitive vegetable organisms. Fungi include mushrooms, yeasts, rusts, molds, and smuts.

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G

Galactocele

A clogged milk duct; a cyst filled with milk. It may occur in the breast during breastfeeding.

Gallbladder

A small organ that stores bile. It is located below the liver.

Gamma Globulin

A substance prepared from human blood that contains antibodies against most common infections.

Gamma Knife

Radiation therapy in which high-energy rays are aimed at a tumor from many angles in a single treatment session.

Garlic (Allium sativum)

is a member of the lily family and is closely related to onions, leeks, and chives. Extracts and oils made from garlic are sometimes used as herbal remedies.

Gastrectomy

Surgery to remove part or all of the stomach.

Gastric

Having to do with the stomach.

Gastric Atrophy

A condition in which the stomach muscles shrink and become weak. It results in lack of digestive juices.

Gastroenterologist

A specialist in disorders and conditions of the digestive tract, also called the gastrointestinal “GI” tract.

Gastroscope

A flexible, lighted tube that is put in the mouth and esophagus to view the stomach. Tissue from the stomach can be removed with this instrument.

Gastrostomy Tube

A surgical procedure is performed to create an opening in the stomach, which is usually connected to the skin of the abdomen with a tube.

Gene

A unit of genetic material (DNA) that carries the directions a cell uses to perform a specific function, such as making a given protein.

Gene Therapy

Treatment that alters genes. 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.

Genetic

Related to genes.

Genetic Markers

Alterations in DNA that may indicate an increased risk of developing a specific disease or disorder.

Genitalia

The reproductive organs, especially the external sex organs.

Genitourinary

Of or relating to the genital and urinary organs or their functions.

Genitourinary System

The parts of the body that play a role in reproduction, getting rid of waste products in the form of urine, or both.

Germ Cell Tumor

A tumor arising from a proliferation of reproductive cells, such as ovarian or testicular tumors.

Germinoma

A type of germ cell.

Gerson Diet

involves coffee and a special diet with supplements that claim to cleanse the body and stimulate metabolism.

Giant Cell Carcinoma

A malignant epithelial neoplasm characteristically containing many large anaplastic cells. A small percentage of adenocarcinomas of the lung and liver also contain such cells.

Giant Cell Myeloma

A bone tumor of multinucleated giant cells that resembles osteoclasts scattered in a matrix of spindle cells. Myelomas of this kind may be benign or malignant and may cause pain, functional disability, and pathologic fractures.

Gingiva

The gum tissues of the mouth, a mucous membrane with supporting fibrous tissue that overlies the crowns of unerupted teeth and encircles the necks of those that have erupted.

Glands

Organs that produce and release substances used locally or elsewhere in the body.

Glandular Cells

Cells in the prostate that produce part of the fluid portion of semen.  Also called epithelial cells.

Glans Penis

A conical vascular body forming the distal end of the penis.

Gleason Score

A system of grading prostate cancer cells to determine the best treatment and to predict how well a patient is likely to do. A low Gleason score means the cancer cells are very similar to normal prostate cells; a high score means the cancer cells are very different from normal.

Glia Cells

Neural cells that have a connective tissue supporting function in the central nervous system.

Glial Tumors

A general term for many types of tumors of the central nervous system.

Glioblastoma

A general term that refers to malignant astrocytoma.

Glioblastoma Multiforme

A type of brain tumor that forms in the nervous tissue of the brain. This type of tumor grows very quickly and has cells that look very different from normal cells.

Glioma

A general term for many types of cancers of the brain and spinal cord, all of which arise from glial, or supportive, cells.

Glottis

The middle part of the larynx; the area where the vocal cords are located.

Glucarate

is a phytochemical (plant compound) found primarily in apples, grapefruit, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and bean sprouts (see Broccoli and Phytochemicals). It also occurs naturally in the body in very small amounts.

Glucosuria

Abnormal presence of glucose in the urine resulting from the ingestion of large amounts of carbohydrate, a kidney disease or a metabolic disorder.

Goblet Cell

One of the many specialized epithelial cells that secrete mucus and form glands of the epithelium of the stomach, the intestine, and parts of the respiratory tract.

Gonad

The part of the reproductive system that produces and releases eggs or sperms.

Gonadotropin

A hormonal substance that stimulates the function of the testes and the ovaries.

Govallo Placental Extracts

are a CAM biologic/ orthomolecular therapy in which placental extracts are given to a patient to suppress factors within the tumor.

Grade

The measurement of a cancer reflecting how abnormal the cells look under a microscope. There are several grading systems for cancer, but all divide cancers into those with the greatest abnormality (grade 3 or poorly differentiated), the least abnormality (grade1 or well differentiated) and intermediate features (grade 2 or moderately differentiated). Grading is done by the pathologist who examines the biopsy specimen. It is important because higher grade cancers tend to grow and spread more quickly and have a worse prognosis. A cancer's nuclear grade is based on features of the central part of its cells, the nucleus. The histologic grade is based on features of individual cells as well as how the cells are arranged together.

Graft

Tissue taken from one person (donor) and transferred to another person (recipient), or taken from one part of a person's body and transferred to another part of that same person's body.

Graft Failure

Occurs when the graft function does not return (for example, if bone marrow does not produce stem cells). The graft may fail to grow or be rejected by the patient.

Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD)

A life-threatening reaction in which transplanted immunocompetent cells attack the tissues of the recipient.

Graft-Versus-Tumor

A reaction of donated bone marrow or peripheral stem cells against a patient's own tumor tissue.

Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF)

A glycoprotein secreted by a variety of cells that stimulates the growth of hematopoietic stem cells and their differentiation into granulocytes. It is often used to treat patients who have become severely neutropenic as a result of chemotherapy or irradiation.

Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF)

A glycoprotein secreted by macrophages that stimulates the growth of myeloid progenitor cells and their differentiation into granulocytes and macrophages.

Granulocytes

A type of white blood cell that has a large number of granules in its cell body. Other blood cells have fewer granules (e.g. lymphocytes). Neutrophils, eosinphils, and basophils are types of granulocytes.

Graphic Stress Telethermometry (GST)

A method of measuring surface heat from a distance. Some have used this method, plus computer analysis of heat patterns in the breast, to measure breast cancer risk. This is not a reliable method and it is not standard practice.

Graviola

A South American tree whose bark, leaves, roots and fruit are used medicinally.

Greater Omentum

A filmy, transparent extension of the peritoneum, draping the transverse colon and coils of the small intestine.

Green Tea (Camellia sinesis)

is a drink made from the steamed and dried leaves of the Camellia sinesis plant, a shrub native to Asia.

Groin

The area where the thigh meets the hip.

Growth Factors

Powerful chemical substances secreted by cells. Cytokines include lymphokines produced by lymphocytes and monokines produced by monocytes and macrophages.

Guaiac Test

A chemical test used to detect hidden blood in stool.

Guided Imagery/Visualization Techniques

A mind-body intervention in which the patient, in a relaxed state of mind, mentally pictures a desired goal or result.

Gustatory

Of or relating to the sense of taste.

Gynecologic Cancer

Cancer of the female reproductive tract, including the cervix, endometrium, ovaries, uterus, and vagina.

Gynecologic Oncologist

A doctor who specializes in treating cancers of the female reproductive organs.

Gynecologist

A doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the female reproductive organs.

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H

Hair Follicle

A sac in the scalp from which hair grows.

Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL)

A rare type or variant of chronic leukemia. Primarily a disease of middle-aged men. HCL infrequently requires bone marrow transplant as treatment.

Halsted Radical Mastectomy

Removal of the breast, skin, nipple, areola, both pectoral muscles, and all axillary lymph nodes on the same side.

Helicobacter Pylori

Bacteria that may cause inflammation of the stomach; they are found in persons with chronic gastritis, ulcers, or lymphoma of the stomach.

Hellerwork

An outgrowth of Rolfing, this bodywork therapy concentrates on efficient body movements seen as natural to different body types. Alignment with the earth's gravitational forces is believed paramout, as is greater mind-body awareness.

Hellerwork technique

employs movement exercises designed to maintain mobility and alignment by eliminating bad habits and educating the patient how to learn to stand, walk, sit, and move most efficiently.

Helper T cells

A subset of T cells that typically carry the T4 marker and are essential for turning on antibody production, activating cytotoxic T cells, and initiating many other immune responses.

Hematocrit

The percentage of red blood cells in the body.

Hematologic Malignancies

Cancer of the blood or bone marrow, including leukemia and lymphoma.

Hematologist

A physician who specializes in the treatment of blood cell diseases.

Hematoma

A collection of blood outside a blood vessel caused by a leak or injury. Hematomas may occur after surgery or an injury and may feel like a lump.

Hematopoiesis

This term describes the process of blood cell development in the bone marrow. Undeveloped cells develop into young or immature blood cells, like red cells or white cells, of various types.

Hematopoietic

Substances that stimulate blood cells to grow.

Hematoporphyrin Derivative (HPD)

A nontoxic dye, used in cancer treatment, that fluoresces under light and is attracted to cancer cells.

Hematuria

Red blood cells in the urine.

Hemoccult Test

A test that checks for hidden blood in stool.

Hemodialysis

A procedure in which impurities or wastes are removed from the blood.

Hemoglobin

The material in blood which permits the carrying of oxygen.

Hemorrhage

The general term for loss of blood, often profuse, brought on by injury to the blood vessels or by a deficiency of certain necessary blood elements such as platelets.

Hepatic

Refers to the liver. An intrahepatic infusion delivers anticancer drugs directly to the blood vessels of the liver.

Hepatitis B Infection

Inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus.

herb

A plant or plant part valued for medicinal or other purposes.

Herbal Medicine

Type of complementary or alternative treatment, involving use of herbs, as categorized by the National Cancer Institute.

Herbal/Plant Therapies

utilize parts of a plant or herb (e.g., roots, leaves, stems) in a variety of forms (e.g., tea, salves, capsules, etc.) to treat medical or emotional conditions.

Hereditary

A genetic transmission of characteristics from parent to children.

Hereditary Cancer Syndrome

Conditions associated with cancers that occur in multiple family members, because of an inherited, mutated gene.

Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colon Cancer

A type of inherited colon cancer having few if any polyps present.

Herpes Simplex

The most common virus that causes sores often seen around the mouth, commonly called cold sores.

Herpes Zoster

A virus that settles around certain nerves causing blisters, swelling, and pain. This condition is also called shingles.

Herpesvirus

A member of the herpes family of viruses. One type of herpesvirus is sexually transmitted and causes sores on the genitals.

Hickman® Catheter

A special intravenous tubing that is surgically inserted into a large vein near the heart.

High Risk

Having a higher risk of developing cancer, compared with the general population.

High-Grade Lymphomas

Includes large cells, immunoblastic, and small noncleaved cell lymphomas. These lymphomas have a high growth rate and a lower response rate to most chemotherapy regimens than that seen with intermediate-grade lymphomas.

Histiocytosis

A rare and infrequently fatal blood disease that affects the body's immune system, allowing a type of white blood cell called histiocyte to multiply wildly and attack vital body organs. Its cause is unknown, and its progression is unpredictable.

Histocompatibility

A measure of the similarity of the antigens of donor and recipient of transplanted tissue.

Histocompatibilty Testing

A method of matching the self antigens (HLA) on the tissues of a transplant donor with those of the recipient. The closer the match, the better the chance that the transplant will take.

Histology

The structure of organ tissues, including the composition of cells and their organization into various body tissues.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

The virus that causes AIDS.

HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigens)

Protein in markers of self used in histocompatibilty testing. Some HLA types also correlate with certain autoimmune diseases.

HLA Typing

The identification of an individual's specific HLA A, B, and DR.

Hodgkin's Disease

A form of cancer (lymphoma) affecting the lymph and other tissues that play a part in the individual's ability to fight infection.

homeopathy

A system of medicine based on the concept of “like cures like.” Symptoms are treated with minute amounts of drugs that would normally produce the same symptoms as the illness being treated. Homeopathy was developed by a German physician and chemist as an alternative to the more sever practices of bloodletting, vomiting, and other excesses of orthodox medicine practiced in the early 1800s.

homeostasis

An internal state of stability toward which the body automatically strives.

Homologous Graft

A tissue removed from a donor for transplantation to a recipient of the same species.

Hormone Receptor Test

A test to see if a tumor is affected by hormones or if it can be treated by hormones (positive) or not (negative).

Hormone Therapy

Treatment with hormones, drugs to interfere with hormone production or hormone action, or the surgical removal of hormone-producing glands. Hormone therapy may kill cancer cells or slow their growth.

Hormones

Chemicals produced by glands in the body. Hormones control the actions of certain cells or organs.

Hospice

A concept of supportive care to meet the special needs of patients and family during the terminal stages of illness. The care may be delivered at home or in a hospital by a specially trained team of professionals.

Hoxsey herbal treatment

is an herbal mixture taken internally or applied externally. The pastes or salves that are applied externally contain antimony trisulfide, zinc chloride, and blood root, and a yellow powder consisting of arsenic sulfide, sulfur, and talc.

HPC1

The first prostate cancer gene to be discovered.

Human Papillomavirus

A virus that causes abnormal tissue growth (warts) and is associated with some types of cancer, including cervical cancer.

Humidifier

A machine that puts moisture in the air.

Humoral Immunity

Immune protection provided by soluble factors such as antibodies, which circulate in the body's fluids or “humors,” primarily serum and lymph.

Hybridoma

A hybrid cell created by fusing a B lymphocyte with a long-lived neoplastic plasma cell, or a T lymphocyte with a lymphoma cell. A B-cell hybridoma secretes a single specific antibody.

Hydrazine Sulfate

is a chemical commonly used in industrial processes, such as rare metal refining and the production of rocket fuel, rust-prevention products, and insecticides. It is used as an CAM biologic/orthomolecular therapy to treat some symptoms in advanced cancer.

Hydrocephalus

The abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain.

Hydrogen Peroxide

is a clear, odorless oxygen solution that is widely available for use in cleaning and disinfectings wounds. In high concentrations (eg, 35%), hydrogen peroxide is used by CAM practitioners as a treatment for cancer and other diseases.

hydrotherapy

The use of water (hot or cold liquid, ice, or steam) to maintain or restore health. Forms of hydrotherapy include full-body immersion, saunas and steam baths, sitz baths, colonic irrigation, jacuzzis, and the use of hot or cold compresses.

Hyperalimentation

The intravenous administration of nutrients, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract, for patients unable to take food by mouth.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

is a CAM therapy in which pure oxygen is pressurized 1.5 to 3 times normal atmospheric pressure, then supplied to a patient inside a sealed chamber.

Hyperleukocytosis

The term applies to patients with leukemia who at the time of diagnosis have extreme increases in their white blood cell count.

Hyperplasia

An abnormal increase in the number of cells in a specific area, such as the lining of the breast ducts of the lobules. By itself, hyperplasia is not cancerous, but when the proliferation is marked and/or the cells are atypical (unlike normal cells), the risk of cancer developing is greater.

Hypersensitivity

An exaggerated response by the immune system to a substance or drug.

Hyperthermia

Elevation of body temperature as a cancer treatment. The elevated temperature works with radiation therapy to shrink the malignant tumor while limiting the damage to the healthy tissue surrounding it.

Hyperuricemia

A build up in the blood of uric acid (a byproduct of metabolism); a side effect of some anticancer drugs.

Hypnosis

is a state of restful alertness during which a person can be relatively unaware of, but not completely blind to, their surroundings.

hypnotherapy

The use of hypnosis to treat or manage certain medical and psychological problems; often used to treat stress, sleeping disorders, anxiety, fears and phobias, and depression; also used to assist smoking cessation and to overcome alcohol and substance abuse.

