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Cancer Source Book Nurses
Glossary
162
Other
Not Applicable
08/01/2005

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Cards

Term
Ablation
Definition
Removal of a body part or the destruction of its function
Term
ANC

absolute neutrophil count

Definition
The actual count of the neutrophils in the blood
Term
addiction
Definition
a combination of physical and psychological compulsive and maladaptive dependence on a substance
Term
adenocarcinoma
Definition
a malignant neoplasm of epithelial cells arising from glandular tissue or in which the cancer cells form recognizable glandular structures
Term
adjuvant therapy
Definition
a therapy that aids another
Term
ACTH

Adrenocorticotropic hormone

Definition
a hormone secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland that has a stimulating effect on the adrenal cortex
Term
alopecia
Definition
lack or loss of hair from skin areas where it is normally present
Term
anemia
Definition
below-normal concentration of circulating red blood cells or hemoglobin
Term
anorexia
Definition
loss of appetite
Term
antibody
Definition
an immunogloblulin produced by B lymphocytes in response to a unique antigen. It will combine with a specific antigen to control or destroy it.
Term
antigen
Definition
a protein or group of monosaccharide units on the surface of cells that identify each cell as self or foreign. They stimulate an immune response by producing antibodies or other sensitized cells of the immune system.
Term
anti-oncogenes
Definition
Genes that inhibit tumor cell growth. Also referred to as tumor suppressor genes.
Term
astrocytoma

malignant

Definition
A tumor of the brain or central nervous system composed of astrocytes.

benign or malignant?

Term
benign
Definition
nonmalignant
Term
biotherapy
Definition
the use of agents derived from biologic sources that enhance the immune response or assist in cancer treatment
Term
blocks
Definition
devices used in radiation therapy to prevent radiation beams from striking areas of the body that require shielding from treatment
Term
brachytherapy
Definition
treatment with ionizing radiation, the source of which may be placed within the body or on the surface of the body
Term
BRCA1

&

BRCA2

Definition
a breast cancer susceptibility gene; found in a small number of patients with breast cancer and carried by some people who may develop breast cancer later in life
Term
BSE

breast self-examination

Definition
visual and manual examination of the breast
Term
cachexia
Definition
a condition of severe malnutrition, emaciation, and debility
Term
cancer
Definition
malignant neoplastic disease marked by the uncontrolled growth of cells
Term
cancer of unknown primary
Definition
inability to isolate the site of origin of cancer cells through diagnostic testing
Term
carcinogen
Definition
a substance that causes cancer or increases the risk of developing cancer
Term
carcinogenesis
Definition
process by which cancer occurs
Term
carcinoma
Definition
a malignant growth consisting of epithelial cells that tend to infiltrate surrounding tissues and give rise to metastases
Term
basal cell carcinoma
Definition
an epithelial tumor of the skin that seldom metastasizes but has the potential for local invasion and destruction; the most common form of skin cancer
Term
carcinoma in situ
Definition
A neoplasm whose cells are localized in the epithelium and show no tendency to invade or metastasize to other tissues
Term
squamous cell carcinoma
Definition
neoplastic cells arising from the squamous epithelium and having cuboid cells
Term
cell cycle
Definition
sequence of steps through which cells grow and replicate
Term
cell cycle specific
Definition
drugs that exert their effect during a particular phase of the cell cycle
Term
cell cycle nonspecific
Definition
drugs that exert their effect on the cell without regard to a particular phase of the cell cycle
Term
chemotherapy
Definition
the systemic treatment of illness by medication
Term
chondrosarcoma
Definition
a malignant tumor derived from cartilage cells or their precursors
Term
clinical trial
Definition
rigorous evaluation to determine the effectiveness and safety of a specific intervention; the procedure by which new cancer treatments are tested in humans
Term
computed tomography
Definition
a radiologic imaging technique that produces images of "slices"
Term
conformal radiation therapy
Definition
optimal targeting of tumor cells with modern linear accelerators to more accurately shape beams that conform more closely to the size and shape of the tumor in order to minimize damage to collateral healthy tissue
Term
cytotoxic agent
Definition
an agent capable of specific destructive action on, or lysis of, certain cells
Term
debulking
Definition
surgery to reduce tumor size/burden
Term
detection
Definition
finding or discovering the existence of disease
Term
diagnosis
Definition
a concise, technical description of the cause, nature, or manifestations of a condition, situation, or problem
Term
differentiated
Definition
fully matured cell; ready to perform the specific function unique to its cell type
Term
differentiation
Definition
the act or process of having recognizable, specialized structures and functions
Term
DRE

