A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Medical Glossary
Medical glossary’s can sometimes be more confusing than helpful. We have tried to make ours as pertinent as possible regarding the terminology you, or a loved one, may encounter with a diagnosis/treatment of cancer.
Understandably, we could not cover every word, but if you ever come across a word and/or term that your doctor/physician/oncologist uses that you do not understand, ask them to explain it.
Some tips to navigating cancer terminology –
· Ask what the word means
· Write it down
· Write the explanation down
· Read back what you have written to make sure you have got it right
· Keep a journal
Remember – ask, listen, write and repeat.
It is not uncommon to be overwhelmed with the information being presented, but it is necessary to ensure that you and/or your loved one understand it.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Ablative therapy – Treatment that removes or destroys the function of an organ; for example, removing the ovaries or having some types of chemotherapy that cause then to stop working
Adeno - Prefix meaning "gland"
Adenocarcinoma – A cancer originating from the epithelium of a glandular organ
Adjuvant therapy - Post-surgical therapy to prevent a cancer’s recurrence and destroy any cancer cells that have metastasized; may also include palliative therapy
Advanced cancer – A general term describing stages of cancer in which the disease has spread from the primary site to other parts of the body
Alopecia – Hair loss, which often occurs as a result of chemotherapy or from radiation therapy to the head. Inmost cases the hair grows back after treatment ends
Amino acid - A peptide; the basic building block of proteins (or polypeptides)
Anesthesia – The loss of feeling or sensation as a result of drugs or gases. General anesthesia causes loss of consciousness, local anesthesia or regional anesthesia numbs only a certain area
Androgen – A male sex hormone. Androgens may be used to treat recurrent breast cancer. Their effect is to oppose the activity of estrogen, thereby slowing growth of the cancer
Antibiotic – Drugs used to kill organisms that cause disease
Antibody - A protein (immuno-globulin) molecule, produced by the immune system, that recognizes a particular foreign antigen and binds to it; if the antigen is on the surface of a cell, this binding leads to cell aggregation and subsequent destruction. Antibodies attack viruses, bacteria, and other foreign substances in the body
Antiemetic – A drug that prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting, common side effects of chemotherapy
Antigen - A molecule (typically found in the surface of a cell) whose shape triggers the production of antibodies that will bind to it
Antioxidant - A chemical found in some fruits and vegetables that is thought to reduce the damage caused by free radicals
Apoptosis - Genetically programmed cell death; the natural mechanism used by the body to eliminate cells that are no longer needed
Asymptomatic – Not having symptoms of a disease. Many cancers can develop and grow without producing symptoms, especially in the early stages
Atypical – No usual; abnormal. Often refers to the appearance of cancerous or precancerous cells
B
BRCA1 – A gene which, when damaged (mutated) places a woman at greater risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer, compared with woman who do not have the mutation
BRCA2 – A gene which, when damaged or mutated, puts the carrier at a much higher risk for developing breast and/or ovarian cancer than the general population
Benign tumor - A non-cancerous tumor
Benign growth – One that is non-cancerous and does not spread to other parts of the body
Bilateral – On both sides of the body; for example, bilateral breast cancer is cancer in both breasts at the same time (synchronous) or at a different time (metachronous)
Biologic response modifiers – Substances that boost the body’s immune system to fight against cancer; interferon is one example
Biopsy – Removal of cells from the body for laboratory tests to check for disease
Bone marrow – Soft tissue in the centre of some bones that produces cells
Bone marrow transplantation/BMT - A procedure used in the treatment of cancer in which a patient’s diseased bone marrow is destroyed with radiation or chemotherapy, and then replaced with healthy marrow
Bone marrow transplantation, allogeneic - BMT using bone marrow from a donor
Bone marrow transplantation, autologous - BMT using bone marrow from the patient
Brachytherapy - A radiation treatment in which tiny radioactive pellets are surgically placed in or near a tumor, giving the tumor a high dose of radiation
Breast cancer – Cancer that starts in the breast
Breast conservation therapy – Surgery to remove breast cancer and a small amount of benign tissue around the cancer, without removing any other part of the breast. The lymph nodes may be removed, and radiation therapy is also often given after the surgery
Breast reconstruction – Surgery that rebuilds the breast contour after mastectomy
Breast self-exam (BSE) – A method of checking one’s own breasts for lumps or other changes
C
Calcifications – Tiny calcium deposits within the breast, singly or on clusters, usually found by mammography and are a sign of change within the breast(s) that may need to be followed closely. Calcifications may be caused by benign breast conditions or by breast cancer
Cancer - A group of diseases and all forms cause cells in the body to change and grow out of control. Most types of cancer cells forma lump or mass called a tumor. Some cancers, such as blood cancers, do not form a tumor, and not all tumors are cancer
Cancer care team – A group of health care professionals who work together to find, treat, care and support people with cancer, and their families
Capsule formation – Scar tissue that may form around a breast implant
Carcinogen - A substance that increases the risk of cancer