Hypogammaglobulinemia

Abnormally low levels of immunoglobins.

Hypothalamus

The area of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, and thirst.

Hysterectomy

An operation to remove the uterus, through an incision in the abdomen or the vagina. Removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy) may be done at the same time.

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Idiotypes

The unique and characteristic parts of an antibody's variable region, which can themselves serve as antigens.

Ilaic Crest

The edge of the hip bone from which marrow is usually sampled for diagnosis of blood cell diseases.

Ileostomy

A surgical opening in the abdomen connected to the small intestine to allow stool to be emptied into a collection bag.

Imagery

A technique in which the patient focuses on positive images to try and help the body fight cancer and to feel better.

Imaging

Procedures that produce pictures of areas inside the body.

Imaging Studies

Tests that produce an image of the body; for example, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and x-rays.

Immune Augmentation Therapy

is promoted as a CAM therapy for cancer treatment involving daily injections of a protein mixture made from blood in an attempt to restore normal immune function. Components of the blood products are claimed to contain three tumor antibodies and de-blocking proteins, all from healthy donors.

Immune Complex

A cluster of interlocking antigens and antibodies.

Immune Function

Production of cells that fight disease or infection.

Immune Response

The reactions of the immune system to foreign substances.

Immune System

The complex group of cells and organs that defends the body against infection and disease.

Immunoassay

A test using antibodies to identify and quantify substances. Often the antibody is linked to a marker such as a fluorescent molecule, a radioactive molecule, or an enzyme.

Immunocompetent

Capable of developing an immune response.

Immunocompromised

Having a weakened immune system caused by certain diseases or drugs. This condition is sometimes present in the very young and the very old, in patients with HIV, and in patients who have received a bone marrow transplant.

Immunocytochemistry or Immonohistochemistry

A laboratory test that uses antibodies to detect specific chemical antigens in cells or tissue samples viewed under a microscope. This procedure can be used to help detect and classify cancer cells. It is also one of the methods used for estrogen receptor assays and progesterone receptor assays.

Immunodeficiency Syndrome

The inability of the body to produce an immune response.

Immunoglobulin Therapy

Treatment with antibodies to prevent infection.

Immunoglobulins

A family of large protein molecules, also known as antibodies.

Immunology

Study of how the body resists infection and certain other diseases. Knowledge gained in this field is important to cancer treatments based on the principles of immunology.

Immunophenotyping

A method that uses the reaction of antibodies with antigens to determine the specific types of cell in a sample of blood cells, marrow cells, or lymph node cells. A tag is attached to antibodies that react with specific antigens in the cell. The tag can be identified by the laboratory equipment used for the test. As cells carrying their array of antigens are tagged with specific antibodies, they can be identified; for example, mylegenous leukemia cells can be distinguished from lymphocytic leukemia cells. This method helps to subclassify cell types which may, in turn, help to decide on the best treatment to apply in that type of leukemia or lymphoma.

Immunosuppression

Reduction of the immune responses, for instance by giving drugs to prevent transplant rejection.

Immunotherapy

Treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system to fight infection and disease.

Immunotoxin

A monoclonal antibody linked to a natural toxin, a toxic drug, or a radioactive substance.

Implant Radiation

A type of radiation therapy for cancer that places a small container of radioactive materials into a tumor in an effort to destroy it.

Implantable Pump

A small device installed under the skin to administer a steady dose of drugs.

Impotence

Inability to have an erection.

In Situ Cancer

Early cancer that has not spread to any other tissue.

Incidence

One of the two principal measures of how common a disease is in a defined population.

Incision

A cut made during surgery.

Incontinence

Inability to control the flow of urine from the bladder.

Indigenous Medical Systems (IMS)

are alternative medical systems found among indigenous peoples throughout the world. These systems generally use religion, spirituality, herbal medicine and rituals to treat medical and emotional problems.

Indwelling Catheter

Several types of catheters are available for patients receiving intensive chemotherapy and/or nutritional support. An indwelling catheter is a special tubing inserted into a large vein in the upper chest. The catheter is tunneled under the skin of the chest to keep it firmly in place. The external end of the catheter can be used to administer medications, fluids, or blood products or to withdraw blood samples. With meticulous care, catheters can remain in place for long periods of time if necessary.

Infertility

The condition of being unable to produce offspring. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy often cause temporary or permanent reproductive difficulties. The extent of these problems depends on the patient's age and sex and on the dosage and duration of treatment.

Infiltrating Cancer

An invasive cancer.

Infiltration

The leaking of fluid or medicines into tissues, which can cause swelling.

Inflammatory Response

Redness, warmth, swelling, pain, and loss of function produced in response to infection, as the result of increased blood flow and an influx of immune cells and secretions.

Informed Consent

The process by which a patient learns about and understands the purpose and aspects of a clinical trial or other procedures and then agrees or declines to participate.

Infraclavicular Nodes

Lymph nodes located beneath the clavicle (collar bone).

Infuse-a-Port (Mediport)

A small device containing a thin catheter that is generally implanted under the skin for administration of drugs and nutrients.

Infusion

The slow introduction if fluids or medications into the bloodstream.

Infusion Pump

A small battery-driven device used to deliver a constant or intermittent flow of anticancer drugs or pain medication.

Injection

Pushing a medication into the body with the use of a syringe and needle.

Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6)

is a chemical found in beans, brown rice, corn, sesame seeds, wheat bran, and other high fiber foods. It aids in the metabolism of insulin and calcium, hair growth, bone marrow cell metabolism, eye membrane development, and helps the liver transfer fat to other parts of the body.

Insulin

A hormone made by the islet cells of the pancreas. Insulin controls the amount of sugar in the blood.

Integrative Medicine

focuses on combining conventional medicin with CAM to create a comprehensive approach to healing.

Interferon

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 the division of cancer cells, causing them to become sluggish and die.

Interleukins

A major group of lymphokines and monokines.

Intermittent Androgen Suppression

A technique in which androgen blockade with medications is discontinued once PSA levels fall and restarted when PSA levels begin to rise again.

Internal Mammary Nodes

Lymph nodes beneath the breast bone on each side. Some breast cancers may spread to these nodes.

Internal Radiation

The placement of radioactive material inside the body as close as possible to the cancer.

Intestine

Part of the digestive system between the stomach and the anus, also called the bowel.

Intracarotid

The carotid artery is the main artery in the neck; it carries blood from the heart to the brain.

Intracranial

Intracranial tumors occur in the brain.

Intraductal Papilloma

Small, finger-like, polyp-like, noncancerous growths in the breast ducts that may cause bloody nipple discharge. These are most often found in women 45 to 50 years of age. When many papillomas exist, breast cancer risk is slightly increased.

Intraepithelial

Within the layer of cells that forms the surface or lining of an organ.

Intrahepatic Infusion

The delivery of anticancer drugs directly to the blood vessels of the liver.

Intraoperative Radiation Therapy

Radiation treatment given during surgery.

Intraperitoneal

Within the abdominal cavity.

Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

Treatment in which anticancer drugs are put directly into the abdomen through a thin tube.

Intraperitoneal Infusion

A method of delivering fluids and drugs directly to tumors in the peritoneal cavity.

Intrathecal

The thin space between the lining of the spinal cord and brain. Anticancer drugs cannot be infused into the spinal fluid to treat or prevent cancers in the brain and spinal cord.

Intrathecal Chemotherapy

Treatment with drugs that are injected into the fluid surrounding the brain and the spinal cord.

Intravenous (IV)

A method of supplying fluids and medications, using a needle inserted in a vein.

Intravenous Pylogram (IVP)

An x-ray examination of the kidneys by injecting a dye into a vein.

Intraventricular

The delivery of a drug into a space within an organ.

Intravesical

Within the bladder.

Invasive

Growing into and destroying normal tissues.

Invasive Cancer

Cancer that has spread beyond the area it developed in, to involve adjacent tissues. For example, invasive breast cancers develop in milk glands (lobules) or milk passages (ducts) and spread to the adjacent fatty breast tissue. Some invasive cancers spread to the distant areas of the body (metastasize), but others do not. Also called infiltrating cancer.

Invasive Cervical Cancer

Cancer that has spread from the surface of the cervix to tissue deeper in the cervix or to other parts of the body.

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

A cancer that starts in the milk passages (ducts) of the breast and then breaks through the duct wall, where it invades the fatty tissue of the breast. When it reaches this point, it has the potential to spread elsewhere in the breast, as well as to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymphatic system. Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer, accounting for about 80% of breast malignancies.

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma

A cancer that arises in the milk-producing glands of the breast and then breaks through the walls to involve the adjacent fatty tissue. From this site, it may then spread elsewhere in the breast. About 15% of invasive breast cancers are invasive lobular carcinomas. It is often difficult to detect by physical examination or even by mammography.

Investigational New Drug

A drug approved by the FDA to be used in clinical trials but not approved for commercial marketing.

Investigator

An investigator is the experienced clinical researcher who prepares a protocol or treatment plan and implements it with patients.

Iodine

An element. Radiation therapy often uses radioactive forms of iodine in treatment.

Islet Cell Cancer

Cancer arising from cells in the islets of Langerhans.

Islets of Langerhans

Clusters of cells within the pancreas that produce insulin, glucagon, and pancreatic polypeptide, forming the endocrine portion of the gland. Also called Islands of Langerhans.

Isotopic Scan

A diagnostic procedure for examining the brain, bones, and other organs. A radioactive substance is swallowed or injected and collects in certain organs, enabling doctors to study these areas in detail.

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Jaundice

A condition in which the skin and the whites of the eyes become yellow and the urine darkens. Jaundice occurs when the liver is not working properly or when a bile duct is blocked.

Jejunostomy

A surgical procedure to create an artificial opening to the jejunum through the abdominal wall. It may be a permanent or a temporary opening.

Jejunum

The intermediate or middle of the three portions of the small intestine, connected to the duodenum and the ileum.

Joint

Any one of the connections between bones.

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO)

A private nongovernmental agency that establishes guidelines for the operation of hospitals and other health care facilities, conducts accreditation programs and surveys, and encourages the attainment of high standards of institutional medical care in the United States.

Juicing

involves extracting juices from fresh fruit and uncooked vegetables as a primary part of the diet.

Juxta

Prefix meaning 'near'.

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Kampo

is the name for traditional Japanese herbal medicine that involves the use of more than 210 different herbal preparations. Three common kampo preparations are Juzen-taiho-to, Hochu-ekki-to, and Sho-saiko.

Kaposi's Sarcoma

A relatively rare type of cancer characterized by tumors on the skin. Until the onset of the AIDS epidemic, this disease most often was found in the elderly or those with weak immune systems.

Karyotype

The systematic arrangement, using photographs, of the 46 human chromosomes of a cell in 23 matched pairs (maternal and paternal member of each pair) by length from longest to shortest and other features.

Kegel Exercises

Exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.  Can help men recover bladder function faster after prostate surgery.

Kidneys

A pair of organs in the abdomen that remove waste from the blood. The waste leaves the body as urine.

Killer Cells

White blood cells that attack tumor cells and body cells that have been invaded by foreign substances.

Kombucha Tea

is made from the flat, pancake-like culture known as the Kombucha mushroom. It is actually not a mushroom but is called one because of its appearance. The culture or mushroom sac used in Kombucha tea consists of several species of yeast and bacteria.

Krukenberg Tumor

A tumor of the ovary caused by the spread of stomach cancer.

Kupffer Cells

Specialized macrophages in the liver.

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Lactation

Production of milk in the breast.

Laetrile

is a CAM biologic/orthomolecular therapy consisting of a compound produced from amygdalin, a naturally occurring substance found primarily in the kernels of apricots, peaches, and almonds.

LAK Cells

Lymphocytes transformed in the laboratory into lymphokine-activated killer cells, which attack tumor cells.

Langerhans Cells

Dendritic cells in the skin that pick up antigen and transport it to lymph nodes.

LAP (Leukocyte Alkaline Phosphates)

This white cell enzyme is markedly decreased in its activity in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. It has been used as a laboratory test to distinguish the increase in white blood cell count from causes other than myelogenous leukemia. In the former cases, the activity may be normal or elevated and, in the case of chronic myelgenous leukemia, it is decreased.

Laparoscopy

The insertion of a thin lighted tube through the abdominal wall to inspect the inside of the abdomen and perform biopsies

Laparotomy

A method of examining the abdominal cavity by means of a laparoscope, a type of viewing tube inserted through an incision in the abdomen.

Larch (Larix occidentalis, Larix laricina, Larix decidua, Larix europae)

is a tall, deciduous tree that grows in central Europe, North America, northern Russia, and Siberia. The bark and its resin are used in herbal remedies, as they contain its main active ingrediant, larch arabinogalactan.

Large Cell Carcinoma

Originates most frequently in the smaller bronchi. The larger cells found in this tumor include two subtypes- giant cells and clear cells. A diagnosis of large cell lung cancer is made when the tumor cells cannot be classified as epidermoid, adenocarcinoma, or small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Laryngeal

Having to do with the larynx.

Laryngectomee

A person who has had his or her voice box removed.

Laryngectomy

Surgical removal of all or part of the larynx.

Laryngoscope

A flexible, lighted tube used to examine the larynx.

Laryngoscopy

Examination of the larynx with a mirror (indirect laryngoscopy) or with a laryngoscope (direct laryngoscopy).

Larynx

The area of the throat containing the vocal cords.

Laser

An intensely powerful beam of light that is used in surgery and in photodynamic therapy.

Laser Therapy

The use of a narrow beam of light to kill cancer cells.

Latissimus Dorsi Flap Procedure

A method of breast reconstruction that uses the long flat muscle of the back, by rotating it to the chest area.

Leiomyosarcoma

A tumor of the muscles in the the uterus or abdomen/pelvis.

Leptomeningeal Cancer

Involves the tissue that covers the brain and spinal cord.

Leptomeningeal Metastases

Tumor cells that have spread from the original tumor to the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord.

Lesion

Any abnormal change in tissue due to disease or injury, such as a wound, infection, tumor, or abscess.

Lesser Omentum

A membranous extension of the peritoneum extending from the portal fissure of the liver to the diaphragm and enclosing the end of the esophagus.

Leukaphersis

Removal of blood to harvest specific blood cells; the remaining blood is returned to the body.

Leukemia

Cancer of the blood. White blood cells may be produced in excessive amounts and are unable to work properly.

Leukocytes

All white blood cells.

Leukocytosis

An increase in the upper limit of normal in white blood cells.

Leukopenia

A decrease below normal in the concentration of blood leukocytes (white blood cells).

Leukoplakia

Raised white patches on the mucous membranes around the mouth or vulva (the area around the opening of the vagina) that may result from a malignant change in the tissue.

light therapy

The use of light and color to treat a variety of health problems, from depression to cancer. Full-spectrum and bright white light are used to effectively treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), but practitioners' claims for its ability to treat most other health problems remain unsubstantiated.

Limited Breast Surgery

Also called lumpectomy, segmental excision, and tylectomy. It removes the breast cancer and a small amount of tissue around the cancer, but preserves most of the breast. It is almost always combined with axiliary lymph node removal and is followed by radiation therapy.

Linear Accelerator

A machine used in radiation therapy to treat cancer. It generates gamma rays and electron beams.

Lipids

Fats found in the body.

Liposarcoma

A rare cancer of the fat cells.

Liver

A large organ located in the upper abdomen that aids in digestion and removes waste products from the blood.

Liver metastasis

The process by which cells from an original tumor spread via the blood or lymph system and end up in the liver.

