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Calcium
(KAL-see-um): A mineral found mainly in the hard part
of bones.
Cancer: A term for diseases in which abnormal
cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade
nearby tissues and can spread through the bloodstream
and lymphatic system to other parts of the body.
Carcinogen (kar-SIN-o-jin): Any substance that
is known to cause cancer.
Carcinogenesis: The process by which normal cells
are transformed into cancer cells.
Carcinoma (kar-sin-O-ma): Cancer that begins
in the lining or covering of an organ.
Carcinoma in situ (kar-sin-O-ma in SY-too): Cancer
that involves only the cells in which it began and has
not spread to other tissues.
Cartilage (KAR-ti-lij): Firm, rubbery tissue
that cushions bones at joints. A more flexible kind
of cartilage connects muscles with bones and makes up
other parts of the body, such as the larynx and the
outside of the ears.
Catheter (KATH-et-er): A tube that is placed
in a blood vessel to provide a pathway for drug or nutrients.
Cauterization (KAW-ter-i-ZAY-shun): The use of
heat to destroy abnormal cells.
CEA assay: A laboratory test to measure the level
of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a substance that
is sometimes found in an increased amount in the blood
of patients with certain cancers.
Cell: The basic unit of any living organism.
Cell differentiation: The process during which
young, immature (unspecialized) cells take on individual
characteristics and reach their mature (specialized)
form and function.
Cell motility: The ability of a cell to move.
Cell proliferation: An increase in the number
of cells as a result of cell growth and cell division.
Cellular adhesion: The close adherence (bonding)
to adjoining cell surfaces.
Central nervous system: The brain and spinal
cord. Also called CNS.
Cerebellum (sair-uh-BELL-um): The portion of
the brain in the back of the head between the cerebrum
and the brain stem.
Cerebral hemispheres (seh-REE-bral HEM-iss-feerz):
The two halves of the cerebrum.
Cerebrospinal fluid (seh-REE-bro-spy-nal): The
watery fluid flowing around the brain and spinal cord.
Also called CSF.
Cerebrum (seh-REE-brum): The largest part of
the brain. It is divided into two hemispheres, or halves.
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (SER-vih-kul
in-tra-eh-pih-THEEL-ee-ul NEE-o-play-zha): A general
term for the growth of abnormal cells on the surface
of the cervix. Numbers from 1 to 3 may be used to describe
how much of the cervix contains abnormal cells. Also
called CIN.
Cervix (SER-viks): The lower, narrow end of the
uterus that forms a canal between the uterus and vagina.
Chemoprevention (KEE-mo-pre-VEN-shun): The use
of natural or laboratory made substances to prevent
cancer.
Chemotherapy (kee-mo-THER-a-pee): Treatment with
anticancer drugs.
Cholangiosarcoma (ko-LAN-jee-o-sar-KO-ma): A
type of cancer that begins in the bile ducts.
Chondrosarcoma (KON-dro-sar-KO-ma): A cancer
that forms in cartilage.
Chordoma (kor-DO-ma): A form of bone cancer that
usually starts in the lower spinal column.
Chromosome (KRO-mo-soam): Part of a cell that
contains genetic information. Normally, human cells
contain 46 chromosomes that appear as a long thread
inside the cell.
Chronic leukemia (KRON-ik): Leukemia that progresses
slowly.
Chronic phase (KRON-ik): Refers to the early
stages of chronic myelogenous leukemia or chronic lymphocytic
leukemia. The number of immature, abnormal white blood
cells in the bone marrow and blood is higher than normal,
but lower than in the accelerated or blast phase.
Clinical trials: Research studies that involve
patients. Each study is designed to find better ways
to prevent, detect, diagnose, or treat cancer and to
answer scientific questions.
CNS (central nervous system): The brain and the
spinal cord.
CNS prophylaxis (pro-fi-LAK-sis): Chemotherapy
or radiation therapy to the central nervous system (CNS).
This is preventive treatment. It is given to kill cancer
cells that may be in the brain and spinal cord, even
though no cancer has been detected there.