Carcinoma - Cancer originating from epithelial tissue which covers the body’s surface and lines internal organs and glands; most common type of cancer
Cell - Small membrane-bounded compartment filled with a concentrated aqueous solution of chemicals; the building blocks of all living creatures
Chemoprevention – Prevention or reversal of disease using drugs, chemicals, vitamins or minerals
Chemotherapy – Treatment with drugs that damage or kill cancer cells (cytotoxic drugs). There are different classes of anti-cancer drugs working in different ways
Chromosome - A linear end-to-end arrangement of genes and other DNA, sometimes with associated protein and RNA
Clear surgical margins – A term that means that there are no cancer cells at the outer edges of removed tissue; a clear surgical margin implies that all cancerous tissues has been removed from the breast
Clinical breast examination – An examination of the breasts by a health professional
Clinical trials - The systematic evaluation of new medical treatments which have shown promise in animal and laboratory tests
Combination chemotherapy – Use of two or more anti-cancer drugs to give better results
Combines modality therapy – Treatment with two or more of the modes of treatment used against cancer: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy
Computed tomography (CT) – A radiation imaging process that directs x-rays from many different angles to obtain clear pictures of the organs in cross section
Cyst – A fluid filled mass that usually is benign
Cytotoxic drug – A drug which damages or kills cancer cells (see chemotherapy)
D
Diagnosis – Identifying a disease by its signs or symptoms, imaging procedures and laboratory findings
Diploid – Cells that have normal amounts of DNA
Duct – A passageway in the breast designed to deliver milk
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) – Abnormal cells that started in a breast duct and have not grown outside their site of origin; sometimes referred to as a precancer
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) - The chemical found in the nucleus of most cells that is the fundamental substance of which genes are composed; a double chain of linked nucleotides (having deoxyribose as their sugars)
E
Edema – Build up of fluid in the tissues, causing swelling
Endocrine glands – Glands that release hormones into the blood stream. The ovaries are one type of endocrine gland
Enzyme - A protein that functions as a catalyst, to speed up a chemical-specific reaction
Epidemiology - The study of incidence, distribution and control of disease in a population and the relationship between lifestyle, environment and disease
Epithelium - The outside layer of cells
Estrogen – A female sex hormone produced primarily by the ovaries and in smaller amounts by the adrenal cortex. In breast cancer, estrogen may promote the growth of cancer cells
Estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR) – Proteins found on the surface of a cell to which estrogen and progesterone molecules will attach, activating the cell and making it divide
Estrogen receptor assay – The estrogen receptor assay is a laboratory test done on a sample of the cancer in order to see whether estrogen receptors are present
Estrogen replacement therapy – The use of estrogen from sources other than the body
Etiology – The cause of the disease
F
Fascia – A sheet or thin band of fibrous tissue that covers muscles and some organs of the body
False negative – Test result implying a condition does not exist when in fact it does
False positive – Test result implying a condition exists when in fact it does not
Fibroadenoma – A type of benign breast tumor composed of fibrous and glandular tissue
Fibrocystic changes – A term that describes certain benign changes in the breast, and because these symptoms or other signs can mimic breast cancer further investigation is required to rule breast cancer out
Fibrosis – Formation of fibrous tissue. This can occur anywhere in the body
Flow cytometry – A test of tumor tissue to see how fast the tumor cells are reproducing and whether they contain normal or abnormal amount of DNA
Frozen section – A very tin slice of tissue that has been quick-frozen and then examined under a microscope
G
Gene - The fundamental physical and functional unit of heredity that carries information from one generation to the next; a segment of DNA composed of a transcribed region and a regulatory sequence that makes transcription possible; genes code for proteins
Gene mutation - A point mutation that results from changes within the structure of a gene
Genetic testing – Tests done to see if a person has certain gene changes known to increase cancer risk. Such testing is not recommended for every person, but rather for those with specific types of family history. It is important that Genetic counseling be part of the process from beginning to end
Gene therapy - Techniques that introduce new genetic material into a patient, correcting genetic defects that are causing disease
Genome – All the genetic information necessary to build a living creature (i.e., the human genome contains all the information necessary to build a human being)
Grade – Indicates the aggressiveness of cancer by analyzing the features of individual cells and the arrangement of tumor cells in relation to each other
H
HER2/HER2 protein – Also called Her2 growth factor reception; one of the many proteins on a cells surface that signals the cell to divide
HER2 protein over expression – The excess production of the HER2 growth factor receptor that results forma change in the HER2 gene in cancerous cells
Hereditary cancer syndrome – Conditions associated with cancers that occur in multiple family members because of an inherited, mutated gene
Holistic therapies – Complimentary Integrated Medical treatments based on healing emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical body
Hodgkin’s disease - Cancer of the lymphatic system; symptoms include enlargement of the lymph nodes, spleen and liver, as well as progressive anemia.