Living Will

A signed document that describes under what conditions a person wants life-sustaining equipment to be used.

Livingston-Wheeler Therapy

is a CAM cancer method that includes cavvines, antibiotics, vitamin and mineral supplements, digestive enzymes, cleansing enemas, and a vegetarian diet.

Lobe

1. A part of any organ, demarcated by sulci, fissures, or connective tissue, as the lobes of the brain, liver, and lungs.

2. A roundish projection of any structure (ear lobe).

Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS)

A very early type of breast cancer that develops within the milk-producing glands of the breast and does not penetrate through the wall of the glands. Researchers think that this kind of cancer almost never progresses to invasive lobular cancer. However, having this type of cancer places a woman at increased risk of developing an invasive breast cancer later in life which can occur in either breast. For this reason, it is important for women with lobular carcinoma in situ to have a physical examination three times a year and an annual mammogram.

Local Anesthetic

The direct administration of a pain-killing drug to a specific area of the body.

Local Therapy

Treatment that affects cells in a tumor and the area close to it.

Local Treatment

Treatment that affects the tumor and the area close to it.

Localized

Restricted to the site of origin without evidence of spread.

Localized Breast Cancer

A cancer that started in the breast and is confined to the breast.

Locally Advanced Cancer

Cancer that has spread only to nearby tissues or lymph nodes.

Long-Term Side Effects of Transplant

Largely related to pretransplantation conditioning regimens. Some of the problems include infertility, growth, cataracts, and secondary cancers.

Low-Grade Lymphoma

Lymphomas that tend to grow and spread slowly. Patients with no symptoms, even with widespread disease, may require no initial treatment.

Lower GI Series

X-rays of the lower gastrointestinal tract (the large intestine and rectum) by the introduction of barium through a tube inserted into the rectum.

Lubricant

A fluid, ointment, or other agent capable of diminishing friction and making a surface slippery.

Lumbar Puncture

A diagnostic procedure that involves taking and examining an sample of spinal fluid by means of a hollow needle inserted into the lower spine.

Lump

Any kind of mass in the tissues.

Lumpectomy

Surgical excision of a tumor without removing large amounts of surrounding tissue.

Lung Metastases

Tumor cells that have spread from the original tumor to the lung.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

A pituitary hormone that stimulates the release of testosterone from the testicles.

Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LH-RH)

A hormone released by the hypothalamus that stimulates the pituitary gland to produce luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).

Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LH-RH)Analogs

Medications with chemical structures almost identical to natual LH-RH.  They block the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland, thus reducing testosterone secretion from the testicles.

Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LHRH) Agonist

A substance that closely resembles LHRH, which controls the production of sex hormones. However, LHRH agonists affect the body differently than LHRH does. LHRH agonists keep the testicles from producing hormones.

Lycopene

is the compound that gives tomatoes and certain other fruits and vegetables their color. It is one of the major carotenoids in the diet of North Americans and Europeans.

Lymph

An almost colorless fluid that travels through the lymphatic system and carries cells that help fight infection and disease.

Lymph Nodes

Small, bean-shaped structures, that are part of the immune system, that store special cells which can trap cancer cells or bacteria traveling through the body.

Lymphadenectomy

A surgical procedure in which the lymph nodes are removed and examined to see if they contain cancer.

Lymphangiography

An x-ray procedure that uses radio-opaque dye to examine the lymph system.

Lymphatic System

The tissues and organs that produce, store, and carry cells that fight infection and disease. This system includes the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes.

Lymphatic Vessels

A bodywide network of channels, similar to the blood vessels, which transport lymph to the immune organs and into the bloodstream.

Lymphedema

An infrequent complication after breast cancer treatment. Swelling in the arm caused by excess fluid that collects after lymph nodes and vessels are removed by surgery or treated by radiation. This condition is usually persistent although not painful.

Lymphocytes

Small white blood cells produced in the lymphoid organs that aid in the immune defenses.

Lymphoid Organs

The organs of the immune system, where lymphocytes develop and congregate. They include the bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes, spleen, and various other clusters of lymphoid tissue. The blood vessels and lymphatic vessels can also be considered lymphoid organs.

Lymphokine

Powerful chemical substances secreted by lymphocytes. These soluble molecules help direct and regulate the immune responses.

Lymphoma

A cancer of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) that usually develops in lymph nodes. About 5% of cancers are lymphomas. The two main types of lymphomas are Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Lymphoma can occur as a result of some types of cancer therapies.

Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis

Destructive growth of lymph cells, usually involving the lungs, skin, kidneys, and central nervous system. Grades I and II are not considered cancerous, but grade III is considered lymphoma.

Lymphoproliferative Disorders

Diseases in which cells of the lymphatic system grow excessively.

Lyprinol

is a fatty acid extracted from Perna canaliculus, a green-lipped mussel (shellfish) native to New Zealand. Lyprinol is promoted in New Zealand as a dietary supplement that can kill cancer cells and treat arthritis and asthma.

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M

macrobiotic diet

A system stressing a life balance between yin and yang qualities: yin foods grow above ground and usually have a high water content, while yang foods tend to be roots, stems and seeds grown in colder, wet environments. Grains are closest to a neutrality between yin and yang and are therefore the most important component of the macrobiotic diet. Utensils used to prepare foods are carefully chosen, avoiding copper or aluminum. Lengthy cooking is usually required. Malnutrition is a potential problem.

Macrophage

A large and versatile immune cell that acts as a microbe-devouring phagocyte, an antigen-presenting cell, and an important source of immune secretions.

Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging

A diagnostic procedure in which a magnet is linked to a computer and used to create pictures of an area inside the body.

magnetic therapy

See “electromagnetic therapy.”

Maintenance Therapy

Treatment that is given to help prevent relapse in patients whose cancer is in remission.

Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa)

an edible mushroom from the species Grifola frondosa. Maitake D-fraction(r) is an extract of the mushroom marketed as a food supplement in the United States and Japan.

Major Histocompatible Complex (MHC)

A group of genes that controls several aspects of the immune response. MHC genes code for self markers on all body cells.

Malabsorption Syndrome

A group of symptoms resulting from the body's inability to properly absorb nutrients.

Malignant Ascites

A condition in which fluid containing cancer cells collects in the abdomen.

Malignant Meningioma

A rare, quickly growing tumor that occurs in the membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord.

Malignant Mesothelioma

A rare form of cancer in which malignant cells are found in the sac lining the chest or abdomen. It is usually associated with exposure to asbestos particles.

Malignant Tumor

An abnormal mass of tissue having cancerous cells that will grow and divide without control, may invade nearby tissue, and can spread throughout the body via the bloodstream and lymphatic system.

MALT Lymphoma

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma is a type of cancer that arises in cells in mucosal tissues that are involved in antibody production.

Mammogram

An x-ray of the breast.

Mammoplasty

Plastic surgery to reconstruct the breast or to change the shape, size, or position of the breast. Reduction mammoplasty reduces the size of the breast. Augmentation mammoplasty enlarges a woman's breast, usually with implants.

Manipulative and Body-Based Methods

are CAM therapies that manipulate bone, soft tissues and/or organs in an attempt to restore skeletal and neuromuscular integrity, thereby harmonizing the entire system.

mantra

An uplifting, sometimes mystical word or phrase usually associated with meditation. In Ayurvedic medicine, a category of Satvajaya, or sound therapy, designed to change the vibratory patterns of the mind.

Manual Healing

Type of complementary or alternative treatment, such as massage, as categorized by the National Cancer Institute.

Manul Lymph Drainage

is a specialized form of face and neck massage designed to stimulate the lymphatic flow and clear the system of toxins. This technique is often used in conjunction with aromatherapy.

Margins

Areas of normal tissue around a tumor. Also refers to the edges of tissues that have been surgically removed.

Marrow Fibrosis

The development of fibrous tissue in the bone marrow. Marrow fibrosis interferes with blood cell production.

massage

Manipulation of tissues and muscles by rubbing, stroking, kneading, or tapping. It is the most basic of all bodywork, frequently used for musculoskeletal problems.

Mast Cell

A granule-containing cell found in tissue. The contents of the mass cells, along with those of the basophils, are responsible for the symptoms of allergy.

Mastectomy

Surgery to remove all or part of the breast and sometimes other tissue.

Mastitis

Inflammation or infection of the breast.

Mastoplexy

Surgery to lift a breast that sags.

Match

In marrow transplantation, the word “match” refers to how similar the HLA typing is between the donor and the recipient. The best kind of match is an “identical match”. This means that all six of the HLA antigens are the same between the donor and the recipient. This type of match is described as a “6 of 6 match”. Donors and recipients who are “mismatched” one antigen are considered a “5 of 6 match”, and may be considered suitable for marrow transplantation.

Mature

Fully developed.

Measurable Disease

A tumor that can be accurately measured in size. This information can be used to judge response to treatment.

Mediastinoscopy

A procedure involving the insertion of a tube into the chest, so that the doctor can view the organs in the mediastinum, or the area between the lungs (including the heart and its veins and arteries, the trachea, the esophagus, the bronchi, and lymph nodes). An incision is made at the base of the neck above the breastbone to insert the tube.

Medical Castration

The administration of medication to interfere with the manufacture or actions of testoterone.

Medical Oncologist

A doctor who diagnosis and treats cancer using chemotherapy and hormone therapy.

meditation

The process of focusing one's thoughts or engaging in contemplation or reflection. As a complementary therapy, a method of reaching the mind's inner reservoir of creative thought and energy, as in Transcendental Meditation. Meditation can lower heart rate and adress some blood pressure problems, help alleviate chronic pain and reduce stress.

Medullary Carcinoma

A special type of infiltrating ductal carcinoma with especially sharp boundaries between tumor tissue and normal tissue. About 5% of breast cancers are medullary carcinomas. The outlook for this kind of cancer is considered to be better than average.

Medulloblastoma

A malignant brain tumor that begins in the lower part of the brain and can spread to the spine or other parts of the body.

megavitamin therapy

Taking doses of vitamins far above levels recommended for general good health in order to prevent or cure certain diseases. Excessive amounts of certain vitamins can cause liver, bone, and nerve function damage as well as rapid pulse, insomnia, and other disorders.

Melanin

The pigment of the skin. The amount of this substance accounts for variations in skin color in different people and different races.

Melanocytes

Cells that form and contain a pigment called melanin.

Melanoma

Cancer of the cells that produce pigment in the skin. Melanoma usually begins with a mole.

Melatonin

is a horomone produced by the pineal gland, which is located just beneath the center of the brain. Melatonin is also manufactured synthetically and used as a supplement.

Membrane

A very thin layer of tissue that covers a surface.

Menarche

A woman's first menstrual period. Early menarche (before age 12) is a risk for breast cancer, possibly because the earlier a woman begins her period, the longer her exposure to estrogen.

Meningeal

Refers to the meninges, the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord.

Meningeal Metastases

Tumor cells that have spread from the original tumor to the tissue covering the brain and/or spinal cord.

Meninges

The three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.

Meningioma

A type of tumor that occurs in the meninges, the membranes that cover and protect the brain and the spinal cord.

Menopause

The time in a woman's life when monthly cycles of menstruation cease forever and the level of hormones produced by the ovaries decreases. Menopause usually occurs in the late 40's or 50's, but it can also be caused by surgical removal of both ovaries, or by some chemotherapies that destroy ovarian function.

Menstrual Cycle

The hormone changes that lead up to a period (menstruation). For most women, one cycle takes about 28 days.

Menstruation

Periodic discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus. Until menopause, menstruation occurs approximately every 28 days when a woman is not pregnant.

meridians

From ancient Chinese medicine, particularly acupuncture, the fourteen main channels of energy or life force that run up and down the body and head. Each meridian is said to affect a particular organ or body system.

Merkel Cell Cancer

A rare type of cancer that develops on or just beneath the skin.

Mesenchymal

Refers to cells that develop into connective tissue, blood vessels, and lymphatic tissue.

Metabolic therapy

uses a combination of special diets and nutritional supplements in an attempt to remove “toxins” from the body and sgrengthen the body's defenses against disease. Also known as the Gonzalez Treatment.

Metabolism

The series of chemical changes which take place in an organism, by means of which food is manufactured and utilized and waste materials are eliminated.

Metachronous

At different times.

Metaplasia

The presence of a type of cell that does not normally appear in the tissue in which it is found.

Metastasis

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.

Metastatic Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer that has spread from the prostate to other parts of the body.

MGN3

A CAM biologic/orthomolecular therapy. MGN3is a polysaccharide derived from an extract of rice bran and modified by enzymes from Shitake mushrooms.

Microbes

Minute living organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.

Microcalcifications

Tiny deposits of calcium in the breast that can not be felt upon palpation but can be detected by a mammogram.

Micrometastases

The spread of cancer cells in groups so small that they can only be seen under a microscope.

Microorganisms

Microscopic plants or animals.

Microsurgery

Reconstructive surgery on small body parts performed under magnification using delicate instruments and precise techniques.

Middle Eastern Indigenous Medical System (IMS)

An alternative medical system based on the religion, spirituality, herbal medicine, and rituals of Middle Eastern culture used to treat medical and emotional problems.

Mind/Body Control

Type of complementary or alternative treatment, such as biofeedback or meditation, as categorized by the National Cancer Institute.

mineral

An inorganic substance, neither animal or vegetable. Minerals are found in the human body in small amounts and are replenished from food.

Mistletoe (Viscum album)

is a semi-parasitic plant that grows on several species of trees native to England, Europe, and western Asia. It differs from the mistletoe found in the United States. The parts of the plant used in herbal remedies are its leaves and twigs.

Mitosis

The process by which a single cell divides into two cells. This process is also referred to as cell division, cell replication, or cell growth.

Mixed Lymphocyte Culture (MLC)

A test which measures the level of reactivity between donor and recipient lymphocytes.

Modality

A method of treatment.

Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP)

is a form of pectin that has been altered so that it can be more easily absorbed by the digestive tract. Pectin is a carbohydrate found in most plants, and is particularly plentiful in fruits such as apples, grapefruits, and plums.

Modified Radical Mastectomy

Surgery to remove the breast , the underarm lymph nodes, and the lining over the pectoral muscles.

Modulator

A specific inductor that brings out characteristics peculiar to a definite region.

MOH's Technique

A chemosurgical technique for removing a skin cancer one layer at a time, until only healthy tissue remains. This method ensures that the entire cancer is removed while taking as little healthy tissue as possible.

Molecule

The smallest amount of a specific chemical substance that can exist alone. (To break a molecule down into its constituent atoms is to change its character. A molecule of water, for instance, reverts to oxygen and hydrogen.)

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.

Monocytes

A large phagocytic white blood cell which, when it enters tissue, develops into a macrophage.

Monokines

Powerful chemical substances secreted by monocytes and macrophages. These soluble molecules help direct and regulate the immune responses.

Morbidity

Being diseased. The morbidity ratio is the number of diseased people to the number of healthy people in a community.

Mortality

The death rate, measured in the number of deaths per 100,000 people per year.

moxa

Another name for dried mugwort. Used in moxibustion by burning on the ends of needles, or rolled into sticks or cones that are then heated; said to increase the flow of qi in the body.

moxibustion (or moxabustion)

A therapy used by Chinese herbal practitioners in which mugwort is burned on or very close to the body at an identified affected site to increase circulation and promote healing.

MTH-68

is a live strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV).

Mucosa

The lining of the mouth and gastrointestinal tract.

Mucositis

Inflammation of the lining of the mouth or gastrointestinal tract.

Multicentric Breast Cancer

Breast cancer occurring in multiple areas of a breast.

