- acquired genetic factor
- change that develops from exposure to risk factors
- apoptosis
- cell death
- brachytherapy
- type of radiation treatment in which a radioactive source is placed in or near a tumor; it can be a wire, seed, disc, capsule, or implant
- cancer
- disease caused by uncontrolled division of abnormal cells
- carcinogen
- substance or agent that can cause cancer
- carcinoma
- cancer that creates solid tumors
- carcinoma in situ
- cancer confined to the layer of cells where it began and has not spread to surrounding tissues
- chemoreceptor trigger zone
- area of the brain that detects toxins in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid and sends signals to the vomiting center of the brain
- chemotherapy
- cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing and dividing
- differentiation
- how mature or immature cancer cells look and behave compared to normal cells
- external beam radiation
- noninvasive method using high-energy radiation beams to destroy cancer cells
- grading
- process used to classify cancer cells based on how abnormal they appear when examined under a microscope
- hyperviscosity syndrome
- oncologic emergency in which the blood is so thick it will not flow properly
- immunosurveillance
- body’s monitoring process by which cells of the immune system detect and destroy premalignant of malignant cells
- immunotherapy
- type of cancer treatment that uses the body's immune system to fight cancer; involves stimulating the immune system to attack cancer cells or using antibodies to target specific cancer cells
- innate genetic factor
- mutation that is inherited
- late effect
- health problem that occurs months of years after treatment of cancer was completed
- leukemia
- cancer of the blood-forming tissues
- lymphoma
- cancer that begins in the lymphatic system
- mucositis
- inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes lining the digestive tract; common side effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy
- neuropathy
- condition characterized by damage to the nerves, often causing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness
- neutropenia
- condition in which there is a low count of immature white blood cells called neutrophils
- oncological emergency
- serious and often life-threatening complication of cancer or its treatment that requires immediate medical attention
- radiation therapy (also, radiotherapy)
- cancer treatment that uses radiation to kill cancer cells or shrink tumors
- recurrence
- new occurrence of something (cancer diagnosis) that has occurred, happened, or appeared in the past
- remission
- period when an illness is less severe, or manifestations of the illness are not actively affecting the person
- sarcoma
- malignancy of connective or nonepithelial tissue
- staging
- system used to describe the extent and spread of cancer in the body
- stomatitis
- inflammation and ulceration of the mouth and lips; common side effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy
- survivorship
- state of surviving something that might have resulted in death; it applies to an individual from the time a cancer diagnosis is made throughout the remainder of their life
- TNM system
- method used for staging to describe the extent and spread of cancer based on the size of the tumor, whether or not the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and whether or not there is metastasis to distant organs or tissues
- tumor suppressor gene
- type of gene that normally inhibits cell growth and division, helping to prevent the development of cancer