Hormone - A substance secreted by an organ or gland into the bloodstream to be carried to other organs and glands where it has a specific effect; there are two types of hormone: steroid hormones (e.g., estrogen, testosterone) composed of cholesterol are fat soluble and can easily cross the cell membrane; nonsteroid hormones (e.g., insulin) composed of amino acids are water soluble, and cannot cross the cell membrane
Hormone blocking therapy – Antihormone receptor therapy, such as tamoxifen, that helps block hormone stimulation of tumors that are sensitive to these
Hyperplasia – An abnormal increase in the number of cells in a specific area, such as the lining of the breast ducts or lobules. By itself hyperplasia is not cancerous but when proliferation is marked and/or the cells are atypical the risk of cancer developing is greater
I
Immune system - The animal cells and tissues involved in recognizing and attacking foreign substances within the body
Immunology - The study of the immune system
Immunosuppresion – A state in which the ability of the body’s immune system to respond is decreased
Immunotherapy - Therapy for disease through enhancement or stimulation of the immune system
Inflammatory carcinoma – A type of infiltrating carcinoma with spread to lymphatic vessels in the skin covering the breast
Informed consent – A legal document that explains a course of treatment, the risks, benefits, and possible alternatives; the process by which patients agree to treatment
In situ – Abnormal cells that have not spread beyond their site of origin
Interferon - A group of proteins with antiviral and anti-tumor properties that is created by infected cells in response to viruses and foreign nucleic acids; it can also be created synthetically; the three types of interferon help immunocompromised patients: alpha, made by leukocytes; beta, made by fibroblasts; and gamma, made by lymphocytes
Invasive cancer - Cancer which has spread to surrounding tissue
L
Leukemia - Cancer of the blood-forming tissues, leukocytes or the cells which give rise to leukocytes
Leukocytes - White blood cells or corpuscles, including neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes
Lobule – An area in the breast designed to produce milk
Localized cancer - Cancer which has not spread beyond the origination site
Lumpectomy - Removal of a breast tumor only leaving behind the rest of the breast tissue; the standard procedure for tumors less than one inch in diameter
Lymph glands/nodes - Nodules or rounded bodies, varying in size from a pinhead to an olive, found clustered in the neck, armpit, crotch and along the great vessels of the abdomen
Lymphoma - Cancer of the lymphatic system
Lymphedema – A complication that sometimes happens after breast cancer treatments
M
Malaise – Vague, unlocated feeling of discomfort
Malignant – Cancerous
Mastectomy - The surgical removal of the breast
Mastitis – Inflammation or infection of the breast
Melanoma, malignant - The most serious form of skin cancers; originates in the pigment cells of the skin, eye and mucous membranes
Metastasis - The spread of cancer cells to parts of the body distant from the origination site; only cancerous tumors can metastasize
Molecular genetics - The study of the molecular processes underlying gene structure and function
Monoclonal antibody/MAB - A laboratory-made, highly specific antibody used to detect/target predetermined proteins or portions of proteins e.g. Herceptin
Multicentric breast cancer – Breast cancer occurring in several areas of a breast
Mutagen - An agent that is capable of increasing the mutation rate. Mutation - 1) the process that produces a gene or a chromosome set differing from the wild-type; 2) the gene or chromosome set that results from such a process
Myeloma - A cancer of the bone marrow
Myelosuppression – Reduces production of blood cells and platelets in the bone marrow, a side effect of some cytotoxic drugs
N
Neoadjuvant therapy – Systemic therapy, such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy, given before surgery
Neoplasm – An abnormal growth that starts from a single altered cell: a neoplasm may be benign or malignant
Nodal status – Indicates whether a breast cancer has spread or has not spread to lymph nodes in the arm pit
Non-invasive cancer - The earliest stage of cancer when it is located only in the origination site, before metastasis
O
Oncology - The study and treatment of cancer
Oncogene – Genes that promote cell growth and multiplication. These genes are normally found in all cells but oncogenes may undergo changes that activate them, causing cells to grow too quickly and form tumors
Oncoprotein - The protein coded for by an oncogene, capable of causing tumor formation; can be either a mutated form of a normal cellular protein or a normal cellular protein expressed at an inappropriate time
Oophorectomy – Surgery to remove the ovaries