digital rectal examination

Definition
an examination of the rectum performed with the examiner's fingers
Term
dysphagia
Definition
difficulty swallowing
Term
dyspnea
Definition
shortness of breath
Term
epidemiology
Definition
the study of factors determining and influencing the frequency and distribution of disease
Term
Ewing's sarcoma
Definition
highly malignant, metastatic, small round-cell, marrow-originating bone cancer seen primarily in children and adolescents
Term
extravasation
Definition
escape from the blood vessel into the tissue; term used to describe chemotherapeutic agents escaping from a blood vessel into the surrounding tissue, resulting in tissue damage.
Term
fecal occult blood test
Definition
testing a stool sample to determine the presence of hidden blood.
Term
flexible sigmoidoscopy
Definition
a procedure using a hollow lighted tube to visually inspect the wall of the rectum and the distal colon
Term
fractions

(fractionation)

Definition
divisions of the total dose of radiation into small doses given at intervals
Term
Gleason score
Definition
used in prostate cancer to determine the tumor grade through microscopic examination of biopsied tissue.

A scale of 2-20.

higher the #, the faster the cancer is likely to grow and the likelier it is to spread beyond the prostate

Term
Glioblastoma multiforme
Definition
Astrocytoma grade III or IV; a rapidly growing tumor, usually of the cerebral hemispheres, composed of spongioblasts, astroblasts, and astrocytes
Term
glioma
Definition
a tumor composed of neuroglia in any state of development
Term
grade
Definition
a qualitative assessment of the differentiation of tumor cells to the extent that tumor cells resemble the normal tissue at that site; expressed in numeric grades of differentiation from most differentiated to least differentiated
Term
GVHD

graft-versus-host disease

Definition
a frequent complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation
Term
granulocytopenia
Definition
a decrease in white blood cells
Term
gray
Definition
unit of absorbed radiation dose

(100 rads)

Term
hematopoiesis
Definition
the formation and development of blood cells, which occurs mainly in the bone marrow
Term
histology
Definition
examination of tissue dealing with the minute structure, composition, and function of tissues as seen through a microscope
Term
Hodgdin's disease
Definition
a specific type of lymphoma, differing from all other lymphomas in its predictability of spread, microscopic characteristics, and occurrence of extranodal tumors. The presence of the Reed-Sternberg cell is essential to the diagnosis
Term
hospice
Definition
an interdisciplinary program of palliative and supportive care that addresses the physical, spiritual, social, and psychologic needs of terminally ill patients and their families
Term
hypercalcemia
Definition
excessive quantity of serum calcium. Weakness, confusion, and possible ventricular dysrhythmias are classic symptoms and require immediate intervention
Term
hyperplasia
Definition
abnormal proliferation of normal cells in normal arrangements in a tissue type
Term
hypertrophy
Definition
enlargement or overgrowth of an organ or body part due to an increase in size of its constituent cells
Term
immunotherapy
Definition
the use of natural and synthetic substances to provide active and passive immunization
Term
incidence
Definition
the rate at which a certain event occurs, such as the number of new cases of a specific disease occurring within a specific population or group during a certain time period
Term
incidence rate
Definition
the number of new cases of cancer divided by the bumber of people in the population. The results are usually per 100,000
Term
induction chemotherapy
Definition
the initial chemotherapy regimen used in the treatment of leukemia, when the greatest number of leukemic cells are affected. The combination of drugs is designed to cause severe bone marrow depression and the goal of treatment is remission of the disease
Term
in situ
Definition
confined to the site of origin
Term
IMRT

