35 terms in this chapter
treatment given after primary therapy (e.g., chemotherapy after surgery) to reduce risk of recurrence
programmed cell death; a normal process that cancer cells uniquely evade
noncancerous, non-malignant tumor that does not invade or metastasize
surgical removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination to determine malignancy
malignancy of breast tissue; most common cancer in women; risk factors include genetics, hormones, and lifestyle
malignant tumor originating from epithelial tissue (skin, linings of internal organs)
chemotherapy
use of highly potent, systemic chemical drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells
disease-free survival
tumor arising from glial cells in the brain or spinal cord; includes glioblastoma, astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma
microscopic evaluation of tumor cells to determine how abnormal they look and how quickly they are likely to grow (Grades I-IV)
cancer treatment that blocks or lowers hormone levels to slow or stop hormone-sensitive tumors (e.g., breast, prostate)
primary liver malignancy (hepatocellular carcinoma); risk factors include cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse
malignancy of the lung; leading cause of cancer death; includes small cell and non-small cell types
cancer of lymphatic tissue; includes Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin types
cancerous tumor capable of invading surrounding tissue and spreading to distant parts of the body
the spread of cancer from its primary site to a secondary, distant site in the body
metastasis, metastases
genetic change, mutation
new
no evidence of disease
treatment given before primary therapy (e.g., chemotherapy before surgery) to shrink tumors
any new and abnormal growth of tissue; can be benign or malignant
overall survival
medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness, rather than a cure
progression-free survival
treatment of disease (typically cancer) using high-energy ionizing radiation to destroy DNA of targeted cells
period during which the symptoms of disease abate or disappear completely
highly malignant tumor originating from connective tissues like bone, muscle, fat, or cartilage
process of classifying the size and extent of a cancer's spread throughout the body (Stages I-IV)
cancer treatment using drugs that target specific molecular abnormalities in cancer cells (e.g., tyrosine kinase inhibitors)
Tumor, Node, Metastasis (standard cancer staging system)
poison, toxin
substances (proteins, DNA) produced by cancer cells or by the body in response to cancer, used for diagnosis and monitoring
radiation therapy