Multidrug Resistance

A characteristic of cells that make them resistant to the effects of several different classes of drugs. These are several forms of multidrug resistance. They each are determined by genes that govern how the cell will respond to the chemical agents. The first identified mechanism of multidrug resistance (or MDR) involves the cell's ability to pump several drugs out of cells. A pump in the cell wall rapidly rejects drugs out of the cell preventing them from reaching a toxic concentration. In cells, the resistance to drugs can be traced to the expression of genes that direct the formation of high amounts of the protein that prevents the drugs form having their effects in the malignant cells.

Multimodality Therapy

The combined use of more than one method of treatment, for example, surgery and chemotherapy.

Multiple Myeloma

A malignant disorder of the plasma cells. Multiple myeloma frequently is associated with bone pain and susceptibility to infection.

Muscularis Propria

Referring to a deeper layer of the colon wall.

Music Therapy

A method that consists of the active or passive use of music in order to promote healing and enhance quality of life.

Mutates

Changes, usually referring to tissues or cells in the body.

Mutation

A change in a gene potentially capable of being transmitted to offspring.

Mycosis Fungoides

A cancer of the body's immune or defense system. This cancer, also called T-cell lymphoma, first appears in the form of skin tumors on the buttocks, back, and shoulders.

Myelin

The fatty substance that covers and protects nerves.

Myeliod

Referring to myelocytes, a type of white blood cell.

Myelodysplastic

A syndrome or disease of the marrow in which syndrome inadequate platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells are made. Sometimes a precursor to AML.

Myelofibrosis

A chronic disease characterized by fibrous material in the marrow, and enlarged spleen, and anemia.

Myelogenous

Referring to myelocytes, a type of white blood cell.

Myelogram

An x-ray procedure by which a dye is injected into the spinal column to show any pathology of the spinal cord.

Myeloma

The uncontrolled growth of blood plasma cells in the bone marrow. It results in the destruction of bone tissue.

Myeloproliferative

A group of disorders characterized by abnormal proliferation by one or more types of marrow cells. Four disorders are generally included in this category: polycythemia vera (PV), myelofibrosis, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), and primary thrombocythemia. Most commonly seen in people over 50 years of age.

Myelosuppression

A decrease in the production of red blood cells, platelets, and some white blood cells by the bone marrow.

Myofacial Neuromuscular Therapy

is a deep tissure massage that uses pressure point therapy to eliminate trigger points and toxicity in pain areas.

Myofascial Release

is a form of massage therapy based on the body's fascia system.

Myometrium

The muscular wall of the uterus.

Myotherapy

is a form of massage that targets trigger oints in soft tissues of the body to relieve pain and muscle tension and promote a sense of well being.

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N

Nasogastric Tube

A catheter inserted into the stomach through the nose and throat.

Nasopharynx

The upper part of the throat behind the nose. An opening on each side of the nasopharynx leads to the ear.

Natural Killer (NK) Cells

Large granule-filled lymphocytes that take on tumor cells and infected body cells. They are know as “natural” killers because they attack without first having to recognize specific antigens.

naturopathy (naturopathic medicine)

A drugless therapy based on the body's own ability to heal itself, facilitated by a naturopathic physician trained to treat the cause rather than the effect of illness or disease. Treatments most often are diet- and nutrition-oriented with attention given to the patient's personal history and lifestyle.

Neck Dissection

Surgery to remove lymph nodes and other tissues in the neck.

Needle Aspiration

A type of needle biopsy. Removal of fluid from a cyst or cells from a tumor. In this procedure, a needle and syringe is used to pierce the skin, reach the cyst or tumor, and with suction, draw up specimens for biopsy analysis. If the needle is thin, this procedure is called a fine needle aspiration or FNA.

Needle Biopsy

Removal of fluid, cells, or tissue with a needle for examination under a microscope. There are two types: fine needle aspiration (FNA) and core biopsy. FNA uses a thin needle and syringe to pierce the skin and draw up fluid or small tissue fragments from a cyst or tumor. A core needle biopsy uses a thicker needle to remove a cylindrical sample of tissue from a tumor.

Needle Localization

A procedure used to guide a surgical breast biopsy when the lump is difficult to locate or in areas that look suspicious on the x-ray but do not have a distinct lump. A thin needle is place into the breast. X-rays are taken and used to guide the needle to the suspicious area. The surgeon then uses the path of the needle as a guide to locate the abnormal area to be removed.

needling

The primary action of acupuncture. Very thin needles are inserted into the skin at key points along one of the many meridians or life-force lines on the body said to change the energy flow and thus promote healing.

Neoadjuvant Hormone Therapy

The use of hormone therapy prior to, or combined with, surgery or radiation therapy in an attempt to increase the chances of eradicating all the cancer cells.

Neoadjuvant Therapy

Treatment given before the primary treatment to improve the effectiveness of the treatment. It can be chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or hormone therapy.

Neoplasia

Abnormal new growth of cells.

Neoplasm

An abnormal growth (tumor) that starts from a single altered cell, a neoplasm may be benign or malignant. Cancer is a malignant neoplasm.

Neoplastic Meningitis

Cancer cells that have spread to the tissue that covers the brain and spinal cord.

Nephrectomy

Surgery to remove the kidney.

Nephrotomogram

A diagnostic series of x-rays if cross sections of the kidneys. The x-rays are taken from several angles before and after injection of a dye that outlines the kidneys.

Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET)

seeks to restore imbalances in the body system through removal of biochemical and bioelectrical charges stored in the brain and manifesting as illnesses in the body.

Neuro-Muscular Therapy

is a form of deep tissue massage applied to individual muscles to increase blood flow, reduce pain and release pressure on nerves caused by injuries to muscles and other soft tissues.

Neuroblastoma

A solid tumor of children, which in an advanced wide spread stage may be treated by bone marrow transplant.

Neuroectodermal Tumor

A tumor of the central or peripheral nervous system.

Neuroendocrine

Refers to the nervous system and the endocrine system.

Neurogenic Bladder

A dysfunction of the bladder due to a malfunction of the nerves that control the bladder.

Neurologist

A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous system.

Neuroma

A tumor that arises in the nerve cells.

Neuropathy

Changes in the way the nervous system functions.

Neurosurgeon

A doctor who specializes in surgery on the brain and other parts of the nervous system.

Neurotoxicity

The tendency of some treatments to cause damage to the nervous system.

Neutropenia

A decrease below normal in the concentration of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell.

Neutrophil

A white blood cell that is an abundant and important phagocyte.

Nevus

The medical term for a spot on the skin, such as a mole. The plural of nevus is nevi.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV)

is a CAM biologic/orthomolecular therapy developed to treat cancer. MTH-68 is the name of the virus strain.

Nipple

The tip of the breast; the pigmented projection in the middle of the areola. The nipple contains the opening of milk ducts from the breast.

Nipple Discharge

Any fluid coming from the nipple. It may be clear, milky, bloody, tan, gray, or green.

Nitrosoureas

A group of anticacner drugs that can cross the blood-brain barrier.

Nocturia

Frequent nighttime urination; a symptom of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and other disceases.

Nodal Status

Indicates whether a breast cancer has spread (node-positive) or not spread (node-negative) to the lymph nodes in the armpit (axiliary nodes). The number and site of positive axilliary nodes can help predict the risk of cancer recurrence.

Node-Negative

Cancer that has not spread to the lymph nodes.

Nodule

A small, solid lump that can be located by touch.

Nolvadex

Trade name for tamoxifen, an antiestrogen drug commonly used in breast cancer therapy.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

A term used for all types of lymphoma other than Hodgkin's disease.

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer

A skin cancer that does not involve the pigment cells of the skin. Examples are basal and squamous cell cancers.

Noninvasive

Cancer cells that have not spread or “invaded” nearby tissue.

Nonmetastatic

Cancer that has not spread from the original site to other sites in the body.

Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer

A lung cancer classification that includes epidermoid carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.

Normal Hormonal Changes

Changes in breast and other tissues that are caused by fluctuations in levels of female hormones during the menstrual cycle.

North American Indigenous Medical System (IMS)

An alternative medical system based on the religion, spirituality, herbal medicine, and rituals of Native American culture used to treat medical and emotional problems.

Nuclear Medicine

Another term for scans or tomograms.

Nuclear Medicine Scan

A method for localizing disease of internal organs such as the brain, liver, or bone, in which small amounts of a radioactive substance (isotope) are injected into the bloodstream. The isotope is concentrated in certain organs. A scintillation camera is used to produce an image of the organ and detect areas of disease.

Nucleic Acid

Large, naturally occurring molecules composed of chemical building blocks known as nucleotides. There are two kinds of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA.

Nucleus

The center of a cell where the DNA is housed and replicated. Studying the size and shape of a cell's nucleus under the microscope can help pathologists distinguish breast cancer cells from benign breast cells.

Nulliparous

A woman who has never given birth to a child.

Nurse Practitioner

A registered nurse (RN) who has completed additional courses and specialized training. Nurse practitioners can work with or without the supervision of a physician. They take on additional duties in diagnosis and treatment of patients, and in many states they may write prescriptions.

Nutrition and Special Diets

A CAM category exploring the role of food, including certain types and combinations of food, in preventing illness and facilitating recovery from disease.

nutritional therapy

The use of dietary strategies to promote good health or treat illness.

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O

Oat Cell Cancer

Lung cancer cells in which malignant cells look like oats when viewed under a microscope; also known as small cell lung cancer.

Observation

The act of watching and monitoring carefully and attentively.

Obstruction

The condition of being obstructed or clogged. Many times this is used in reference to a blockage of the colon which causes pain and swelling of the abdomen.

Occult Blood Test

A test to check whether a small sample of stool contains traces of blood, a sign of possible cancer and other diseases.

OKT3

A monoclonal antibody that targets mature T cells.

Oleander (Nerium oleander, Oleandri polium, Thevatia peruviana)

is a poisonous evergreen shrub identified by its fragrant white, rose, or purple flowers, whorled leaves, and long follicles containing seeds. The active ingredients are extracted from the leaves.

Oligodendroglial Tumors

Tumors that begin in the brain cells which provide support and nourishment for the cells that transmit nerve impulses.

Oligodendroglioma

A type of brain tumor.

Oligonucleotide

A sequence of nucleic acids.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid

A type of fat obtained in the diet that is involved in immunity.

Omentum

An extension of the peritoneum that enfolds one or more adjacent organs with the stomach.

Ommaya Reservior

A device implanted under the scalp and used to deliver anticancer drugs to the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Oncocytoma

A tumor of the thyroid gland, usually benign. Oncocytomas are mainly made up of Hurtle Cells (large cells). Occasionally they may become locally invasive and, in rare instances, metastasize.

Oncogene

A potentially cancer-inducing gene. Under normal conditions, such genes play a role in the growth and proliferation of cells, but when altered (mutated) in some way, they may cause the cell to be transformed to a malignant state.

Oncologist

A doctor who is specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Medical oncologists specialize in the use of chemotherapy and other drugs to treat cancer. Radiation oncologists specialize in the use of x-rays (radiation) to kill tumors. Surgical oncologists specialize in performing operations to treat cancer.

Oncology

The branch of medicine concerned with the study of malignancy (cancer).

Oncology nurse

A registered nurse trained in caring for cancer patients. The oncology nurse can provide a number of important services for the patient, including: the administration of chemotherapy, conducting educational programs for the patient before, during, and after treatment, such as preparing a patient for chemotherapy by explaining what it is, how it is performed, the side effects, etc., providing special care for patients undergoing operations that change their body function or lifestyle, such as removal of a breast or an ostomy for colon or bladder cancer, helping plan at-home care and rehabilitation, and helping the patient and the patient's family with psychosocial issues.

Oncology Social Worker

A person with a master's degree in social work who has specialized in working with cancer patients. The oncology social worker provides counseling and assistance to people with cancer and their families, especially in dealing with the non-medical crises that can result from cancer, such as financial problems, housing when treatments must be taken at a facility far away from home, and child care.

One-Step Procedure

Surgery during which the procedure to diagnose the presence of breast cancer is followed by immediate treatment. The patient is given general anesthesia and does not know until she wakes up if the diagnosis was cancer or if a mastectomy was performed. Once the only option in breast cancer, the one-step procedure is now rarely used.

Oophorectomy

Surgery to remove the ovaries.

Ophthalmoscope

A lighted instrument used to examine the inside of the eye, including the retina and the optic nerve.

Opportunistic Infection

An infection in an immunosuppressed person caused by an organism that does not usually trouble people with healthy immune systems.

Opsonize

To coat an organism with antibodies or a complement protein so as to make it palatable to phagocytes.

Optic Nerve

The nerve that carries messages from the retina to the brain.

Oral

Of or pertaining to the mouth.

Orchiectomy

The surgical removal of one or both testicles. It is a means to reduce the production of the hormone testosterone as part of the treatment for prostate cancer.

organ

A differentiated part of the body that performs a specific function.

Organism

An individual living thing.

Oropharynx

The middle part of the throat that includes the soft palate, the base of the tongue, and the tonsils.

orthodox medicine

Health care based on scientifically proven principles; conventional medical care, practiced by physicians trained in recognized medical schools. The dominant type of care practiced in most developed nations in the world.

Osteoclast

A large type of multinucleated bone cell that functions in the development and periods of growth or repair, such as the breakdown and resorption of osseous (bony) tissue.

Osteogenic Sarcoma

A malignant bone tumor that occurs primarily in adolescents and elderly people. It usually affects the long bones of the arms and legs.

Osteolytic

Causing the breakdown of bone.

osteopathy

A medical philosophy based on the concept that the body can fight disease if it is in a “normal structural relationship,” is adequately nourished, and is not adversely affected by environmental conditions. It follows generally accepted physical, surgical, and medicinal techniques for treatment and diagnosis. Some osteopathic physicians practice joint manipulation, postural reeducation, and physical therapy to correct structural problems.

Osteoporosis

Breakdown of bone, resulting in diminished bone mass and reduced bone strength. Osteoporosis can cause pain, deformity (especially of the spine), fractures (broken bones). This condition is common among postmenopausal women.

Osteosarcoma

A type of cancer of the bone.

Ostomy

An operation to create an opening from an area inside the body to the outside.

OTC (over the counter)

Describes medications legally sold without a physician's prescription.

Otolaryngologist

A doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the ear, nose, and throat.

Outpatient

A person who visits a hospital for treatment but does not remain there overnight.

Ovarian Ablation

Treatment to stop the functioning of the ovaries. The procedure may be surgery, radiotherapy, or drug treatment.

Ovary

Reproductive organ in the female pelvis. Normally a woman has two ovaries. The contain the eggs (ova) that, when joined with sperm, result in pregnancy. Ovaries are also the primary source of estrogen.

Overexpress

When a cell has an excess of a particular protein on its surface.

Ozone Therapy

is a CAM biologic/orthomolecular therapy that describes a number of different practices in which ozone is administered via gas or water to kill disease microorganisms, improve cellular function, and promote the healing of damaged tissues.

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P

Paget's Disease of the Nipple

A rare form of breast cancer that begins in the milk passage (ducts) and spreads to the skin of the nipple and areola. This affected skin may appear crusted, scaly, red, or oozing. The prognosis is generally better if these nipple changes are the only sign of breast disease and no lump can be felt.

Palliative Treatment

Therapy that relieves symptoms, such as pain, but is not expected to cure the disease. Its main purpose is to improve the patient's quality of life.

Palpation

Using the hands or fingers to examine. A palpable mass is one that can be felt.

