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Radiation
fibrosis (ray-dee-AY-shun-fye-BRO-sis): The formation
of scar tissue as a result of radiation therapy to the
lung.
Radiation therapy (ray-dee-AY-shun): Treatment
with high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.
Radiation oncologist (ray-dee-AY-shun on-KOL-o-jist):
A doctor who specializes in using radiation to treat
cancer.
Radiation therapy (ray-dee-AY-shun): Treatment
with high-energy rays (such as x-rays) to kill cancer
cells. The radiation may come from outside the body
(external radiation) or from radioactive materials placed
directly in the tumor (implant radiation). Also called
radiotherapy.
Radical cystectomy (RAD-i-kal sis-TEK-to-mee):
Surgery to remove the bladder as well as nearby tissues
and organs.
Radical prostatectomy: Surgery to remove the
entire prostate. The two types of radical prostatectomy
are retropubic prostatectomy and perineal prostatectomy.
Radioactive (RAY-dee-o-AK-tiv): Giving off radiatiion.
Radiologist: A doctor who specializes in creating
and interpreting pictures of areas inside the body.
The pictures are produced with x-rays, sound waves,
or other types of energy.
Radionuclide scanning: An exam that produces
pictures (scans) of internal parts of the body. The
patient is given an injection or swallows a small amount
of radioactive material. A machine called a scanner
then measures the radioactivity in certain organs.
Radiosensitizers: Drugs that make cells more
sensitive to radiation.
Radon (RAY-don): A radioactive gas that is released
by uranium, a substance found in soil and rock. When
too much radon is breathed in, it can damage lung cells
and lead to lung cancer.
Rectum: The last 8 to 10 inches of the large
intestine. The rectum stores solid waste until it leases
the body through the anus.
Recur: To occur again. Recurrence is the reappearance
of cancer cells at the same site or in another location.
Red blood cells: Cells that carry oxygen to all
parts of the body. Also called erythrocytes.
Reed-Sternberg cell: A type of cell that appears
in patients with Hodgkin's disease. The number of these
cells increases as the disease advances.
Reflux: The term used when liquid backs up into
the esophagus from the stomach.
Regional chemotherapy: Treatment with anticancer
drugs that affects mainly the cells in the treated area.
Relapse: The return of signs and symptoms of
a disease after a period of improvement.
Remission: Disappearance of the signs and symptoms
of cancer. When this happens, the disease is said to
be "in remission." A remission can be temporary
or permanent.
Remission induction therapy: The initial chemotherapy
a patient with acute leukemia receives to bring about
a remission.
Renal capsule: The fibrous connective tissue
that surrounds each kidney.
Renal cell cancer: Cancer that develops in the
lining of the renal tubules, which filter the blood
and produce urine.
Renal pelvis: The area at the center of the kidney.
Urine collects here and is funneled into the ureter.
Reproductive cells: Egg and sperm cells. Each
mature reproductive cell carries a single set of 23
chromosomes.
Reproductive system: The group of organs and
glands involved with having a child. In women, these
are the uterus (womb), the fallopian tubes, the ovaries,
and the vagina (birth canal). The reproductive system
in men includes the testes, the prostate, and the penis.
Resection (ree-SEK-shun): Surgical removal of
part of an organ.
Respiratory system (RES-pi-ra-tor-ee): The organs
that are involved in breathing. These include the nose,
throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.
Respiratory therapy (RES-pi-ra-tor-ee): Exercises
and treatments that help patients recover lung function
after surgery.
Retinoblastoma: An eye cancer caused by the loss
of both gene copies of the tumor- suppressor gene RB;
the inherited form typically occurs in childhood, because
one gene is missing from the time of birth.
Retropubic prostatectomy (re-tro-PYOO-bik): Surgical
removal of the prostate through an incision in the abdomen.
Risk factor: Something that increases the chance
of developing a disease.
RNA (ribonucleic acid): One of the two nucleic
acids found in all cells. The other is DNA (deoxyribonucleic
acid). RNA transfers genetic information from DNA to
proteins produced by the cell. |