Colectomy (ko-LEK-to-mee): An operation to remove
all or part of the colon. In a partial colectomy, the
surgeon removes only the cancerous part of the colon
and a small amount (called a margin) of surrounding
healthy tissue.
Colon (KO-lun): The long, coiled, tubelike organ
that removes water from digested food. The remaining
material, solid waste called stool, moves through the
colon to the rectum and leaves the body through the
anus.
Colonoscope (ko-LON-o-skope): A flexible, lighted
instrument used to view the inside of the colon.
Colonoscopy (ko-lon-OS-ko-pee): An examination
in which the doctor looks at the colon through a flexible,
lighted instrument called a colonoscope.
Colony-stimulating factors: Substances that stimulate
the production of blood cells. Treatment with colony-stimulating
factors (CSF) can help the blood-forming tissue recover
from the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Colorectal (ko-lo-REK-tul): Related to the colon
and/or rectum.
Colostomy (ko-LOS-to-mee): An opening created
by a surgeon into the colon from the outside of the
body. A colostomy provides a new path for waste material
to leave the body after part of the colon has been removed.
Colposcopy (kul-POSS-ko-pee): A procedure in
which a lighted magnifying instrument (called a colposcope)
is used to examine the vagina and cervix.
Combination chemotherapy: Treatment in which
two or more chemicals are used to obtain more effective
results.
Common bile duct: Bile ducts are passageways
that carry bile. Two major bile ducts come together
into a "trunk"-the common bile duct which
empties into the upper part of the small intestine (the
part next to the stomach).
Computed tomography (tom-OG-rah-fee): An x-ray
procedure that uses a computer to produce a detailed
picture of a cross section of the body; also called
CAT or CT scan.
Condylomata acuminata (kon-di-LOW-ma-ta a-kyoo-mi-NA-ta):
Genital warts caused by certain human papillomaviruses.
Conization (ko-ni-ZAY-shun): Surgery to remove
a cone-shaped piece of tissue from the cervix and cervical
canal. Conization may be used to diagnose or treat a
cervical condition. Also called cone biopsy.
Continent reservoir (KAHN-tih-nent RES-er-vwar):
A pouch formed from a piece of small intestine to hold
urine after the bladder has been removed.
Corpus: The body of the uterus.
Craniopharyngioma (KRAY-nee-o-fah-rin-jee-O-ma):
A type of brain tumor that develops in the region of
the pituitary gland near the hypothalamus, the area
of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger,
and thirst. These tumors are usually benign, but are
sometimes considered malignant because they can press
on or damage the hypothalamus and affect vital functions.
Craniotomy (kray-nee-OT-o-mee): An operation
in which an opening is made in the skull so the doctor
can reach the brain.
Cryosurgery (KRY-o-SER-jer-ee): Treatment performed
with an instrument that freezes and destroys abnormal
tissues.
Cryptorchidsm (kript-OR-kid-izm): A condition
in which one or both testicles fail to move from the
abdomen, where they develop before birth, into the scrotum;
also called undescended testicles.
CT (or CAT) scan: A series of detailed pictures
of areas inside the body; the pictures are created by
a computer linked to an x-ray machine. Also called computed
tomography scan or computed axial tomography scan.
Curettage (kyoo-re-TAHZH): Removal of tissue
with a curette.
Curette (kyoo-RET): A spoon-shaped instrument
with a sharp edge.
Cutaneous (kyoo-TAY-nee-us): Related to the skin.
Cyst (sist): A sac or capsule filled with fluid.
Cystectomy (sis-TEK-to-mee): Surgery to remove
the bladder.
Cystoscope (SIS-to-skope): An instrument that
allows the doctor to see inside the bladder and remove
tissue samples or small tumors.
Cystoscopy (sist-OSS-ko-pee): A procedure in
which the doctor inserts a lighted instrument into the
urethra (the tube leading from the bladder to the outside
of the body) to look at the bladder. |