Pancoast Tumor

Non-small cell lung cancer that originates in the upper portion of the lung and extends to other nearby tissues such as the ribs and vertebrae.

Pancreas

An organ of the digestive system located behind the stomach. The pancreas secretes various substances, such as digestive enzymes, insulin, and glucagon.

Pancreatectomy

Surgry to remove the pancreas. In a total pancreatectomy, the duodenum, common bile duct, gallbladder, spleen, and nearby lymph nodes are also removed.

Pancreatic Juices

Fluids made by the pancreas. Pancreatic juices contain proteins called enzymes that aid in digestion.

Pancytopenia

A decrease below normal in the concentration of the three major blood cell types; red cells, white cells, and platelets.

Pap smear

A smear of vaginal or cervical cells obtained for a Pap test.

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 an infection or inflammation. Also called Pap smear.

Papilledema

Swelling around the optic nerve, usually due to pressure on the nerve by a tumor.

Papilloma

A benign tumor that projects above the surface of the tissue from which it arises. Papillomas have clear-cut borders and are usually small and fairly round.

Paracentesis

Removing fluid from the abdomen using local anesthesia and a needle and syringe.

Paralysis

Loss of ability to move all or part of the body.

Parametrium

The lateral extension of the uterine subserous connective tissue into the broad ligament.

Parasite

A plant or animal that lives, grows, and feeds on or within another living organism.

Parenteral nutrition

A method of delivering nutrition, or other substances directly into a vein to supply the body's food needs.

Partial or Segmental Mastectomy

The removal of the cancer as well as some of the breast tissue around the tumor and the lining over the chest muscle below the tumor.

Passive Immunity

Immunity resulting from the transfer of antibodies or antiserum produced by another individual.

Pathogenic

Capable of causing or producing a disease.

Pathological Fracture

A break in a bone usually caused by cancer or some disease condition.

Pathological Staging

The extent that a cancer has spread, determined by a pathologist who has examined the regional lymph nodes and other tissues.

Pathologist

A doctor who identifies diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope.

Pathology

The branch of medicine concerned with disease, especially its structure and its functional effects on the body.

Pau d'Arco (Tabebuia impetiginosa, Tabebui avellanedae, Tabebuia heptaphylla, Tabebuia ipe')

is a large tree that grows in the rainforests of Central and South America. The inner bark of the tree, containing what is believed to be the active ingredient – lapachol, is used in herbal remedies.

PC-SPES

is a Chinese herbal remedy that was pulled from the market as of February, 2002 . The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to stop using this product. This is because PC-SPES capsules have been found to contain other prescription drugs that could cause serious health problems.

PDQ (Physician Data Query)

A computerized database supported by NCI that is available to physicians nationwide. It offers the latest information on standard treatments and ongoing clinical trials for each type and stage of cancer.

Peau D'Orange

A dimpled condition of the skin, resembling the skin of an orange. It is common in advanced breast cancer.

Pectoral Muscle

Muscles attached to the front of the chest wall and upper arms. The larger one is called pectoralis major, and a smaller one is called pectoralis minor. Because these muscles are next to the breast, breast cancer may rarely spread to the pectoral muscles.

Pediatric

Pertaining to children.

Pelvic

Having to do with the pelvis, the lower part of the abdomen, located between the hip bones.

Pelvic Exam

An examination of a woman's internal and external sex organs.

Pelvis

The lower part of the abdomen between the hip bones. Organs in a female's pelvis include the uterus, vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and rectum.

Penile Clamp

A device that compresses the penis to prevent urine from leaking.

Percent Free PSA

The amount of PSA not attached to blood proteins divided by the total amount of PSA.  Men with prostate cancer have a lower percentage of free PSA than men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography (PTC)

A test sometimes used to help diagnose cancer of the pancreas. During this test, a thin needle is put into the liver. Dye is injected into the bile ducts in the liver so that blockages can be seen on x-rays.

Perfusion

Bathing an organ or tissue with fluid. In regional perfusion, a specific area of the body receives high doses of anticancer drugs through a blood vessel. Such a procedure is performed to treat cancer that has not spread.

Pericardial Effusion

Presence of fluid inside the membrane that covers the heart.

Perimenopausal

Menopause starts when menstrual periods stop occurring, also called “change of life”. Perimenopausal refers to the time around the onset of menopause and is specifically defined for each clinical trial.

Perineal Prostatectomy

A type of radical prostatectomy in which the incision is made into the perineum instead of into the abdomen.

Perineal Surgery

An operation to remove the prostate gland through an incision made between the scrotum and the anus.

Perineum

The area between the scrotum and rectum.

Peripheral Blood

Cells with the potential to produce all the components of blood.

Peripheral Stem Cell

Immature cells from which blood cells that are found circulating in the bloodstream develop.

Peripheral Stem Cell Support

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.

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.

Perirectal

Around the rectum.

Peristalsis

The rippling motion of muscles in the digestive tract. In the stomach, this motion mixes food with gastric juices, turning it into thin liquid.

Peritoneal Cavity

The lower part of the abdomen that contains the intestines, the stomach, and the liver. It is bound by thin membranes.

Peritoneal Perfusion

A method of delivering fluids and drugs directly to tumors in the peritoneal cavity.

Peritoneum

The tissue that lines the abdominal wall and envelopes the organs of the abdominal cavity.

Permanent Section

Preparation of tissue for microscopic examination. The tissues is soaked in formaldehyde, processed in various chemicals, surrounded by a block of wax, sliced very thin, attached to a microscope slide and stained. This usually takes 1-2 days. It provides a clear view of the specimen so that the presence or absence of cancer can be determined.

Pernicious Anemia

A blood disorder caused by the lack of vitamin B12. Patients who have this disorder do not produce the substance in the stomach that allows the body to absorb vitamin B12.

PET (Positron Emission Tomography)

An x-ray test used to determine the activity and location of the tumor.

Petechiae

Pinhead-sized sites of bleeding in the skin. This type of bleeding results from a low platelet count. The small punctate hemorrhages are frequently seen on the legs, feet, trunk, and arms. They disappear gradually when the platelet count increases.

Peyer's Patches

A collection of lymphoid tissues in the intestinal tract.

Phagocytes

Large white blood cells that contribute to the immune defenses by ingesting microbes or other cells and foreign particles.

Phagocytosis

The process by which certain cells surround and destroy organisms and break down products of other cells.

Pharynx

The hollow tube about 5 inches long that starts behind the nose and ends at the top of the trachea and esophagus.

Phase I Trial

A trial to determine the best way to give a new treatment and what doses can be safely given. Phase I trials generally involve 20-80 patients.

Phase I/II Trial

A trial to study the safety, dosage levels, and response to a new treatment.

Phase II Trial

A trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a new treatment and to determine the common short-term side effects and risks associated with the new drug or procedure. Phase II trials generally involve several hundred patients.

Phase II/III Trial

A trial to study the response to a new treatment and the effectiveness of the treatment compared to the standard treatment regimen.

Phase III Trial

Once a treatment has been shown to be effective against cancer, it is studied in a phase III trial to compare the new treatment with the standard treatment regimen. Safety, effectiveness, dosage, and side effects are all evaluated. Phase III trials involve several hundred to several thousand patients.

Phase IV Trial

Once a treatment has been approved and is being marketed, it is studied in a phase IV trial to evaluate side effects of the new treatment that were not apparent in the phase III trial. Thousands of people are involved in the phase IV trial.

Philadelphia Chromosome

The name applied to the abnormality of the chromosome of the pair number 22 in the marrow cells of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. The abnormality results in shortened long arm of chromosome number 22. The observation was made at the University of Pennsylvania and named the Philadelphia chromosome. Since its discovery, the piece of chromosome lost has been shown to stick (translocate) to chromosome 9 in most cases. Indeed, some of chromosome 9 sticks (translocates) to chromosome 22. This is referred to as a balanced translocation, because virtually equal lengths of partial chromosome arms exchange position.

Phlebitis

A painful inflammation of the veins.

Photocoagulation

A cancer treatment in which a laser is used to destroy blood vessels entering a tumor in order to deprive the tumor of its nutrients.

Photodynamic Therapy

Treatment that destroys the cancer cells with lasers and drugs that become active when exposed to light.

Photosensitivity

Extreme sensitivity to the sun, leaving the patient prone to sunburns. This can be a side effect of some cancer drugs and radiation.

Phyllodes Tumor

Rare tumors of the breast.

Physiologic

Related to functions of the body. When used in a phrase “physiologic age”, it refers to an age assigned by general health as opposed to the calendar age.

Phytochemical

a biochemical derived from plants.

Phytotherapy

The use of plant-derived substances to treat a medical condition such a benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Pigment

A substance that gives color to tissue. Pigments are responsible for the color of skin, eyes, and hair.

Pilot Study

The initial study examining a new method or treatment.

Pineal Gland

A small gland located in the cerebrum.

Pineal region tumors

Types of brain cancer.

Pineoblastoma

A type of brain tumor.

Pineocytoma

A type of brain tumor.

Pituitary Gland

The main endocrine gland; it produces hormones that control other glands and many body functions, especially growth.

Placebo

An inert, inactive substance that is not distinguishable from the active substance, that may be used in clinical trials to compare the effects of a given treatment with no treatment.

placebo effect

Healing that results from the patient's belief in the treatment or therapist.

Plasma Cells

Large antibody-producing cells that develop from B cells.

Plastic Surgeon

A surgeon who rebuilds parts of the body, for example, breast reconstruction.

Platelet Count

The number of platelets in a blood sample.

Platelet Transfusion

The transfusion of donor platelets is frequently needed to support patients treated for acute leukemia. The platelets can be pooled from several unrelated donors and given as “pooled random-donor platelets”. It requires the platelets from about six one-unit blood donors to significantly raise the platelet count in a recipient. Sufficient platelets can be obtained from one donor by apheresis. The later technique skims the platelets of large volumes of blood passing through the apheresis machine. The red cells and plasma are returned to the donor. The advantage of single-donor platelets is that the patient is not exposed to the different antigens on platelets from many different people and is less likely to develop antibodies against donor platelets. HLA-matched platelet transfusion can be given from a related donor with an identical or very similar HLA tissue type. The platelets are collected by apheresis.

Platelets

Small blood cells (about one-tenth the volume of red cells) that stick to the sight of blood vessel injury, aggregate with each other, and seal off the injured blood vessel to stop bleeding.

Pleura

Two thin layers of tissue, one covering the lung and one lining the wall of the chest cavity, that protect and cushion the lungs. These two layers are separated by a small amount of fluid that acts as a lubricant, and allows the lungs to move smoothly during breathing.

Pleurodesis

Treatment to eliminate the space between the tissues in the chest cavity and the membrane that lines the cavity to prevent the build-up of fluid in that space.

Ploidy

A measure of the amount of DNA contained in a cell. Ploidy is a characteristic (marker) that helps predict how aggressive a cancer is likely to be. Cancers with the same amount of DNA as normal cells are called diploid and those with either more or less that that amount are aneuploid. About two-thirds of breast cancer are aneuploid.

Pneumatic Larynx

A devices that uses air to produce sound to help a laryngectomee talk.

Pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana)

is a shrub that is native to eastern North America, and cultivated throughout the world. The berries and dried roots, which are the most potent sections of the plant, are used in herbal remedies.

polarity therapy

Based on the concept that in health, life energy circulates within and around the body in five specific patterns of dynamic balance, similar to the five environmental elements of Ayurvedic medicine. One of these elements of energy flows through each finger and toe. When the normal energy pattern is interrupted, gentle manipulative therapy is applied to eliminate blockages, restore balance, and promote relaxation. Yoga exercises, diet, and counseling also are applied.

Poly-MVA

is a CAM biologic/orthomolecular therapy containing various minerals, vitamins, and amino acids such as lipoic acid, palladium, B 12, and other B complex vitamins. It is promoted as a nutritional supplement that is a nontoxic alternative to chemotherapy.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

A technique to expand trace amounts of DNA or RNA so that the specific type of the DNA or RNA can be determined. This technique has become useful in detecting a very low concentration of residual leukemia cells, too few to be seen using a microscope. The technique can detect the presence of one leukemia cell among five hundred thousand to one million non-leukemic cells. PCR requires a specific DNA (or RNA) abnormally or marker, like an oncogene, in the leukemic or lymphomatous cells for its use

Polymorph

Short for polymorphonuclear leukocyte or granulocyte.

Polyp

A growth of tissue protruding into a body cavity, such as a nasal or rectal polyp. Polyps may be benign or malignant.

Polypectomy

Removal of polyps, usually during a colonoscopy.

Polyposis

A rare inherited disorder in which numerous polyps are present in the colon and rectum. The probability of one or more polyps becoming cancerous is high.

Port-Implanted

A catheter connected to a quarter-sized disc that is surgically placed just below the skin in the chest or abdomen. The tube is inserted into a large vein or artery directly into the bloodstream. Fluids, drugs, or blood products can be infused, and blood can be drawn through a needle that is stuck into the disc.

Port-Peritoneal

A catheter connected to a quarter-sized disc that is surgically placed in the abdomen. The catheter is inserted to deliver chemotherapy to the abdominal cavity.

Positive Nodes

Lymph nodes that are enlarged upon physical examination and are suspected of being cancerous.

Postmenopausal

The time after menopause.

Postremission Therapy

Chemotherapy to kill leukemia cells that survive after remission induction therapy.

prana

Ancient Indian concept of healing energy or “force,” equivalent to traditional Chinese medicine's qi.

Prayer

a means of communication, or attempted communication, with God or a god through spoken words or thought.

Precancerous

Abnormal cellular changes that are potentially capable of becoming cancerous.

Predisposition

Susceptibility to a disease can be triggered under certain conditions. For example, some women may have a history of breast cancer and are therefore predisposed (but not necessarily destined) to develop breast cancer.

Preleukemia

A condition in which the bone marrow does not function normally. It does not produce enough blood cells. This condition may progress and become acute leukemia. Preleukemia also is called myelodysplastic syndrome or smoldering leukemia.

Premalignant

Abnormal changes in cells that may, but do not always, become cancer.

Premenopausal

The time before menopause.

Preparative Conditioning

Regimens for transplantation vary according to the patient's disease and medical condition and according to the medical center performing the procedure.

Pressure-Flow Urodynamic Studies

Tests that measure bladder pressure during urination by placing a recording device into the bladder and often into the rectum as well.

Pretreatment Procedures

Before the actual transplantation takes place, the patient undergoes several days of laboratory and diagnostic tests to check the patient's general medical condition, looking for signs of infection of damage to organs from previous treatments.

Prevalence

A measure of the proportion of persons in the population with a particular disease at a specified time.

Prevention

The reduction of cancer by eliminating or reducing contact with carcinogenic agents. A change in life-style, such as not smoking for example, can help prevent lung and other cancers.

Primary Cancer

The site where the cancer begins. Primary cancer is usually named after the organ in which it starts (for example, cancer that starts in the breast is always called breast cancer even if it metastasizes to other organs such as the bones or lungs).

Primary Tumor

The tumor is located in the place where the cancer first started to grow.

Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors

A type of tumor that arises in primitive (developing) nerve cells that do not normally remain in the body after birth.

Proctosigmoidoscopy

Direct inspection of the rectum and sigmoid colon using a sigmoidoscope.

Progesterone

A female hormone.

Progesterone Receptor Assay

A laboratory test done on a piece of the breast cancer that shows whether the cancer depends on progesterone for growth.

Progesterone Receptor Negative

Cancer that is progesterone negative (PR-) means that the cancer cells do not grow when the hormone progesterone is present.

Progesterone Receptor Positive

Cancer that is progesteronepositive (PR+) means that the cancer cells are able to grow when the hormone progesterone is present.

