Dictionary

A-BC-D-EF-G-H-I-J-KL-M-NO-P-QR-S-TU-V-W-X-Y-Z

R

Radiation Therapy: The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or from materials called radioisotopes. Radioisotopes produce radiation and can be placed in or near the tumor or in the area near cancer cells. This type of radiation treatment is called internal radiation therapy, implant radiation, interstitial radiation, or brachytherapy. Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as radiolabled monoclonal antibody, that circulates throughout the body. Also called radiotherapy, irradiation, and x-ray therapy.

Radioactive: Giving off radiation.

Recurrent Cancer: Cancer that has returned after a period of time during which the cancer could not be detected. The cancer may return at the same site as the original (primary) tumor or in another location.

Risk Factor: Anything that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease. Some examples of risk factors for cancer include a family history of cancer, use of tobacco products, certain foods, being exposed to radiation or cancer-causing agents, and certain genetic changes.

S

Screening: Checking for disease when there are no symptoms.

Screening Mammogram: X-ray of the breasts taken to detect breast cancer in the absence of signs or symptoms.

Second Cancer: Refers to a new primary cancer that is caused by previous cancer treatment, or a new primary cancer in a person with a history of cancer.

Segmental Mastectomy: The removal of a cancerous tumor as well as some of the breast tissue around the tumor and the lining over the chest muscles below the tumor. Usually some of the lymph nodes under the arm are also taken out. Sometimes called a partial mastectomy.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: Removal and examination of the sentinel node(s) (the first lymph node[s] to which cancer cells are likely to spread from a primary tumor). To identify sentinel lymph node(s), the surgeon injects a radioactive substance, blue dye, or both near the tumor. The surgeon then uses a scanner to find the sentinel lymph node(s) stained with dye. The surgeon then removes the sentinel node(s) to check for the presence of cancer cells.

Side Effects: Problems that occur when treatment affects tissue or organs other than the ones meant to be affected by the treatment. Some common side effects of cancer treatment are fatigue, pain, nausea, vomiting, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss, and mouth sores.

Stage: The extent of a cancer within the body. If the cancer has spread, the stage describes how far it has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

Staging: Performing exams and tests to learn the extent of the cancer within the body, especially whether the disease has spread from the original site to other parts of the body. It is important to know the stage of the disease in order to plan the best treatment.

Steretactic Biopsy: A biopsy procedure that uses a computer and a three-dimensional scanning device to find a tumor site and guide the removal of tissue for examination under a microscope.

Surgery: A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

Symptom: An indication that a person has a condition or disease. Some examples of symptoms are headache, fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and pain.

Symptom Management: Care that prevents or relieves the symptoms of disease or the side effects of treatment. Symptom management does not alter the course of a disease but can improve the quality of life. It attempts to meet the physical, emotional, spiritual, and practical needs of patients by helping to relieve pain, depression, or other problems. Also known as palliative care, comfort care, and supportive care.

Systemic Therapy: Treatment using substances that travel through the bloodstream, reaching and affecting cells all over the body.

T

Tamoxifen: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called antiestrogens. Tamoxifen blocks the effects of the hormone estrogen in the body. It is used to prevent or delay the return of breast cancer or to control it’s spread.

Tissue: A group or layer of cells that are alike and that work together to perform a specific function.

Total Mastectomy: Removal of the breast. Also called a simple mastectomy.

Trastuzumab: (tras-TOO-zuh-mab) A type of monoclonal antibody used in cancer detection or therapy. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory produced substances that can locate and bind to cancer cells. Trastuzumab blocks the effects of the growth factor HER2, which transmits growth signals to breast cancer cells.

Tumor: A new growth of the tissue that results from abnormal cell division. Tumors perform no useful body function. They may be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

Tumor Marker: A substance sometimes found in the blood, other body fluids, or tissues. A high level of tumor marker may mean that a certain type of cancer is in the body. Examples of tumor markers include CA 125 (ovarian cancer), CA 15-3 (breast cancer), CEA (ovarian, lung, breast, pancreas, and gastrointestinal cancers), and PSA (prostate cancer). Also called biomarker.

Please note that the above definitions were taken from the NCI (National Cancer Institute) booklet, What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer.