Glossary
Here’s a glossary of many cancer terms you may come across during your treatment.
Adjuvant Therapy
Treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy following surgery to help prevent recurrence or spread of cancer.
Benign Tumor
A non-cancerous growth that does not spread.
Biopsy
Removal of a piece of tissue for examination under a microscope to see whether cancer cells are present.
Blood Counts
Measurement of the red cells, white cells, and platelets - normal cells that protect against anemia, infection, and bleeding. These cells may be affected by chemotherapy or radiation. A Complete Blood Count (CBC) tells us the amount of each type of cell.
BUN and Creatinine
Blood tests that help assess kidney function.
Cancer
A general term for more than 100 diseases in which there is abnormal growth of cells that can spread to other parts of the body.
Chemotherapy
Treatment of cancer with medicines.
Clinical Trials
New or experimental treatment programs and special agents for the treatment of cancer and blood diseases offered to patients. Participation is 100% voluntary. Clinical trials involve these phases:
- Phase 1: Intended to determine the safe dose for anti-cancer medications and the potential side effects of different doses.
- Phase 2: Intended to establish if a new treatment is effective for a particular kind of cancer.
- Phase 3: Intended to compare a "new" treatment with "standard" treatment. This type of trial involves "randomization," or the assignment of patients to one or the other treatment on a random basis.
CT Scan
An X-ray procedure that uses a computer to produce a detailed picture of the body.
Cytokines or Growth Factors
Normal body proteins that can be manufactured and injected to boost blood counts and to protect the body against infection or anemia.
Glucose Levels
Tests that check your blood sugar.
Hematology
A general term applied to the diagnosis and treatment of blood diseases and the study of blood. (From the Greek "hemato," which means blood.)
Lymph Nodes
Small glands, located throughout the body, that help fight cancer and infections.
Malignant Tumor
A cancerous growth.
Metastases
The spread of a tumor regionally to lymph nodes by the lymphatic system or to separate organs via the blood stream.
MRI
A procedure that uses a magnet and a computer to produce a detailed picture of the body.
Oncology
A general term applied to the treatment or study of tumors. (From the Greek word “onco," which means tumor.)
Platelets
Cells that help the blood to clot.
Prothrombin Times (PTs)
Tests that evaluate how well blood is clotting and monitor anticoagulant therapy.
Protocols
Treatment plans.
Red Blood Cells
Cells that contain hemoglobin, which transports oxygen from the lungs to the tissues.
Regression or Response
A decrease in the tumor size that can be partial or complete.
Remission
A state in which there are no observable tumor cells or symptoms.
Staging
A series of tests to determine whether a cancer has spread from its original site to another part of the body.
White Blood Cells
Cells that fight infection and produce antibodies.