Prognosis

The probable outcome or course of a disease; the chance of recovery.

Progressive Disease

Cancer that is increasing in scope or severity.

Prolactin

A hormone released from the pituitary gland that prompts milk production (lactation).

Prophylactic Mastectomy

A subcutaneous mastectomy done before any evidence of cancer can be found, for the purpose of preventing cancer.

ProstaScint

A new test for detecting prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Prostate

A male sex gland; it produces fluid that forms part of semen.

Prostate Acid Phosphatase (PAP)

An enzyme produced by the prostate that is elevated in some patients with prostate cancer.

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)

A protein that is elevated in some patients with prostate cancer.

Prostatectomy

The surgical removal of the prostate gland.

Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia (PIN)

A precancerous change within the prostate that is thought to have the potentaial to develop into cancer.

Prostatitis

An inflammation of the prostate that may cause pain in the lower back and in the area between the scrotum and rectum.

Prostatodynia

A condition that causes the same symptoms as prostatitis but is not associated with infection or inflammation.

Prosthesis

An artificial form, such as breast prothesis, that can be worn under the clothing after a mastectomy.

Proteins

Organic compounds made up of amino acids. Proteins are one of the major constituents of plant and animal cells.

Proto-Oncogene

A gene that can cause a cell to become malignant.

Protocol

A formalized outline or plan such as a description of what treatments a patient will receive and exactly when each should be given.

Protozoa

A group of one-celled animals. A few of which cause human disease (including malaria and sleeping sickness).

proving

In homeopathy, testing a remedy by seeing what symptoms it elicits in healthy people.

PSA Density

The PSA level divided by the volume of the prostate.  Allows the doctor to better distinguish between benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and cancer by taking prostate volume into account when assessing the PSA level.

PSA Velocity

A measurement of the changes in PSA values over time.  PSA velocity is greater in men with prostate cancer than in those without the disease.

psychosomatic

Concerned with relationship between mind and body. Some bodily symptoms may be caused by mental or emotional disturbances, and are called psychosomatic.

Pulmonary

Refers to the lungs.

Pulmonary Function Tests

A series of procedures that evaluates the function of the lungs and confirms the presence of some lung disorders.

Purging

A laboratory procedure in which cancer cells are removed form the bone marrow. Purging is preformed prior to bone marrow transplants to make sure that any undetected cancer cells are destroyed.

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Q

qi

According to ancient Chinese philosophy, the vital life “force” or energy that flows throughout the body along pathways that connect all organs and systems. Disruptions in the flow of qi are said to cause imbalance and illness.

qigong

Traditional Chinese medicine regimen involving movements, breath regulation, and meditation, geared to balance qi and maintain health.

Quadrant

A quarter portion of any roughly circular anatomical area, such as the abdomen, measured along imaginary axes at right angles to each other.

Qualitative Melanin Test

A test for detecting melanin in the urine of patients with malignant melanomas.

Qualitative Test

A test that determines the presence of absence of a substance.

Quality Of Life

The overall enjoyment of life. Many clinical trials measure aspects of a patient's sense of well-being and ability to perform various tasks to assess the effects that the cancer and its treatment have on the patient.

Quantitative Test

A test that determines the amount of substance per unit volume or unit weight.

Quick's test

1. A test for jaundice. 2. A test for hemophilia.

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R

Radiation

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 therapy is the placement of radioactive material inside the body as close as possible to the cancer.

Radiation Oncologist

A doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy.

Radiation Surgery

A radiation therapy technique that delivers a single high dose of radiation directly to the tumor while sparing the healthy tissue.

Radiation Therapy

Treatment with high-energy rays tp kil cancer cells.

Radical Cystectomy

A surgical procedure in which the entire bladder is removed.

Radical Mastectomy

The removal of the breast, chest muscles, and all of the lymph nodes under the arm. For many years, this was the operation most used, but it is now only used when the tumor has spread to the chest muscles.

Radical Prostatectomy

A type of surgery for prostate cancer that removes the entire prostate and the seminal vesicles.

Radioactive

Giving off radiation.

Radioimmunotherapy

Treatment with radioactive substance that is linked to an antibody that will attach to the tumor when injected into the body.

Radioisotope

A type of atom that is unstable and prone to break up (decay). Decay releases small fragments of atoms and energy. Exposure to certain radioisotopes can cause cancer. Use of radioisotopes under controlled conditions can be used to treat cancer. In certain imaging procedures, radioisotopes are injected. They travel through the body and collect in areas where the disease is active, showing up as highlighted areas on the images. In breast cancer, radioisotopes are used to check for metastasis to the bones.

Radiolabeled

An antibody that has been joined with a radioactive substance (often iodine).

Radiological Technologist

A health professional (not a physician) trained to properly position patients for x-rays, to load film and take images, and to develop and check the images for quality. Since mammograms are done on a machine that is used only for mammograms, the technologist must have special training in mammography. The films taken by the technologist are sent to a radiologist to be read.

Radiologist

A physician who has taken additional training in interpretation of x-rays and other types of diagnostic imaging studies.

radionics

A “black box” approach to diagnosis and holistic treatment; banned in the United States. “Corrective” energy patterns are directed from the instrument to the patient, even at a distance, to treat deep-seated health problems. The devices often analyze samplings from the patient, such as a snippet of hair, to arrive at a diagnosis.

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.

Radiosensitizer

A substance or condition that boosts the effects of radiation therapy.

Radiosenstization

The use of a drug to make the cells more sensitive to radiation therapy.

Radiotherapy

Treatment with radiation to destroy cancer cells. Sources of radiation used include linear accelerators, cobalt, and betatrons. This type of treatment may be used to reduce the size of a cancer before surgery, or to destroy any remaining cancer cells after surgery.

Radium Weed (Euphorbia peplus)

is a poisonous European weed that is commonly found in Australian urban areas. Also known as petty spurge.

Randomized Clinical Trials

A study in which patients with similar traits, such as extent of disease, are randomly assigned to separate groups that receive different treatments.

Ras Gene

A gene that has been found to cause cancer when it is altered (mutated). Agents that block its activity may stop the growth of cancer. A raspeptide is a protein fragment produced by the ras gene.

Reach to Recovery

A visitation program of the American Cancer Society for women who have a personal concern for breast cancer. Carefully selected and trained volunteers who have successfully adjusted to breast cancer and its treatment provide information and support to women newly diagnosed with the disease.

Rectal Exam

A procedure in which a doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum and feels the prostate through the wall of the rectum to check the prostate for hard or lumpy areas.

Rectum

The end of the large intestine.

Recurrence

Cancer that has come back after treatment.

Red Blood Cells (RBCs)

Blood cells that carry hemoglobin, which binds oxygen and carries it to the tissues of the body. The red cells make up about 45 percent of the volume of blood on healthy individuals.

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

is a native plant of Europe, central Asia, and northern Africa. It now grows in many other parts of the world. The flower head is the part of the plant used in herbal remedies.

Reed-Sternberg Cells

A giant cell that appears in patients with Hodgkin's disease.

reflexology

A therapy that involves manipulation of the feet to promote homeostasis (balance) among body systems. Reflexologists believe that part of the feet are related to specific body organs or functions. Stimulation by finger and thumb massage is believed to eliminate energy blockages that cause health problems.

Reflux

The term used when liquid backs up into the esophagus from the stomach.

Refractory

Resistant to treatment.

Regimen

A strict, regulated plan (such as diet, exercise, or other activity) designed to reach certain goals. In cancer treatment, a plan to treat cancer.

Regional Involvement

The spread of breast cancer from its original site to nearby areas such as the axillary lymph nodes, but not to distant sites such as other organs.

Regression

The shrinkage of cancer growth.

Rehabilitation

Activities to adjust, heal, and return to a full, productive life after injury or illness. This may involve physical restoration, counseling, and emotional support.

Reiki

Reiki is a form of hands-on treatment used to manipulate energy fields within and around a patient's body. Reiki is a Japanese word meaning “universal life energy.”

Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma luciderm)

A fungi that has been used in Chinese herbal medicine for thousands of years. Known as Lingzhi in China and Reishi in Japan.

Relapse

A return of the disease after it has been in remission following treatment.

relaxation response

Decreased metabolism and other calming physiological reactions to meditation; the body's stress-reducing regulation of internal activity.

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.

Renal Cell Cancer

Cancer that develops in the lining of the renal tubules, which filter the blood and produce urine.

Renal Pelvis

The area at the center of the kidney. Urine collects here and is funneled into the ureter.

Reproductive System

In women, the organs that are directly involved in producing eggs and in conceiving and carrying babies.

Rescue Process

The infusion of bone marrow into a patient undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

Resection

Surgical removal or excision of tissue.

Residual Disease

Cancer cells that remain after attempts have been made to remove the cancer.

Residual Urine

Urine retained in the bladder after voiding.  It can become infected or lead to the formation of bladder stones.

Resistance to Treatment

The ability of cells to live and divide despite their exposure to a chemical that ordinarily kills cells or inhibits their growth. This is the cause of refractory leukemia, whereby a portion of leukemic cells resist the damaging effects of a drug or drugs. Cells have several ways to develop drug resistance.

Retinoblastoma

A tumor in one or both eyes of children younger than 5 years old.

Retrograde Ejaculation

Ejaculation of semen into the bladder rather than through the penis.

Retropubic Open Prostatectomy

An operation for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) used when the prostate is too large for the surgeon to perform transurethral prostatectomy (TURP).  It involves pushing aside the bladder so that the inner prostate tissue can be removed without entering the bladder.

Revici Guided Chemotherapy

is a chemical therapy promoted as an alternative cancer treatment. The therapy varies for every patient but can include a chemical formulation consisting of lipid alcohols, caffeine, zinc, and iron, or a formulation consisting of fatty acids, selenium, magnesium, and sulfur.

Rhabdomyosarcoma

A malignant tumor of muscle tissue.

Rheumatoid Factor

An autoantibody found in the serum of most persons with rheumatoid arthritis.

Risk Factor

Something that increases a person's chance of developing a disease.

Risk/Benefit Ratio

The relation between the risks and the possible benefits posed by a given treatment or procedure.

RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)

A nucleic acid that is found in the cytoplasm and also in the nucleus of some cells. One function of RNA is to direct the synthesis of proteins.

Rolfing

A deep-tissue massage therapy, also called Structural Integration, designed to reach the body's connective tissue or fascias. Its intent is to strengthen and realign the body by stretching and lengthening the fascia. A treatment program usually consists of ten sessions which deal with different fascial layers sequentially.

Rosen technique

A bodywork technique that treats the mind and body as one, believing that chronic muscle tension is caused by repressed emtional conflicts. Gentle, deep pressure is applied as the practitioner questions the patient about what he or she is experiencing.

Rubenfeld Synergy Method

Practitioners of the Rubenfeld Synergy Method identify and massage tense body parts while encouraging their clients to talk through emotional problems they are experienceing.

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S

S-phase Fraction (SPF)

The percentage of cells that are replicating their DNA. DNA replication usually indicates that a cell is getting ready to split into two new cells. A low SPF is a sign that a tumor is slow growing; a high SPF shows that the cells are dividing rapidly and the tumor is growing quickly.

Saline

Saltwater solution.

Salpingo-Oophorectomy

Surgery to remove a fallopian tube and an ovary. Bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy means that both the ovaries and the fallopian tubes are removed.

Salvage Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy given after the primary treatment has failed to eliminate all of the cancer or when the cancer returns after having been in remission.

Sanctuary Sites

These are areas in which it is difficult to get a sufficient concentration of chemotherapy to destroy leukemia cells. In acute lymphocytic leukemia, the brain and the spinal cord and the testes in boys are sanctuary sites of cancer.

Sarcoma

A malignant tumor growing from connective tissues, such as cartilage, fat, muscle, or bone. Several types of sarcoma can rarely develop in the breast, and they differ in their prognosis.

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)

is a low-growing palm tree found in the West Indies and in coastal regions of the southeastern United States. The berries are used in herbal remedies.

Scan

A study using either x-rays or radioactive isotopes to produce images of internal body organs.

Scavenger Cells

Any of a diverse group of cells that have the capacity to engulf and destroy foreign material, dead tissues, or other cells.

Schiller Test

A diagnostic test in which iodine is applied to the cervical cells. Healthy cells are stained by the iodine, abnormal or cancerous cells are not.

Schwannoma

A type of brain tumor.

SCID Mouse

A laboratory animal that, lacking an enzyme necessary to fashion an immune system of its own, can be turned into a model of the human immune system when injected with human cells or tissues.

Scintillation Camera

Device used in nuclear medicine scans to detect radioactivity and produce images that help diagnose cancer and other diseases.

Screening

Checking for disease when there are no symptoms.

Scrotum

The external pouch of skin that contains the testicles.

Sebum

An oily substance produced by the skin.

Second-Look Surgery

Surgery performed after primary treatment to determine whether tumor cells remain.

Secondary Tumor

A tumor that forms as a result of spread of cancer from its original site.

Segmental Cystectomy

A surgical procedure in which part of the bladder is removed.

Seizures

Convulsions; sudden, involuntary movements of the muscles.

Selected vegetable soup

is promoted as a treatment for cancer. It is a frezze-dried brown powder that contains a specific selection of vegetables and herbs. Also known as Sun Soup.

Selenium

is an essential mineral nutrient for both humans and animals. It is found in soil all over the world in varying amounts. Plants and small living organisms convert selenium to organic compounds, including selenomethione, which is the major source of selenium in foods.

Semen

The fluid that is released through the penis during orgasm. Semen is made up of sperm from the testicles and fluid from the prostate and other sex glands.

Seminal Vesicles

Male sex glands that help produce semen.

Sentinel Lymph Node

The lymph node closest to the primary tumor. Cancer cells may appear first in the sentinel node before spreading to other lymph nodes.

Sequential

One treatment after the other.

Serosa

Any serous membrane.

Serous membrane

One of the many thin sheets of tissue that line closed cavities of the body.

Serum

The clear liquid that separates from the blood when it is allowed to clot. This fluid retains any antibodies that were present in the whole blood.

Serum albumin

The plasma protein circulating in the blood serum responsible for much of the colloid osmotic gradient which keeps serum in intravascular spaces not interstitial spaces. Also called blood albumin.

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease (SCID)

A life-threatening condition in which infants are born lacking all major immune defenses.

Sezary Syndrome

A form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. A cancerous disease that affects the skin.

shamanism

A healing approach that dates back at least 20,000 years and found in almost every culture. The ability of shamans to enter a trance or a state of altered consciousness enables them to enter the spirit world, where they attempt to control the spirits and effect changes in the physical world. While in a trance, they believe their souls are separated from their bodies and transported throughout the cosmos in search of cures for their patients.

Shark cartilage

Sharks have no bones, so cartilage is the primary component of their skeletal system. The major compounds in shark cartilage are glycoproteins and calcium salts.

Shark liver oil

is promoted as an alternative form of treatment for cancer and other diseases. Shark liver oil is one of the richest sources of alkylglycerols, natural chemicals formed by the combination of a fatty acid and an alcohol molecule. Alkylglycerols are also found in significant amounts in the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and breast milk (both cow and human).

Shiatsu

consists of pressing with the fingers on acupuncture points, thereby opening pathways for the body's flow of qi (vital energy).

Shiitake mushroom

is an edible fungus native to Asia and grown in forests. Shiitake mushrooms are the second most commonly cultivated edible mushrooms in the world. Extracts from the mushroom, and sometimes the whole mushroom itself, are used in herbal remedies.

Sho-Saiko-To

A Japanese herbal remedy containing seven Chinese herbs.

Shunt

A tube or device implanted in the body to redirect a body fluid from one cavity or vessel to another.

Sickle cell anemia

A chronic, inherited anemia in which the shape of a large proportion of red blood cells tend to be mishapen or sickled. Sickle cell anemia is characterized by crises of joint pain, blood clotting and fever as well as chronic anemia, lethargy, weakness and an enlarged spleen.

Sickle cell trait

An inherited blood condition in which some red blood cells are mishapen, but usually not enough to produce sickle cell anemia. People who have the trait are informed of and counseled about the possibility of having an infant with sickle cell disease if both parents have the trait.

Side Effects

Any reaction to or consequence of a medication or therapy, usually undesireable.

Sigmoidoscope

An instrument used to examine the sigmoid colon. It consists of a tube and a light, allowing direct visualization of the lining of the colon.

Sigmoidoscopy

A procedure in which the doctor looks inside the rectum and the lower part of the colon (sigmoid colon) through a lighted tube. The doctor may collect samples of tissues or cells for closer examination. Also called proctosigmoidoscopy.

Significance

When comparing rates, significance means that the rates are statistically different. That is, the difference between them is unlikely to have occurred merely by chance.

Silicone Gel

Synthetic material used in breast implants because of its flexibility, strength, and texture, which is similar to the texture of the natural breast. Silicone gel breast implants are available for women who have had breast cancer surgery, but only if they participate in a clinical trial.

Simonton method

The use of imagery along with cancer therapy. Patients imagine their white cells as aggressive destroyers of their cancer cells.

Simple Prostatectomy

A type of surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that typically involves removing only the inner portion of the prostate.  It is performed either through the urethra (TURP) or by making an incision in the lower abdomen (retropubic or suprapubic prostatectomy).

Sitosterol

a potent phytochemical found in a variety of plant sources.

sitz bath

A form of hydrotherapy involving shallow, therapeutic immersion of the thighs and hips in warm water, sometimes with an additional substance in the solution such as Epsom salts; used as a tonic and to treat hemorrhoids and abdominal and pelvic disorders.

Skin Graft

Skin that is removed from one part of the body to another.

Skin Testing

Testing for an immune response to a compound by placing it on or under the skin.

Small Cell Lung Cancer

A type of lung cancer with small, round, rapidly growing cells, often called “oat cells” because of their shape.

Small Intestine

The part of the digestive tract that extends from the stomach to the large intestine.

Smoldering Leukemia

A condition in which the bone marrow does not function normally.

Smooth Muscle Cells

Muscle cells in the prostate that contract to push prostatic fluid into the urethra during ejaculation.

Soft Tissue

Soft tissue refers to fat or muscle.

Soft Tissue Sarcoma

A sarcoma that begins in the muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, or other supporting tissue of the body.

Solid Tumor

Cancer of body tissue other than blood, bone marrow, or the lymphatic system.

Somatic Mutation

This event is the alteration of a gene on the cells of a specific tissue causing the gene to become a cancer-causing gene or oncogene. It is called “somatic” to distinguish it from a germ cell mutation, which can be passed from parent to offspring. Most cases of leukemia are caused by somatic mutation in a primitive marrow (blood-forming) cell. If the mutation results from a major abnormality of chromosomes such as a translocation, it can be detected by cytogenetic examination. Often the alteration in the gene is more subtle and requires more sensitive tests to identify the oncogene.

Sonogram

A picture of an area inside the body produced by sound waves (ultrasound), which cannot be heard by humans. The pictures are created by a computer that analyzes the echoes produced by the waves as they bounce off the tissue.

Sonopuncture

is similar to acupuncture, but an ultrasound device that transmits sound waves is applied, rather than a needle, to the body's acupoints during this treatment method.

sound therapy

An ancient method of healing based on the idea that everything in the universe, including the human body, is in a constant state of vibration and that even the slightest change in vibration can affect internal organs. It is believed that there is a natural frequency or note for each body part or organ, and that sound directed to a specific target can restore health to a body part whose vibration is out of kilter.

South American Indigenous Medical System (IMS)

An alternative medical system based on the religion, spirituality, herbal medicine, and rituals of South American culture used to treat medical and emotional problems.

Soybean (Isoflavones)

is an annual plant that is indigenous to east Asia. Its active ingredient are isoflavones.

Speculum

An instrument used to widen the vagina so that the cervix can be seen.

Speech Pathologist

A specialist who evaluates and treats people with communication and swallowing problems. Also called a speech therapist.

Sperm Banking

Freezing sperm before cancer treatment for use in the future. This procedure can allow men to father children after loss of fertility.

spiritual healing

The transfer of a healing energy or life force from healer to patient through the laying on of hands. Some healers believe they have a God-given gift of healing or are helped by angels in their ability to channel cosmic energy from their hands to the patient.

Spirituality

is generally described as an awareness of something greater than the individual self and is usually expressed through religion and/or prayer.

Spleen

An organ of the body in the upper left portion of the abdomen just under the left side of the diaphragm. It contains clusters of lymphocytes like lymph nodes do and also filters the blood of old or worn out blood cells. It is often affected in leukemia , especially the lymphocytic leukemias, lymphoma, and Hodgkin's disease. Enlargement of the spleen is referred to as “splenomegaly”. Removal of the spleen by surgery is referred to as “splenectomy”. Removal of the spleen can be done since its function can be performed by other organs such as the lymph nodes and liver.

Splenectomy

An operation to remove the spleen.

Sputum

Mucus that comes from the throat and lungs.

Sputum Cytology

A test in which mucus coughed up from the lungs or breathing tubes is examined under a microscope to detect cancer cells.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The other principal skin cancer besides basal cell carcinoma that arises from cells in skin that have been exposed to sunlight for many years. It is classified as a non-melanoma skin cancer.

Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion

A general term for the abnormal growth of squamous cells on the surface of the cervix. The changes in the cells are described as low or high grade, depending on how much of the cervix is affected and how abnormal the cells are.

Stable Disease

Cancer that is not decreasing or increasing in scope or severity.

Stage

The extent of a cancer, especially whether the disease has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

Staging

The process of performing exams and tests to learn the extent of cancer, especially whether it has spread from its original site to other parts of the body.

Standard Treatment

A treatment currently in use and considered to be the best known form of therapy on the basis of past studies.

Stem Cell Transplantation

This is a technique developed to restore the marrow of patients who had lethal injury to that site. Such injury can occur because of primary marrow failure, destruction of marrow by disease, or intensive chemical or radiation exposure.

Stem Cells

These are primitive cells in bone marrow that are important in making red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Generally, the stem cells are largely found in the marrow, but some leave the marrow and circulate in the blood. Using special techniques, the stem cells in blood can be collected, preserved by freezing and, later, thawed and used for therapy.

Stent

A plastic or metal device placed in the urethra to keep it open.

Stereotactic Needle Biopsy

A method of needle biopsy that is useful in some cases in which calcifications or a mass can be seen on a mammogram but cannot be located by touch. Computerized equipment maps the location of the mass and this is used as a guide for the placement of the needle.

Stereotactic Radiotherapy

The use of x-rays or CT scanning to guide delicate instruments used in brain surgery.

Stereotaxis

Use of a computer and scanning devices to create three-dimensional pictures. This method can be used to direct a biopsy, external radiation, or the insertion of radiation implants.

Sternum

The breast bone. Sometimes the area is used to obtain bone marrow samples.

Steroid Therapy

Treatment with corticosteriod drugs to reduce swelling, pain, and other symptoms of inflammation.

Steroids

Organic compounds including certain hormones and other bodily secretions such as adrenaline. Artificial steroids are given to cancer patients to combat nausea caused by many chemotherapy drugs.

Sterols

Essential cell membrane components that may also be necessary for an efficient immune system.

Stoma

An artificial opening between two cavities or between a cavity and the surface of the body.

Stomach

The food reservoir and first major site of digestion, located just under the diaphragm. It receives partially processed food and drink funneled from the mouth through the esophagus and gradually feeds liquefied food into the small intestine.

Stomatitis

Inflammation or ulcers of the mouth area. This condition can result as a side effect of some chemotherapies.

Stool

The waste matter discharged in a bowel movement; feces.

Stool Test

A test to check for hidden blood in the bowel movement.

Structural Integration

see “Rolfing”

Study Arm

Patients in clinical trials are assigned to a particular part or segment of a study. One segment or “arm” receives a different treatment from another.

Subcutaneous

Beneath the skin.

Subcutaneous Mastectomy

Surgery to remove internal breast tissue. The nipple and the skin are left intact.

Subcutaneous Port

The placement of a catheter into a vein to receive fluids, including anticancer drugs, that will be administered repeatedly or over a period of time.

Subepithelial

Below the epithelial layer of cells.

Subglottis

The lowest part of the larynx; the area from just below the vocal cords down to the top of the trachea.

subluxations

The term used by chiropractors to describe misalignments of the vertebrae; partial dislocations of bones in a joint.

Subunit Vaccine

A vaccine that uses merely one component of infectious agent, rather than the whole, to stimulate an immune response.

Sun Protection Factor (SPF)

A number on a scale (from 2 upwards) for rating sunscreens. Sunscreens with an SPF of 15 to 30 percent protect the skin from most of the sun's harmful rays.

Sunscreen

A substance that blocks the effects of the sun's harmful rays. Using lotions that contain sunscreens can reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Superantigens

A class of antigens, including certain bacterial toxins, that unleash a massive and damaging immune response.

Superficial

Pertaining to the skin or another surface.

supplement

Something added; for example, food supplements taken in addition to meals. Complementary therapies used in addition to orthodox medicine can be termed supplemental therapies.

Supplementation

Adding nutrients to the diet, usually in high doses.

Support Group

A group of patients with similar disease who meet to discuss how better to cope with their cancer and/or treatment.

Supportive Therapy

Therapy that relieves the symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, that are associated with cancer treatments. Its primary purpose is to improve the quality of life.

Suppressor T Cells

A subset of T cells that turn off antibody production and other immune responses.

Supraclavicular Nodes

Lymph nodes that are above the collarbone.

Supraglottis

The upper part of the larynx, including the epiglottis; the area above the vocal cords.

Suprapubic Open Prostatectomy

An operation for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) performed when the prostate is too large to allow for TURP.  Involves opening the bladder and removing the inner portion of the prostate through the bladder.

Supratentorial

Located in the upper part of the brain.

Surgery

An operation.

Surgical Castration

Surgical removal of the testicles or ovaries to stop the production of sex hormones. Decreasing levels of hormones may stop the growth of certain cancers.

Surgical Oncologist

A doctor who diagnoses and treats cancer using biopsies and operations.

Surveillance

Intense obvservation of a patient, usually including frequent visits to the doctor which may include several types of tests, in order to keep track of the patient's condition.

Survival Rate

The percentage of people who live a certain period of time. For example, the 5-year survival rate for women with localized breast cancer was 78% in the 1940's, but in the 1990's, it is over 97%.

Susceptible

Easily affected, likely to be stricken with.

Swedish massage

The most common form of massage, involving long gliding strokes, kneading, and friction on the superficial muscle layers; relieves muscle tension and promotes relaxation.

Symptoms

Physical signs of the disease.

Synchronous

At the same time.

Systemic

Not confined to one part of the body, but affecting the body as a whole.

Systemic Disease

Disease that affects or has spread to the whole body, such as metastatic cancer.

Systemic Therapy

Treatment that reaches and affects cells all over the body.

Systemic Treatment

Treatment that reaches cells all over the body by traveling through the bloodstream.

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T

T Cell Depletion

Treatment to destroy T cells, which play an important role in the immune response. Elimination of T cells from a bone marrow graft from another person may reduce the chance of an immune reaction against the patient's own tissue.

T Cell Lymphoma

A disease in which certain cells of the lymph system become cancerous.

T Cells

Small white blood cells that orchestrate and/or directly participate in the immune defenses. Also known as T lymphocytes, they are processed in the thymus and secrete lymphokines.

tai chi

An ancient Chinese system of gentle exercise or precision movement and breathing that develops balance, control and relaxation and has calming effects. There are many specific sequences of movement in both long and short forms. Tai chi is used in treating stress-related problems and for rehabilitation after surgery, injury and illness.

Tamoxifen (brand name: Nolvadex)

This drug blocks the effects of estrogen on many organs, such as the breast. Blocking estrogen is desirable in some cases of breast cancer because estrogen promotes their growth. Recent research suggests that tamoxifen may lower the risk of developing breast cancer in women with certain risk factors.

Taste Alteration

A temporary change in taste perception.

TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)

An electric device often used to treat affected nerves to relieve pain; accepted in mainstream medicine as a useful treatment for some diagnoses involving pain associated with the nervous system.

Terminal

In cancer, characterizes a person with progressive advanced disease with very limited life expectancy.

Testicles

The male sex glands. The testicles produce and store sperm.

Testicular Self Exam (TSE)

A simple manual examination of the testes, recommended to be performed on a monthly basis.

Thalassemia

A group of chronic, inherited anemias particularly common in persons of Mediterranean, African and Southeast Asian ancestry.

Thalassemia trait

A mild form of thalassemia that occurs when a person inherits one thalassemia gene from one parent and one normal gene from the other parent. A person with thalassemia typically shows no signs of disease is usually unaware that he or she has the condition.

therapeutic touch

A method of healing that does not include physical contact and so is not a true “touch” therapy, but rather one that deals with energy forces and the therapist's ability to transfer energy from his or her own body to that of the patient. The hands of the therapist pass inches above the patient's body, from head to toe in a wavelike motion, ending at the feet with a flick of the hands to dislodge any harmful energy.

Therapy

The treatment of hematological malignancies has different segments. Induction therapy refers to the methods used to destroy visible malignant cells in the blood and marrow to cause or “induce” a remission, which results in return of normal blood cells. Consolidation therapy is additional treatment given after remission is induced. Often, high doses of drugs are used in several short periods after treatment. The goal is to further decrease the concentration of residual malignant cells. The greater the reduction in malignant cells, the higher the probability that natural defenses will suppress the disease and result in a long-term remission. Maintenance or continuation therapy refers to the administration of drugs periodically for a long period of time (months or years) usually in lower doses that consolidation therapy.

Thermography

A method in which heat from the breast is measured and mapped. Also called thermagram, this method is not reliable in detecting breast cancer.

Thermotherapy

A treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that involves heating the prostate to more than 110^­o F.  Resulting tissue and nerve damage alleviates symptoms.

Thoracentesis (Pleural Tap)

A procedure to remove fluids from the area between two layers (pleura) covering the lung.

Thoracoscopy

The use of a flexible, lighted tube to examine the inside of the chest.

Thoracotomy

An operation to open the chest.

Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy

A promising new technique in radiation therapy because it decreases the exposure of normal tissues to radiation. Using computerized tomography (CT) scans and other imaging techniques, radiation oncologists have developed methods for determining the 3-dimensional size and shape of the cancer. This allows high-dose external beam radiation therapy to be delivered primarily to the cancer with less damage to normal cells.

Thrombocytes

Blood cells that help clots form to help control bleeding.

Thrombocytopenia

A decrease below normal in the concentration of the blood platelets.

Thrombophlebitis

Inflammation of a vein that occurs when a blood clot forms.

Thymoma

A tumor of the thymus, a lymph organ located in the chest.

Thymus

A primary lymphoid organ, high in the chest, where T lymphocytes proliferate and mature.

Thyroid

A gland located near the windpipe that produces hormones needed for the function of the body's cells. Thyroid hormone helps regulate growth and metabolism.

