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Glossary of Terms
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 ZAdjuvant Therapy - Cancer treatment that involves surgery followed by chemotherapy and/or radiation to decrease the risk of the cancer recurring.
Antibody - A substance formed by the immune system that defends the body against antigens (bacteria, viruses, toxins) or tumors.
Antigen - A substance, such as a bacteria, virus or toxin, that triggers a response by the immune system, the human body’s defense mechanism. Cancer may have antigens the immune system may attack.
Arizona Health Sciences Center - The Arizona Health Sciences Center includes The University of Arizona Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy; the School of Health Related Professions; University Medical Center; the Arizona Cancer Center; and The University Physicians. Facilities are located at 1501 North Campbell Avenue, with satellite clinics in other locations in Tucson and other parts of the state.
Attending Physician - The doctor who is primarily responsible for a patient’s care and who supervises fellows and residents. At the Arizona Cancer Center, attending physicians are faculty members of The University of Arizona College of Medicine.
Benign - Non-malignant; not life-threatening.
Benign Hematology - The study and treatment of blood, blood-forming tissues, and blood-related diseases that are not life-threatening.
Biological Response Modifiers - Natural or man-made substances that boost or restore normal immune defenses.
Biomarker - A biochemical characteristic that can be used to measure the progress of disease or the effects of treatment.
Biopsy - Surgical removal of body tissue that will be used for identifying disease.
Bone Marrow - The body’s "factory" for three types of blood cells: leukocytes (white blood cells), which help fight infection; erythrocytes (red blood cells), which carry oxygen throughout the body; and thrombocytes (platelets), which cause blood clotting.
Bone Marrow Aspiration - The removal and examination of bone marrow cells.
Bone Marrow Donor - A person who donates healthy bone marrow to a patient who has had high-dose cancer treatment. The patient is given the donor’s healthy marrow during a bone marrow transplant.
Bone Marrow Harvest - A procedure to collect healthy bone marrow, which will be stored and used in a future bone marrow transplant.
Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) - A procedure to replace a patient’s diseased or treatment-damaged bone marrow with healthy marrow. The new marrow can be marrow that has been previously removed from the patient and stored until needed (autologous transplant); or marrow that is donated either from a genetically matched relative or unrelated donor (allogeneic transplant); or marrow from the patient’s genetically identical twin (syngeneic transplant). Stem cells from peripheral blood can also be used as a source of cells for a BMT.
CA 125 - A protein that can be found in the blood and is useful in detecting and evaluating ovarian cancer.
CT Scan (computer tomography scan) - A diagnostic test that uses x-rays and a computer to view organs and areas inside the body.
CEA - A protein that can be found in the blood and is useful in detecting and evaluating colon cancer.
Chemosensitizers - Drugs or chemicals that enhance the effects of anticancer drugs and improve their efficiency.
Chemotherapy - The use of chemicals (medicines) to treat cancer.
Chromosome - A linear strand of DNA and proteins in the nucleus of a cell. Chromosomes carry genes and function in the transmission of hereditary information.
Clinical Trials - Studies that evaluate new drugs or new types of treatment.
Fellow - A medical doctor who has completed medical school, an internship, and a residency program and is training for a specialized branch of medicine. Arizona Cancer Center fellows are studying to be oncologists.
Gene - A hereditary unit that is located in a specific place on a chromosome. Genes determine physical characteristics, such as hair or eye color. When genes are missing or damaged, cancer may occur.
Gene Therapy - Using genes inserted into the patient’s body or tumor to stimulate the immune system.
Gynecologic Oncology - The study and treatment of cancers of the female reproductive organs.
HMO (health maintenance organization) - A type of medical insurance coverage that specifically states which doctors and medical institutions patients may use and which medical tests and procedures will be paid for by the HMO.
Hematology - The study and treatment of blood and blood-forming tissues.
Immune System - The body’s natural defense system which produces antibodies to fight against foreign substances such as bacteria, viruses, toxins, and cancers.
Immunology - The study of the body’s natural defense system.
Immunotherapy - Stimulating the body’s natural defense system to attack and destroy cancers.
Indemnity Plan - A type of health care insurance that generally does not restrict a patient’s choice of doctors and medical institutions.
Intern - A person who has finished medical school and is in the process of completing an additional year of training before practicing general medicine.
Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) - Treating the tumor site with radiation during surgery to treat localized cancers that cannot be completely removed or that have a high risk of recurring (coming back) in nearby tissues.
Intraperitoneal Therapy - Chemotherapy treatment delivered through a catheter placed directly into the intra-abdominal space, rather than by intravenous injection.
Lumpectomy - Surgical removal of a small cancerous or non-cancerous tumor; generally used to refer to removal of a breast lump.
MRI Scan (magnetic resonance imaging scan) - A diagnostic test that uses magnetic fields to produce two- or three-dimensional images of organs inside the body.
Malignant - Cancerous; life-threatening.
Mammogram - Breast x-ray used to detect breast cancer.
Managed Care - Medical insurance coverage provided by a health maintenance organization (see HMO).
Mastectomy - Surgical removal of the entire breast. Radical mastectomy is surgical removal of the breast muscle and any number of lymph nodes; bilateral mastectomy is surgical removal of both breasts.
Matched Unrelated Donor Transplants (MUDs) - Refers to bone marrow transplantation procedures in which the patient and the bone marrow donor are genetically matched but not family members.
Medical Oncology - The study and treatment of cancers with chemicals, biological products, or immunotherapy.
Medical Student - A graduate student who is studying to become a doctor.
Metastasis - Refers to a cancer which has spread to other parts of the body.
Multidisciplinary - Several branches of medicine, science, or other professions working together toward common goals.
National Cancer Institute (NCI) - The primary agency of the U.S. government that provides research grants to study cancer, develop new drugs, and test cancer prevention strategies.
Neoadjuvant Therapy - Cancer treatment that involves giving chemotherapy to reduce the size of a tumor before surgery is done to remove the tumor.
Neurologic Oncology - The study and treatment of cancers of the brain and nervous system.
Oncology - The study and treatment of cancers.
Oncologist - A doctor who specializes in treating cancer patients.
Peripheral Stem Cell Harvest - The same as a bone marrow transplant, except the source of the cells used to replace diseased or treatment-damaged bone marrow is the blood rather than bone marrow. Stem cells are seed cells capable of regrowing bone marrow. They can be harvested either from circulating blood or bone marrow (see also Blood and Marrow Transplant).
PSA (prostate specific antigen) - A protein that comes from the prostate gland. The PSA test, which measures the levels of prostate specific antigen in the blood, is one test for prostate cancer.
Prostate - A male sex gland that produces a thick fluid that forms part of semen.
Radiation Oncology - The study and treatment of cancers using radiation (x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons).
Radiation Therapy - The use of x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons to treat cancers.
Radioactive Seed Implants - A treatment option for men with early stage prostate cancer. Radioactive seeds are implanted into the prostate gland. The seeds emit low- energy x-rays, which destroy cancer cells.
Radiosurgery - A technique for treating brain tumors that cannot be reached with surgery. The doctor uses CT scans to target the tumor with high doses of radiation.
Resident - A medical doctor who has completed medical school and an internship and is receiving additional training for a specialized branch of medicine.
Surgical Oncology - Treating cancers by surgically removing tumors.
Surgery - Treating diseases or other medical conditions by operating on a patient to remove or repair parts of the body.
Ultrasound - A diagnostic test that uses sound waves to create images of organs and other areas inside the body.
Urology - The study and treatment of diseases that affect the urinary system.
White Blood Cells - Cells that help fight infections; also called leukocytes.
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