Benign. Cells forming a tumor that will not continue to grow and are not presently cancerous. They cannot spread from their original site and reach the bloodstream 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 various glands.

Chemotherapy. The course of treatment through the use of chemicals. Immunization therapy. The course of 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 tomograms.

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 of disease but does not cure the disease.

Pathology. The examination of tissues and body fluids to determine whether malignant cells are present and to ascertain the type of 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 through the use of radiation or X rays.

Recurrence. The return of cancer in a different part of the body or the same part after it had been 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 brain, liver, or bones, produced by counting the radiation caused by radioactive substances injected to that part. A cat scan gives a detailed picture of a cross section 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.