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p53:
A gene in the cell that normally inhibits the growth
of tumors, which can prevent or slow the spread of cancer.
Palate (PAL-et): The roof of the mouth. The front
portion is bony (hard palate), and the back portion
is muscular (soft palate).
Palliative treatment: Treatment that does not
alter the course of a disease, but improves the quality
of life.
Palpation (pal-PAY-shun): A technique in which
a doctor presses on the surface of the body to feel
the organs or tissues underneath.
Pancreas: A gland located in the abdomen. It
makes pancreatic juices, and it produces several hormones,
including insulin. The pancreas is surrounded by the
stomach, intestines, and other organs.
Pancreatectomy (pan-kree-a-TEK-to-mee): Surgery
to remove the pancreas. In a total pancreatectomy, the
duodenum, common bile duct, gallbladder, spleen, and
nearby lymph nodes also are removed.
Pancreatic juices: Fluids made by the pancreas.
Pancreatic juices contain proteins called enzymes that
aid in digestion.
Papillary tumor (PAP-i-lar-ee): A tumor shaped
like a small mushroom with its stem attached to the
inner lining of the bladder.
Papilledema (pap-il-eh-DEE-ma): Swelling around
the optic nerve, usually due to pressure on the nerve
by a tumor.
Pap test: Microscopic examination of cells collected
from the cervix. It is used to detect changes that may
be cancer or may lead to cancer, and it can show noncancerous
conditions, such as infection or inflammation. Also
called Pap smear.
Paralysis (pa-RAL-ih-sis): Loss of ability to
move all or part of the body.
Paraneoplastic syndrome (pair-a-nee-o-PLAS-tik):
A group of symptoms that may develop when substances
released by some cancer cells disrupt the normal function
of surrounding cells and tissue. Such symptoms do not
necessarily mean that the cancer has spread beyond the
original site.
Pathologist (pa-THOL-o-jist): A doctor who identifies
diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope.
Pediatric (pee-dee-AT-rik): Pertaining to children.
Pelvis: The lower part of the abdomen, located
between the hip bones.
Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (per-kyoo-TAN-ee-us
trans-heh-PAT-ik ko-LAN-jee-AH-gra-fee): A test sometimes
used to help diagnose cancer of the pancreas. During
this test, a thin needle is put into the liver. Dye
is injected into the bile ducts in the liver so that
blockages can be seen on x-rays.
Perfusion: The process of flooding fluid through
the artery to saturate the surrounding tissue. In regional
perfusion, a specific area of the body (usually an arm
or a leg) is targeted and high doses of anticancer drugs
are flooded through the artery to reach the surrounding
tissue and kill as many cancer cells as possible. Such
a procedure is performed in cases where the cancer is
not thought to have spread past a localized area.
Perineal prostatectomy (pe-ri-NEE-al): Surgery
to remove the prostate through an incision made between
the scrotum and the anus.
Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (per-IF-er-al):
A procedure that is similar to bone marrow transplantation.
Doctors remove healthy immature cells (stem cells) from
a patient's blood and store them before the patient
receives high-dose chemotherapy and possibly radiation
therapy to destroy the leukemia cells. The stem cells
are then returned to the patient, where they can produce
new blood cells to replace cells destroyed by the treatment.
Peripheral stem cell support (per-IF-er-ul):
A method of replacing blood-forming cells destroyed
by cancer treatment. Certain cells (stem cells) in the
blood that are similar to those in the bone marrow are
removed from the patient's blood before treatment. The
cells are given back to the patient after treatment.
Peristalsis (pair-ih-STAL-sis): The rippling
motion of muscles in the digestive tract. In the stomach,
this motion mixes food with gastric juices, turning
it into a thin liquid.
Peritoneal cavity: The lower part of the abdomen
that contains the intestines (the last part of the digestive
tract), the stomach, and the liver. It is bound by thin
membranes.
Peritoneum (PAIR-i-to-NEE-um): The large membrane
that lines the abdominal cavity.
Pernicious anemia (per-NISH-us a-NEE-mee-a):
A blood disorder caused by a lack of vitamin B12. Patients
who have this disorder do not produce the substance
in the stomach that allows the body to absorb vitamin
B12.
Petechiae (peh-TEE-kee-a): Tiny red spots under
the skin; often a symptom of leukemia.
Pharynx (FAIR-inks): The hollow tube about 5
inches long that starts behind the nose and ends at
the top of the trachea (windpipe) and esophagus (the
tube that goes to the stomach).
Photodynamic therapy (fo-to-dy-NAM-ik): Treatment
that destroys cancer cells with lasers and drugs that
become active when exposed to light.
Pigmemt: A substance that gives color to tissue.
Pigments are responsible for the color of skin, eyes,
and hair.
Pineal gland (PIN-ee-al): A small gland located
in the cerebrum.
Pineal region tumors: Types of brain tumors that
occur in or around the pineal gland, a tiny organ near
the center of the brain. The pineal region is very difficult
to reach, therefore these tumors often cannot be removed.