intensity-modulated radiation therapy

Definition
a newer radiation technique that facilitates shaping the intensity of the radiation beam to allow for more precise dose distribution around the target site
Term
IORT

intraoperative radiation

Definition
specialized radiation technique used during surgery to treat cancers deep in the body with large, single doses while avoiding irradiation of normal tissues
Term
intrathecal chemotherapy
Definition
cytotoxic drugs injected into the cerebrospinal fluid, thereby bypassing the blood-brain barrier
Term
leukemia
Definition
a progressive disease of the blood-forming organs, marked by distorted proliferation and development of leukocytes and their precursors in the blood and bone marrow.
Term
ALL

acute lymphocytic leukemia

Definition
most common type of pediatric leukemia; infiltration and accumulation of immature lymphoblasts occur within the bone marrow, as well as the extramedullary lymphatic tissue
Term
AML

acute myelocytic leukemia

Definition
acute leukemia of the myelogenous type; affects mostly middle-aged to elderly individuals
Term
leukoplakia
Definition
the development of white, thickened patches on the mucous membranes of the cheeks, gums, or tongue. Precancerous and can become malignant.
Term
lymphadenectomy
Definition
surgical excision of one or more lymph nodes
Term
lymphoma
Definition
any neoplastic disorder of the lymphoid tissue, including Hodgkin's disease
Term
malignant
Definition
having the properties of anaplasia, invasiveness, and metastasis; referring to cancerous growths and tumors
Term
malignant melanoma
Definition
least common form of skin cancer; it starts in the cells that produce skin coloring and frequently metastasizes
Term
meningioma
Definition
benign, slow-growing tumor that originates in the meninges, usually next to the dura mater; increased intercranial pressure is common
Term
metastasis
Definition
secondary malignant lesions originating from the primary tumor but located in anatomically distant places.
Term
micrometastases
Definition
formation of microscopic secondary tumors created by cancerous cells escaping into the lymphatic or vascular flow, where they can travel to distant sites
Term
mortality
Definition
the number of deaths due to a disease
Term
mortality rate
Definition
the death rate divided by population expressed per 100,000
Term
mucositis
Definition
inflammation of a mucous membrane
Term
mutation
Definition
a change in genetic material; usually occurs in one gene; the change is transmissible
Term
myelosuppression
Definition
a reduction in bone marrow function, resulting in a reduced release of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets into the peripheral circulation and/or a release of immature cells into the circulating blood
Term
nadir
Definition
the period of time when antineoplastic therapy has its most profound effects on the bone marrow; when the blood counts reach their lowest points
Term
neoadjuvant therapy
Definition
preliminary cancer therapy that precedes a necessary second modality of treatment
Term
neuroblastoma
Definition
most common extracranial, solid malignant tumor in children; originates from neural crest cells of the sympathetic nervous system, with primary sites in the mediastinal and retroperitoneal regions
Term
neutropenia
Definition
abnormally low number of white blood cells (neutrophils) in the blood
Term
odynophagia
Definition
painful swallowing
Term
oncogene
Definition
gene whose protein products may be involved in the processes of transformation of a normal cell to a malignant state
Term
opioids
Definition
natural, semisynthetic, and synthetic drugs that relieve pain by binding to opioid receptors in the nervous system
Term
osteoblast cells
Definition
a cell arising from a fibroblast, which, as it matures, is associated with bone production
Term
osteosarcoma
Definition
most common primary bone cancer
Term
pain
Definition
an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience from actual or potential tissue damage
Term
acute pain
Definition
produced by a sudden illness or injury
Term
breakthrough pain
Definition
intermittent exacerbations of pain in patients receiving opioid therapy for chronic cancer
Term
chronic pain
Definition
long-lasting discomfort
Term
neuropathic pain
Definition
a type of pain that occurs through abnormal processing of sensory input by the central or peripheral nervous system
Term
nociceptive pain
Definition
normal processing of stimuli from damage to normal tissues or from prolonged exposure to an agent that has the potential to damage normal tissue
Term
procedural pain
Definition
a felling of distress, suffering, or agony caused by the stimulation of nerve endings during a medical procedure
Term
non-small cell carcinoma of the lung
Definition
a broad term referring to all bronchogenic cancers that are not small cell; includes large-cell, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell, and epidermoid lung cancers
Term
pericardial effusion
Definition
accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac
Term
Philadelphia chromosome
Definition
an abnormality of chromosome 22, characterized by shortening of its long arms. This chromosome is seen in the marrow cells of most patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Term
ploidy
Definition
the number of chromosome sets in a cell
Term
euploidy
Definition
the state of having a complete set of chromosomes
Term
diploidy
Definition
the state of having two full sets of chromosomes
Term
aneuplolidy
Definition
the state of having an abnormal number of chromosomes
Term
hypodiploid
Definition
a cell with less than two full sets of chromosomes
Term
hyperdiploid
Definition
a cell with more than two full sets of chromosomes
Term
pluripotent stem cell
Definition
the cell that can generate all cell lineages in the bone marrow, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
Term
polyp
Definition
any growth or mass protruding from a mucous membrane. They are usually an overgrowth of normal tissue, but sometimes they are true tumors.
Term
predictive value
Definition
the percentage of persons with a positive screening test result who actually have cancer
Term
prevalence
Definition
the number of existing cases of a disease in a given population at a specific time
Term
primary prevention
Definition
interventions aimed at protecting individuals from cancer before pathological changes have begun; includes both general health promotion and specific measures
Term
prostate-specific antigen

