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Abdomen
(AB-do-men): The part of the body that contains the
pancreas, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, and
other organs.
Accelerated phase (ak-SEL-er-ay-ted): Refers
to chronic myelogenous leukemia that is progressing.
The number of immature, abnormal white blood cells in
the bone marrow and blood is higher than in the chronic
phase, but not as high as in the blast phase.
Achlorhydria (a-klor-HY-dree-a): A lack of hydrochloric
acid in the digestive juices in the stomach. Hydrochloric
acid helps digest food.
Acoustic (ah-KOOS-tik): Related to sound or hearing.
Actinic keratosis (ak-TIN-ik ker-a-TO-sis): A
precancerous condition of thick, scaly patches of skin;
also called solar or senile keratosis.
Acute leukemia: Leukemia that progresses rapidly.
Adenocarcinoma (AD-in-o-kar-sin-O-ma): Cancer
that begins in cells that line certain internal organs.
Adenoma (AD-in-o-ma): A noncancerous tumor.
Adjuvant therapy (AD-joo-vant): Treatment given
in addition to the primary treatment to enhance the
effectiveness of the primary treatment.
Adrenal glands (a-DREE-nal): A pair of small
glands, one located on top of each kidney. The adrenal
glands produce hormones that help control heart rate,
blood pressure, the way the body uses food, and other
vital functions.
Aflatoxin (AF-la-TOK-sin): A substance made by
a mold that is often found on poorly stored grains and
nuts. Aflatoxins are known to cause cancer in animals.
Agranulocyte (A-gran-yoo-lo-SITE): A type of
white blood cell; monocytes and lymphocytes are agranulocytes.
Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (AL-o-jen-AY-ik):
A procedure in which a patient receives bone marrow
from a compatible, though not genetically identical,
donor.
Alpha-fetoprotein (AL-fa FEE-to-PRO-teen): A
protein often found in abnormal amounts in the blood
of patients with liver cancer.
Alveoli (al-VEE-o-lye): Tiny air sacs at the
end of the bronchioles.
Amputation (am-pyoo-TAY-shun): Surgery to remove
all or some of a body part.
Amylase (AM-il-aze): An enzyme that helps the
body digest starches.
Anaplastic (an-ah-PLAS-tik): A term used to describe
cancer cells that divide rapidly and bear little or
no resemblance to normal cells.
Anastamosis (an-AS-ta-MO-sis): A procedure to
connect healthy sections of the colon or rectum after
the diseased portion has been surgically removed.
Androgen (AN-dro-jenz): A hormone that promotes
the development and maintenance of male sex characteristics.
Anemia (a-NEE-mee-a): A decrease in the normal
amounts of red blood cells.
Anesthesia (an-es-THEE-zha): Loss of feeling
or awareness. A local anesthetic causes loss of feeling
in a part of the body. A general anesthetic puts the
person to sleep.
Anesthetic (an-es-THET-ik): A substance that
causes loss of feeling or awareness. A local anesthetic
causes loss of feeling in a part of the body. A general
anesthetic puts the person to sleep.
Angiogenesis (an-gee-o-GEN-e-sis): Blood vessel
formation, which usually accompanies the growth of malignant
tissue.
Angiogram (AN-jee-o-gram): An x-ray of blood
vessels; the patient receives an injection of dye to
outline the vessels on the x-ray.
Angiography (an-jee-O-gra-fee): A procedure to
x-ray blood vessels. The blood vessels can be seen because
of an injection of a dye that shows up in the x-ray
pictures.
Angiosarcoma (AN-jee-o-sar-KO-ma): A type of
cancer that begins in the lining of blood vessels.
Antiandrogen (an-tee-AN-dro-jen): A drug that
blocks the action of male sex hormones.
Antibiotics (an-ti-by-AH-tiks): Drugs used to
treat infection.
Antibody (AN-ti-BOD-ee): A protein produced by
certain white blood cells in response to a foreign substance
(antigen). Each antibody can bind only to a specific
antigen. The purpose of this binding is to help destroy
the antigen. Antibodies can work in several ways, depending
on the nature of the antigen. Some antibodies disable
antigens directly. Others make the antigen more vulnerable
to destruction by white blood cells.
Anticonvulsant (an-ti-kon-VUL-sant): Medicine
to stop, prevent, or control seizures (convulsions).
Antigen: Any foreign or "non-self"
substance that, when introduced into the body, causes
the immune system to create an antibody.
Antithymocyte globulin (anti-THIGH-moe-site GLA-bu-lin):
A protein preparation used to prevent and treat graft-versus-host
disease.
Anus (AY-nus): The opening of the rectum to the
outside of the body.
Aplastic anemia: A deficiency of certain parts
of the blood caused by a failure of the bone marrow's
ability to generate cells.
Apoptosis (ay-paw-TOE-sis): A normal cellular
process involving a genetically programmed series of
events leading to the death of a cell.
Areola (a-REE-oe-la): The area of dark-colored
skin that surrounds the nipple.
Arterial embolization (ar-TEE-ree-al EM-bo-lih-ZAY-shun):
Blocking an artery so that blood cannot flow to the
tumor.
Arteriogram (ar-TEER-ee-o-gram): An x-ray of
blood vessels, which can be seen after an injection
of a dye that shows up in the x-ray pictures.
Asbestos (as-BES-tus): A natural material that
is made up of tiny fibers. If the fibers are inhaled,
they can lodge in the lungs and lead to cancer.
Ascites (a-SYE-teez): Abnormal buildup of fluid
in the abdomen.
Aspiration (as-per-AY-shun): Removal of fluid
from a lump, often a cyst, with a needle and a syringe.
Astrocytoma (as-tro-sye-TOE-ma): A type of brain
tumor that begins in the brain or spinal chord in small,
star-shaped cells called astrocytes.
Asymptomatic: Presenting no signs or symptoms
of disease.
Ataxic gait (ah-TAK-sik): Awkward, uncoordinated
walking.
Atypical hyperplasia (hy-per-PLAY-zha): A benign
(noncancerous) condition in which tissue has certain
abnormal features.
Autologous bone marrow transplantation (aw-TAHL-o-gus):
A procedure in which bone marrow is removed from a patient
and then is given back to the patient following intensive
treatment.
Axilla (ak-SIL-a): The underarm.
Axillary (AK-sil-air-ee): Pertaining to the lymph
nodes under the arm.
Axillary dissection (AK-sil-air-ee): Surgery
to remove lymph nodes under the arm. |