Osteoporosis – Thinning of bone tissue, resulting in less bone mass and weaker bones
P
P53 - Tumor suppressor gene
Palliative treatment – One which serves to relive symptoms but does not bring about a cure
Pap test - The collection of cervical cells using a cotton swab; the cells are then examined under a microscope to determine if there are cancer cells present
Pathogen - An organism that causes disease in another organism
Pathology report – The complete results and conclusions of a biopsy; including physical and microscopic descriptions of the tissue removed during biopsy
Peptide - An amino acid; the basic building block of polypeptides (or proteins)
Placebo – An inactive substance given to satisfy a patient’s psychological need for medication or used in studies testing the efficacy of a new drug
Platelets - The cells in the bloodstream responsible for clotting
Polymerase chain reaction/PCR - A technique that amplifies nucleic acid sequences exponentially
Precancerous – Abnormal cells that may develop into cancer
Protein - Long linear polymers of amino acids joined head to tail by a peptide bond between the carboxylic acid group of one amino acid and the amino group of the next; proteins determine the shape and structure of the cell and also serve as instruments of molecular recognition
Protocol - Guidelines to follow in a clinical trial; outlines how a study is to be conducted, who may participate, how to administer treatment and how outcomes are to be recorded
Prosthesis – An artificial form, such as a breast prosthesis that can be worn under the clothing after a mastectomy
R
Radiation therapy/radiotherapy - The use of radiation (high energy penetrating rays or subatomic particles) such as X-rays and gamma rays to treat or control disease
Radical mastectomy - The surgical removal of the breast along with the underlying muscle, axillary lymph nodes and fat tissue
Radical prostatectomy - The surgical removal of the prostate and surrounding tissue
Recurrence - Return of a disease after a period without symptoms or signs of the disease
Regime - A regulated plan designed to treat cancer and reach certain goals
Remission – A lessening in the severity of symptoms or their temporary disappearance during the course of an illness
Risk factor – Anything that increases a person’s chance of getting a disease such as cancer
RNA (ribonucleic acid) - A single-stranded nucleic acid similar to DNA, but having ribose sugar rather than deoxyribose sugar, and uracil rather than thymine as the bases
S
S-phase – A measurement of the rate of cell division; the more cells counted in the s-phase, the faster the cancer is growing
Sarcoma - Cancer arising from connective tissue (bone, cartilage, muscle); also affects liver, lungs, spleen, kidneys and bladder
Secondary tumor - A metastatic tumor, not the original tumor
Sentinel node biopsy – Blue dye or a radioactive tracer is injected in to the tumor site at the time of surgery and the first (sentinel) node that picks up the dye is removed and biopsied, if the node is cancer-free, no more nodes are removed
Side effects – Unwanted effects of treatment, such as hair loss, fatigue and nausea from chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy
Squamous cell carcinoma - Skin cancer arising from the squamous "scaly" epithelium of the skin
Stem cell - A cell that gives rise to other cells; usually less differentiated than the cells of the tissue
Steriotactic 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 found by touch. A computer maps the location of the mass to guide the placement of the needle
Systemic treatment – Treatment that involves the whole body
T
T cells/T lymphocytes - Lymphocytes responsible for the cell-mediated immune response; mature in the thymus gland
Toxicity – The potential of drugs and other substances for causing harm to the body
Translocation - Detachment of a piece of one chromosome and reattachment to another chromosome during segregation; can cause abnormally long and short chromosomes
Tumor - An abnormal mass of cells; can be benign or malignant
Tumor suppressor gene - A gene whose loss of function leads to cell transformation and the development of a tumor
U V X Y Z
Ultrasound – An imaging method in which high-frequency sound waves are used to outline a part of the body. The sound wave echoes are picked up and displayed on a screen. This is painless method to distinguish fluid-filled from solid tumors
Vaccine – The modified virus of a disease used to bring about resistance to that disease. A cancer vaccine is the subject of intense research
White blood cells – There are several types of blood cells that help to defend the body against infections. Chemotherapy in particular can reduce the number of these cells and make a person more likely to get infection
Wire location – A procedure used to guide a surgical breast biopsy when the lump is hard to find or when there is an area that looks suspicious on the x-ray