Tian Xian

A Chinese herbal remedy containing over 30 ingredients that claims to treat cancer.

Tibetan Indigenous Medical System (IMS)

An alternative medical system based on the religion, spirituality, herbal medicine, and rituals of Tibetan culture used to treat medical and emotional problems.

TILs

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. These immune cells are extracted from the tumor tissue, treated in the laboratory, and reinjected into the cancer patient.

tincture

An alcohol or alcohol-and-water solution prepared from animal- or vegetable-based drugs.

Tissue

A group or layer of cells that together perform a specific function.

Tissue Typing

A method of matching the self antigens (HLA) on the tissues of a transplant donor with those of the recipient. The closer the match, the better the chance that the transplant will take.

TNM System

A system for describing the clinical stage of a cancerous tumor using T numbers that indicate whether the tumor is palpable or not and if palpable, the extent of the tumor (e.g., T1 and T2), as well as N+ for cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes and M+ for cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Tolerance

A state of nonresponsiveness to a particular antigen or group of antigens.

Tomography

A diagnostic procedure that uses an x-ray source and an x-ray detector to produce a series of thin cross-sections or “slices” of the body.

Tonsils and Adenoids

Prominent oval masses of lymphoid tissues on either side of the throat.

Topical

Applied directly to the skin.

Total Androgen Blockade

A treatment for prostate cancer that interferes with the production and action of both testicular and adrenal androgens by combining an antiandrogen with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog or surgical castration.

Total Hysterectomy

Surgery to remove the entire uterus.

Total or Simple Mastectomy

The removal of the whole breast.

Total Parenteral Nutrition

The intravenous infusion of essential nutrients to patients who are unable to eat.

Total-Body Irradiation

Radiation therapy to the entire body. Usually followed by bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplantation.

toxin

A poisonous substance produced by the metabolic activities of a living organism. Toxins are usually capable of inducing antibody formation in the body.

Toxins

Poisons produced by certain plants, animals, or bacteria.

Tracer

A substance, such as a radioisotope, used in imaging procedures to diagnose disease or to see how the body is responding to treatment.

Trachea

The airway that connects to larynx to the lungs. Also called the windpipe.

Tracheoesophageal Puncture

A small opening made by a surgeon between the esophagus and the trachea. A valve keeps food out of the trachea but lets air into the esophagus for espophageal speech.

Tracheostomy

A surgical opening through the trachea in the neck to provide an artificial airway.

Tracheostomy Button

A 1/2- to 11/2-inch-long tube placed in the stoma to keep it open.

Tracheostomy Tube

A 2- to 3-inch-long metal or plastic tube that keeps the stoma and trachea open.

traditional Chinese medicine

A complex healing system based on thousands of years of practice in the healing arts.

Trager approach

A bodywork therapy in which gentle, rhythmic touch combined with movement exercises is applied by a therapist to release tensions in posture and movement in a procedure defined as Psychophysical Integration. It is a system of movement reeducation.

Trager Technique

relies on gentle, rhythmical touch combined with movement exercises to induce deep relaxation and stress relief.

Transcendental Meditation (TM)

Based on the Vedanta philosophy in Hinduism; a form of meditation that uses mantras (words or short phrases repeated in the mind) to exclude extraneous thought and reach a deep level of consciousness.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

is a method of pain relief in which a special device transmits electrical impulses through electrodes to an area of the body that is in pain.

Transfusion

Infusion of whole blood or blood components directly into the bloodstream.

Transitional Cell Carcinoma

A cancer that develops in the lining of the urethra and also in the bladder.

Transitional Cells

Cells lining some organs.

Translocation

An abnormality of chromosomes in marrow or lymph node cells, which occurs when a piece of one chromosome breaks off and sticks to the end of another chromosome. In a balanced translocation, each of two chromosomes breaks off and the lost piece sticks to the broken end of the other chromosome. The gene at which the break occurs is altered. This is one form of a somatic mutation, which may transform the gene into an oncogene or cancer-causing gene.

Transrectal Ultrasonography

A procedure that uses an ultrasound probe inserted into the rectum to develop images of the prostate.  Used to guide needle biopsy of the prostate to diagnose prostate cancer.

Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS)

A procedure used to detect prostate cancer and to guide physicians performing brachytherapy. A metal probe inserted into the rectum emits sound waves that highlight potentially malignant spots in the prostate on a video screen connected to the probe.

Transurethral Incision of the Prostate (TUIP)

A treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in which one or two small incisions are made in the prostate with an electrical knife or laser.  Symptoms of BPH are alleviated by decreasing the pressure the prostate exerts on the urethra.

Transurethral Microwave Therapy (TUMT)

A benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treatment that employs microwave energy emitted from a catheter inserted in the urethra to heat and destroy prostate tissue.

Transurethral Needle Ablation (TUNA)

A benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treatment in which prostate tissue is destroyed with heat that is delivered by low-energy radio waves through tiny needles at the top of a catheter inserted into the prostate through the urethra.

Transurethral Prostatectomy (TURP)

The “gold standard” treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).  A long, thin instrument called a resectoscope is passed through the urethra into the bladder and used to cut away prostate tissue and seal blood vessels with an electric current.  Also called transurethral resection of the prostate.

Transurethral Prostatic Resection

Surgery done through the urethra. This operation is sometimes done to relieve symptoms caused by a tumor of the prostate.

Transurethral Resection

The use of a special instrument inserted into the penis through the urethra to remove a small prostate tumor.

Transurethral Vaporization of the Prostate (TVP)

A procedure for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that uses a powerful electrical current to vaporize the prostate tissue with minimal bleeding.

Transvaginal Ultrasound

Sound waves sent out by a probe inserted in the vagina. The waves bounce off the ovaries, and a computer uses the echoes to create a picture called a sonogram. Also called TVS.

Transverse Rectus Abdominus Muscle Flap Procedure (TRAM Flap)

A method of breast reconstruction in which tissue from the lower abdominal wall which receives its blood from the rectus abdominus muscle is used. The tissue from this area is moved up to the chest to create a breast mound and usually does not require an implant. Moving muscle and tissue from the lower abdomen to the chest results in flattening of the lower abdomen (a “tummy tuck”).

Treatment Study

A research study that involves patients. Each study is designed to answer specific scientific questions and to find better ways to prevent or treat cancer.

Tumeric (Curcuma longa)

is a spice grown in India and other tropical regions of Asia. It has a long history of use in herbal remedies, particulary in China, India, and Indonesia. The root of the plant contains the active ingredient, curcumin.

Tumor

An abnormal mass of tissue caused by excessive cell growth and division. Tumors perform no useful body function and are either benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

Tumor Debulking

Surgically removing as much of the tumor as possible.

Tumor Grade

How closely a tumor resembles normal tissue of its same type. Corresponds to the probable, or most likely, rate of growth for a tumor.

Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes

White blood cells that have left the bloodstream and migrated into a tumor.

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.

Tumor Suppressor Gene

A gene which acts to prevent cell growth. If a mutation occurs in this gene, it may make the individual more susceptible to the development of cancer in the tissue which the mutation occurred.

Tumor-Derived

Taken from a patient's own tumor-tissue; may be used in the development of a vaccine that enhances the body's ability to build immune response to the tumor.

Two-step Procedure

A method in which the breast biopsy for diagnosis and breast surgery for treatment are performed as two separate procedures, after an interval of days or weeks. This method is strongly preferred by women and their health care teams because it allows time to consider all options.

Type-specific

By characterizing structures that appear on cells, donors and recipients of platelets and bone marrow can be “matched” for their specific type to aid survival of transfused and transplanted cells.

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U

Ultrasonography

An exam in which sound waves are bounced off tissues and the echoes are converted into a picture (sonogram).

Ultrasound

High frequency sound waves.

Ultrasound Studies

A diagnostic procedure that bounces high-frequency sound waves off tissues and changes the echoes

Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation

Invisible rays that are part of the energy that comes from the sun. UV radiation can burn the skin and cause skin cancer. UV radiation that reaches the earth's surface is made up of two types of rays, UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are more likely than UVA rays to cause sunburn, but UVA rays pass further into the skin. Scientists have long thought that UVB radiation can cause skin cancer. They now know that UVA radiation also may add to skin damage that can lead to cancer. For this reason, skin specialists recommend that people use sunscreen that protect from both types of radiation.

Umbilical Cord Blood

Blood from the placenta (afterbirth) that contains cells that can grow healthy new bone marrow.

Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation

The injection of umbilical cord blood to restore a patient's blood production system that has been suppressed by chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy used in treating severe blood disorders such as aplastic anemia or cancer. Cord blood contains high concentrations of stem cells needed to produce new blood cells.

Unconjugated monoclonal antibodies

Hybrid antibodies of a single antigenic specificity used for highly selective targeting of tumor cells. These antibodies can destroy malignant cells by direct lysis, by binding to cell receptors, and by mobilization of effector cells.

Unilateral

Affecting one side of the body.

Unresectable

Unable to be surgically removed.

Upper GI Series

A series of x-rays of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine (upper GI tract) that are taken after a patient drinks a barium solution.

Uremia

The presence of excessive amounts of urea and other nitrogenous waste products in the blood, as occurs in renal failure.

Ureters

The tubes that carry the urine from each kidney to the bladder.

Urethra

The tube that carries urine or semen to the outside of the body.

Urethral Stricture

Narrowing of the urethra.

Urinalysis

A test that determines the content of urine.

Urinary System

The organs of the body that produce and discharge urine. These include the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

Urinary Tract

The organs of the body that produce and discharge urine. These include the kidneys, uterus, bladder, and urethra.

Urine

Liquid waste produced when the kidneys filter teh blood.

Uroflowmetry

A noninvasive test for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that measures the speed of urine flow.

Urologist

A doctor who specializes in diseases of the urinary organs in females and the urinary and sex organs in males.

Urostomy

An operation to create an opening from inside the body to the outside, making a new way for urine to pass.

Uterus

A small, pear-shaped, hollow, muscular organ in the pelvis of females where the unborn child develops until birth; also called the womb.

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V

Vaccine

A substance that contains antigenic components from an infectious organism. By stimulating an immune response (but not disease), it protects against subsequent infection by that organism.

Vagina

The muscular canal extending from the uterus to the exterior of the body.

Vaginitis

Any inflammation of the vagina.

Variable Region

That part of an antibody's structure that differs from one antibody to another.

Vas Deferens

The main secretory duct of the testicle, through which semen is carried from the epididymis to the prostatic urethra, where it ends as the ejaculatory duct.

Vasectomy

Surgery performed to sterilize a man by cutting the vas deferens, a tube that transports sperm.

Vasodilator

A drug that allows the penis to become engored with blood by widening the blood vessels.  Used as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. Examples are papaverine, phentolamine, and alprostadil.

Vata

One of the three basic forces and body types of Ayurvedic medicine. Symbolized by air, Vata is the dosha that produces movement.

Vegetarianism

is the practise of eating a diet consisting mainly or entirely of food that comes from plant sources such as fruits and vegetables. Vegetarian diets vary widely. Some include no animal products, while others include diary products, eggs, and fish.

Venipuncture

Puncturing a vein in order to obtain blood samples, to start an intravenous drip, or to give medication.

Venous Access Device

A device surgically placed into a large vein in the body to provide easy access to administer chemotherapy drugs and/or drawing of blood.

Ventricles

Fluid-filled cavities in the heart or brain.

Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula)(Carnivora extract)

is a perennial plant that traps and eats insects. Carnivora is a commercially available liquid that is extracted from the plant.

Vesicant

A medication or agent that may cause blistering.

Video-Assisted Surgery

Surgery that is aided by the use of a video camera that projects and enlarges the operative site on a television screen.

Virilism

Masculinizing condition occurring in women, which may include infrequent menstrual periods, cessation of menstrual period before menopause, hoarse voice, and appearance of facial hair.

Virulence

The power of a microorganism to produce disease.

Virulent

Pertaining to a very pathogenic or rapidly progressive condition.

Virus

Submicroscopic microbe that causes infectious disease. Viruses can reproduce only in living cells.

Viscera

The soft internal organs within a body cavity, especially those contained within the abdominal and thoracic cavities.

Visceral

Pertaining to the viscera, or internal organs in the abdominal cavity.

visualization

A relaxation therapy based on the formation of meaningful images in the mind. Mental pictures are used to achieve relaxation, reduce heart rate and heal illness.

Vital

Necessary to maintain life. Breathing is a vital function.

Vitamin A

is a fat-soluble nutrient that is essential to growth and development. It is obtained in the diet from animal sources, and is also derived from beta carotene in plant foods (see Beta Carotene). Beta carotene is converted to Vitamin A in the small intesting and stored in the liver until needed by the body.

Vitamin C

is an essential vitamin the human body needs to function well. It is a water-soluble vitamin that must be obtained from the diet. Vitamin C is found in abundance in citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruit, and lemons, and in green leafy vegetable, potatoes, strawberries, bell peppers, and cantaloupe.

Vitamin E

is an essential nutrient the human body needs to function normally. The term vitamin E actually represents a group of substances that includes alpha-tocopherol, which is the most important of the group to the body. This vitamin helps build normal cells and form red blood cells. The main sources of vitamin E in the diet are vegetable oils (especially safflower oil, sunflower oil, and cottonseed oil), green leafy vegetables, nuts, cereals, meats, egg yolks, wheat germ, and whole wheat products.

vitamins

Organic substances in minute quantities that are vital to nutrition and good health. They help regulate body processes, but do not provide energy. Found in natural foods and sometimes produced by the body.

Vocal Cords

Two small bands of muscle within the larynx. They close to prevent food from getting into the lungs, and they vibrate to produce the voice.

Vulva

The external genitalia of a female.

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W

Wart

A raised growth on the surface of the skin or other organ.

Watchful Waiting

The patient's condition is closely monitored, but treatment is withheld until symptoms appear or change.

Whipple Procedure

A type of surgery used to treat pancreatic cancer. The surgeon removes teh head of the pancreas, the duodenum, a portion of the stomach, and other nearby tissue.

White Blood Cell Count (WBC)

The actual number of white blood cells seen in a blood sample.

White Blood Cells

Cells that help the body fight infection and disease.

Whitmore-Jewett Staging System

A system used for the staging of prostate cancer.

Wilm's Tumor

A form of kidney cancer that primarily affects young children.

Wire Localization

A procedure used to guide a surgical breast biopsy when the lump is difficult to locate or in areas that look suspicious on the x-ray but do not have a distinct lump.

Wiskott-Aldrich

An inherited disease effecting the immune system. Some characteristics of the disease include chronic skin problems and frequent syndrome infections.

Wobe-Mugos

A Cam biologic/orthomolecular therapy consisting of a particular enzyme mixture which enhances the immune system and may help block tumor growth.

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X

X-ray

High-energy radiation used in low doses to diagnose disease or injury, and in high doses to treat cancer.

Xeroderma Pigmentosum

A genetic condition characterized by a sensitivity to all sources of ultraviolet radiation.

Xeroradiography

An outdated form of mammography that records the images of the breast on paper rather than on film. This method is rarely used now.

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Y

yin/yang

Complementary but opposing qualities assigned to everything in the natural world as part of ancient Chinese cosmology. Everything has a yin and a corresponding yang as in night and day, hot and cold. The human body has both yin and yang organs which must produce a balance by operating in pairs. A balance of yin and yang forces in the body is assumed to create good health; when yin and yang are not balanced, illness results.

yoga

An ancient Eastern philosophy of health and well-being. It is also a philosophy and exercise system that combines movement and simple poses with deep breathing and meditation to unite the human soul with a universal spirit.

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