Adjuvant treatment. Treatments to fight cancer when there is no physical evidence of remaining cancer in the body.
Benign. Cells forming a tumor that are not presently cancerous and cannot spread from their original site and reach the blood stream or lymphatic system.
Biopsy. The examination of tissue to determine whether it is malignant or benign.
Cancer. The uncontrolled growth of malignant cells.
Carcinogen. A cancer causing substance.
Carcinoma. A malignant tumor arising in the sheets of cells covering the surface of the body and lining of various glands.
Chemotherapy. Treatment through the use of chemicals.
Immunization Therapy. Treatment by activating the immune system.
Leukemia. Cancer arising in the blood-forming
cells of the bone
marrow.
Lymphoma. Cancer arising in the lymph nodes.
Malignant. Cells which will continue to
grow geometrically and
are considered cancerous.
Metastasize. The breaking away of cancer cells from the original tumor, settling elsewhere in the body and forming a new tumor.
Nuclear Medicine. Another term for scans or tomagrams.
Oncologist. A doctor specializing in the treatment of cancer. He may further specialize in medicine, radiation or surgery, but always in relation to cancer.
Palliative Treatment. Treatment that relieves
pain and symptoms
but is not intended to cure disease.
Pathology. The examination of tissues and
body fluids to determine whether malignant cells are present and to ascertain
the type or origin of these cells. Prognosis.
The projected future course of the illness.
Protocol. A specific treatment or series of treatments that has been developed to treat cancer.
Radiotherapy. Treatment by the use of radiation or X-rays.
Recurrence. The return of cancer after it was thought to be in remission or cured.
Remission.When cancer can no longer be found to be present but cannot be determined as cured.
Sarcoma. A malignant tumor arising in supporting structures such as fibrous tissue and blood vessels.
Scan. A picture of a particular part of the body, such as bones, brain or liver, produced by counting the radiation caused by radioactive particles being absorbed by that part of the body.
Tomogram. A computer produced vertical X-ray capable of giving continuous "vertical slices" of various parts of the body.
Tumor. The mass caused by a concentration of cells, either benign or malignant.