PSA

Definition
secreted by the epithelial cells of the prostate gland; a tumor marker that has been used to monitor tumor activity of prostate carcinomas
Term
proto-oncogenes
Definition
genes in normal cells similar to viral-transforming genes. precursors to oncogenes
Term
radiofrequency ablation
Definition
this technique uses high-energy radio waves to treat liver cancer
Term
radionuclide
Definition
a type of atom that is radioactive and disentegrates with the emission of corpuscular or electromagnetic radiations; used in nuclear medicine scanning for diagnostic and evaluative purposes
Term
relative risk
Definition
a ratio comparing the rate of disease in exposed individuals with the rate of disease in unexposed individuals
Term
relative survival rate
Definition
the observed survival rate of cancer patients divided by the expected survival rate in the general population
Term
response rate
Definition
percentage of patients showing some evidence of improvement after an intervention
Term
retinoblastoma
Definition
a malignant, congenital hereditary blastoma composed of retinal cells arising from retinoblasts; usually occurs in children younger than 5 yo
Term
risk
Definition
the probability that an individual member of the population will develop or die of cancer in a given period of time; estimated by incidence and mortality rates
Term
risk factor
Definition
an element of personal behavior, genetic make-up, or exposure to a known cancer-causing agent that increases a person's chances of developing a particular form of cancer
Term
sarcoma
Definition
a tumor that is often highly malignant, composed of cells derived from connective tissue, such as bone and cartilage, muscle, blood vessel, lymphoid tissue, and epithelial tissue. These tumors usually develop rapidly and metastasize through the lymph channels.
Term
ewing's sarcoma
Definition
a malignant tumor of bone that arises in medullary tissue, occurring more often in cylindrical bones, with pain, fever, and leukocytosis as prominent symptoms
Term
fibrosarcoma
Definition
a sarcoma arising from collagen-producing fibroblasts
Term
Kaposi's sarcoma
Definition
malignant neoplastic vascular proliferation characterized by the development of bluish red cutaneous nodules, usually on the lower extremities, which spread slowly, increase in size and number, and spread to more proximal sites.
Term
osteogenic sarcoma
Definition
malignant primary tumor of the bone composed of a malignant connective tissue stroma with evidence of osteoid, bone, and/or cartilage formation
Term
screening
Definition
tests that are systematically applied to defined populations for the detection of early and asymptomatic disease
Term
seed implant
Definition
small capsule made of radioactive iodine, iridium, or gold implanted at the location of the tumor; most commonly used in the treatment of prostate cancer
Term
SEER
Definition
Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute. Maintains the statistical database of cancer in the US
Term
seminoma
Definition
a malignant tumor of the testes thought to arise from the primordial germ cells of the sexually undifferentiated embryonic gonad; accounts for half of all testicular malignancies
Term
sensitivity
Definition
the probability that a screening test will correctly classify an individual as positive for cancer when the individual has the disease
Term
small-cell carcinoma of the lung
Definition
a radiosensitive tumor composed of small, undifferentiated cells; includes oat-cell, intermediate, and mixed carcinomas; accounts for 25% of all lung cancers
Term
specificity
Definition
the probability that a person not having a disease will be correctly identified by a clinical/diagnostic test
Term
spinal cord compression
Definition
pressure on the spinal cord by a tumor, causing a medical emergency that can lead to paraplegia, quadriplegia, loss of bowel and bladder function, and possibly death. Usually seen in cancers that have a tendency toward bony metastasis, such as breast cancer
Term
staging
Definition
the classification of the severity of disease in distinct stages on the basis of established criteria
Term
survival rate
Definition
percentage of people with no trace of disease within a specific time frame after diagnosis or treatment
Term
thrombocytopenia
Definition
an abnormally low quantity of platelets in the circulating blood
Term
TENS

transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Definition
mild electrical stimulation applied by electrodes in contact with the skin over a painful area
Term
tumor
Definition
neoplasm; a new growth of tissue in which cell growth is uncontrolled and progressive
Term
tumor markers
Definition
proteins in the body that may be present in abnormal amounts in the presence of certain cancers
Term
tumorocidal
Definition
destructive to cancer cells
Term
tumor-suppressor genes
Definition
also known as anti-oncogenes; genes coding for proteins that "turn off" malignant growth by masking the phenotypic expression of a mutation by suppressor at a different site that the first; the organism appears to be reverted but is actually doubly mutant
Term
undifferentiated

or

anaplastic

Definition
characterized by a loss of differentiation of cells, an irreversible alteration in adult cells toward more primitive cell types; a characteristic of cancer cells
Term
vascular access device (VAD)
Definition
a device that provides intravascular access
Term
Wilms' tumor
Definition
a rapidly developing, malignant, mixed tumor of the kidneys; composed of embryonal elements; usually occurs before the age of 5
Term
xerostomia
Definition
dryness of the mouth from salivary gland dysfunction
Term
Cardiac tamponade
Definition
a life-threatening condition in which the heart is compressed by the accumulation of blood or fluid in the pericardium, causing impaired filling of the heart during diastole.
Term
colposcopy
Definition
the process of examining the vagina and cervix by means of a speculum and a magnifying lens
Term
Her2
Definition
epidermal growth factor receptor 2

presence of too much of this protein on the surface of breast cancer cells signifies a more aggressive type of breast cancer

Term
CLL

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Definition
an adult-onset form of leukemia seen primarily in the elderly
Term
CML

Chronic myelocytic leukemia

Definition
Chronic leukemia of the myelogenous type primarily occurring between the ages of 25 and 60 yrs, consists of predominantly mature white blood cells
Term
osteosarcoma
Definition
most common primary bone cancer
Term
stereotactic radiosurgery
Definition
using a sterotactic frame to accurately deliver a high dose of ionizing radiation to a relatively small target area in one fraction
Term
superior vena cava syndrome
Definition
an oncologic emergency that occurs when tumors of the superior mediastinum on the right obstruct the return of blood to the heart by the superior vena cava.
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