Pineoblastoma (PIN-ee-o-blas-TOE-ma): A fast
growing type of brain tumor that occurs in or around
the pineal gland, a tiny organ near the center of the
brain.
Pineocytoma (PIN-ee-o-sye-TOE-ma): A slow growing
type of brain tumor that occurs in or around the pineal
gland, a tiny organ near the center of the brain.
Pituitary gland (pih-TOO-ih-tair-ee): The main
endocrine gland; it produces hormones that control other
glands and many body functions, especially growth.
Plasma: The liquid part of the blood.
Plasma cells: Special white blood cells that
produce antibodies.
Plasmacytoma: A tumor that is made up of cancerous
plasma cells.
Plasmapheresis (plas-ma-fer-EE-sis): The process
of removing certain proteins from the blood. Plasmapheresis
can be used to remove excess antibodies from the blood
of multiple myeloma patients.
Plastic surgeon: A surgeon who specializes in
reducing scarring or disfigurement that may occur as
a result of accidents, birth defects, or treatment for
diseases (such as melanoma).
Platelets (PLAYT-lets): Blood cells that help
clots form to help control bleeding. Also called thrombocytes.
Pleura (PLOOR-a): The thin covering that protects
and cushions the lungs. The pleura is made up of two
layers of tissue that are separated by a small amount
of fluid.
Pleural cavity: A space enclosed by the pleura,
thin tissue covering the lungs and lining the interior
wall of the chest cavity. It is bound by serous membranes.
Pneumatic larynx (noo-MAT-ik): A device that
uses air to produce sound to help a laryngectomee talk.
Pneumonectomy (noo-mo-NEK-to-mee): An operation
to remove an entire lung.
Pneumonia (noo-MONE-ya): An infection that occurs
when fluid and cells collect in the lung.
Polyp (POL-ip): A mass of tissue that projects
into the colon.
Positron emission tomography scan: For this type
of scan, a person is given a substance that reacts with
tissues in the body to release protons (parts of an
atom). Through measuring the different amounts of protons
released by healthy and cancerous tissues, a computer
creates a picture of the inside of the body. Also called
PET scan.
Postremission therapy: Chemotherapy to kill leukemia
cells that survive after remission induction therapy.
Precancerous (pre-KAN-ser-us): A term used to
describe a condition that may or is likely to become
cancer.
Precancerous polyps: Growths in the colon that
often become cancerous.
Prednisone: A drug often given to multiple myeloma
patients along with one or more anticancer drugs. Prednisone
appears to act together with anticancer drugs in helping
to control the effects of the disease on the body.
Preleukemia (PREE-loo-KEE-mee-a): A condition
in which the bone marrow does not function normally.
It does not produce enough blood cells. This condition
may progress and become acute leukemia. Preleukemia
also is called myelodysplastic syndrome or smoldering
leukemia.
Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (NOO-ro-ek-toe-DER-mul):
A type of brain tumor that recent research suggests
develops from primitive (developing) nerve cells that
normally do not remain in the body after birth. Primitive
neuroectodermal tumors are often called medulloblastomas.
Proctoscopy (prok-TOS-ko-pee): An examination
of the rectum and the lower end of the colon using a
thin lighted instrument called a sigmoidoscope.
Proctosigmoidoscopy (PROK-toe-sig-moid-OSS-ko-pee):
An examination of the rectum and the lower part of the
colon using a thin, lighted instrument called a sigmoidoscope.
Progesterone (pro-JES-ter-own): A female hormone.
Prognosis (prog-NO-sis): The probable outcome
or course of a disease; the chance of recovery.
Prophylactic cranial irradiation (pro-fi-LAK-tik
KRAY-nee-ul ir-ray-dee-AY-shun): Radiation therapy to
the head to prevent cancer from spreading to the brain.
Prostatectomy (pros-ta-TEK-to-mee): An operation
to remove part or all of the prostate.
Prostate gland (PROS-tate): A gland in the male
reproductive system just below the bladder. It surrounds
part of the urethra, the canal that empties the bladder.
It produces a fluid that forms part of semen.
Prostate-specific antigen: A protein whose level
in the blood goes up in some men who have prostate cancer
or benign prostatic hyperplasia. Also called PSA.
Prostatic acid phosphatase (FOS-fa-tase): An
enzyme produced by the prostate. Its level in the blood
goes up in some men who have prostate cancer. Also called
PAP.
Prosthesis (pros-THEE-sis): An artificial replacement
for a body part.
Prosthodontist (pros-tho-DON-tist): A dentist
with special training in making replacements for missing
teeth or other structures of the oral cavity to restore
the patient's appearance, comfort, and/or health.
Proteins (PRO-teenz): Substances that are essential
to the body's structure and proper functioning.
PTC (percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography)
(per-kyoo-TAN-ee-us trans-heh-PAT-ik ko-LAN-jee-AH-gra-fee):
A test sometimes used to help diagnose cancer of the
pancreas. During this test, a thin needle is put into
the liver. Dye is injected into the bile ducts in the
liver so that blockages can be seen on x-rays. |
