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C

CT Scan (CAT Scan)/Computed Axial Tomography

Shows cross section views of various organs being studied as X-rays pass through the patient's body at many angles.

cancer

Develops when cells in your body begin to grow out of control. Normal cells grow, divide, and die naturally. Instead of dying, cancer cells continue to grow and form new abnormal cells. Cancer cells often travel to other body parts where they grow and replace normal tissue. This process is called metastasis. Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA. DNA is in every cell and directs all its activities. When DNA becomes damaged, the body is usually able to repair it. In cancer cells, the damage is not repaired. People can inherit damaged DNA, which accounts for inherited cancers. Many times, DNA becomes damaged by exposure to something in the environment, like smoking. Many cancers have no known cause.

capillaries

Tiny blood vessels located throughout the tissues of your body which connect your arteries with your veins and through which substances pass to nourish your cells.

cardiac

Pertaining to your heart

catheter (cath-eh-tur)

A thin, flexible tube through which fluids enter or leave the body; e.g., a tube to drain urine.

cell

The basic unit of which all living things are made. Cells replace themselves by splitting and forming new cells (mitosis). The processes that control the formation of new cells and the death of old cells are disrupted in cancer.

central nervous system (CNS)

Refers to the brain and spinal cord.

cell morphology

Refers to cell types or structure.

cellulitus

Usually means a diffuse infection of the skin and underlying tissue.

central venous line

A method of giving IV fluids, blood products and medicines by surgically inserting a catheter into a neck vein that passes into your other large blood vessels. There are many different types of central line catheters that may have multiple ports or lumens. Multiple ports allow more than one IV solution to be given simultaneously. Blood can also be withdrawn from this type of catheter.

charts

Your written medical records.

chemotherapy

Using chemical agents or drugs to destroy malignant cells. Chemotherapy is often used with surgery or radiation to treat cancer. Some chemotherapy treatment plans have different phases: Induction -intensive treatment used to produce a complete remission. Maintenance - drugs given after the initial "induction" to maintain the remission

chronic

A disease process that develops over a long period of time and progresses slowly.

clinical

In general, pertaining to observation and treatment of patients.

clinical trials

Human research studies that test new drugs or treatments and compare them to current, standard treatments. Before a new treatment is used on people, it is studied in the lab. If lab studies suggest the treatment works, it is tested with patients. These human studies are called clinical trials. Questions the researchers want to answer are: Does this treatment work? Does it work better than the one we use now? What side effects does it cause? Do the benefits outweigh the risks? Your doctor may suggest a clinical trial. Participation is voluntary.

cobalt - cobalt treatment

Radiotherapy using gamma rays generated from the breakdown of radioactive cobalt 60.

colon

The large intestine.

colony stimulating factors (CSF)

Types of growth factors that promote growth and division of blood-producing cells in the bone marrow. CSFs are naturally produced in the body but extra amounts may be given as a treatment to reduce or prevent certain side effects of chemotherapy due to not having enough blood cells. See growth factors

complementary therapy

Therapies used in addition to conventional therapy. Some complementary therapies may help relieve certain symptoms of cancer, relieve side effects of conventional cancer therapy, or improve a patient's sense of well-being.

complete blood count (CBC)

An examination of your blood that enables doctors to follow the course of your disease and to select the proper dosage of the appropriate chemotherapeutic drug. § White blood count (WBC) refers to the number of leucocytes per cubic millimeter present in your peripheral blood. § "diff" (differential count) refers to the distribution of the various types of white cells in the peripheral blood; the values are expressed in percentages. § Platelet count refers to the number or quantity of platelets per cubic millimeter present in your peripheral blood. § Hemoglobin refers to the substance that carries oxygen to other tissues of the body. It is expressed as a percentage of total blood weight. § Hematocrit refers to the packed volume of red cells separated from the plasma when whole blood is centrifuged (spun). It is expressed as a percentage. § "Retic" (reticulocyte count) refers to the percentage of young, non-nucleated erythrocytes present in your peripheral blood.

congenital

Any condition existing at birth

conjunctivitis

Redness of the eyes.

constipation

A condition of your bowel (large intestine) characterized by difficult or infrequent elimination of solid body wastes.

consultation

The formal process of getting the opinion of a specialist.

contagious

A disease capable of being spread from one person to another. Cancer is not contagious.

convulsion (seizure)

A violent contraction and spasm of your muscles over which you have no control.

cross match

See Blood Typing and Cross Matching

culture

A procedure using a sample of blood, urine, throat secretions or other biological material that determines the specific organism responsible for an infection. Cultures also help determine which antibiotics might be most effective.

cyanotic

A blue appearance of the skin, lips and fingernails as a result of low oxygen content of the circulating blood.

cyst

A fluid filled sac of tissue; a cyst may be malignant or benign.

cystitis

Inflammation of the urinary bladder.

cytogenetics

The process of analyzing the number and shape of cell chromosomes.

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D

decongestant

A medicine that helps to shrink mucous membranes and decrease production of mucous.

dehydration

Excessive loss of fluids from your body.

dermal

Pertaining to your skin.

dermatologist

A doctor who specializes in skin diseases and conditions.

diagnosis

Identifying a disease by its signs or symptoms, and by using imaging procedures and laboratory findings.

diaphragm

The muscular partition located between the chest cavity and abdominal cavity.

diarrhea

Frequent, loose and watery stools.

differential count ("diff")

See complete blood count.

dilute

To thin down or weaken by mixing with water or other liquid.

distal

Away from the center; out towards the end.

diuretic

Drugs that increase the elimination of water and salts (urine) from your body.

DNA deoxyribonucleic acid (dee-ok-see-ri-bo-new-CLAY-ic)

DNA holds genetic information on cell growth, division, and function. When DNA is damaged, a cell may become cancerous.

dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing.

dyspnea

Shortness of breath.

dystonic reaction

Tightening of your facial and neck muscle, a possible side effect of some antiemetic drugs.

E

echo cardiogram (ultrasound cardiography)

A method of obtaining a graphic picture of the internal structure, and position and motion of your heart through the use of sound waves directed through your chest.

edema

Accumulation of fluid within the tissues; swelling.

electrocardiogram (EKG)

A method of evaluating your heart rhythm and muscle function by the measurement of your heart's electrical impulses.

electrolytes

A general term for the many minerals necessary to provide the proper environment for the cells of your body. Common electrolytes include calcium, sodium, potassium and chloride.

enzyme (en-zime)

Proteins that increase the rate of chemical reactions in living cells.

emesis

To vomit

esophagus

A tube that carries swallowed food to the stomach.

excision

Surgical removal of tissue.

expectorant

Medicine that makes mucous in your respiratory tract thinner and easier to cough out.

exploratory

Surgery undertaken to investigate a situation that other, primarily external diagnostic tests have failed to clarify.

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F

febrile

Fever, elevated body temperature

fellow

A physician who has completed residency. May be a fully trained pediatrician or internist and is doing further study to become a sub-specialist in a field of interest.

foot drop

Weakness in your foot muscles.

fungi (singular fungus)

A group of micro organisms larger than either bacteria or viruses, which occasionally cause serious infection when your resistance is lowered.

G

gammaglobulin

A protein component of blood plasma containing antibodies effective against certain micro organisms.

gastroenterologist (gas-tro-en-ter-ol-o-jist)

A doctor who specializes in diseases of the digestive (gastrointestinal) tract.

gastrointestinal tract/ GI Tract

The digestive tract. It consists of those organs and structures that process and prepare food to be used for energy; for example, the stomach, small intestine and large intestine.

general anesthetic

A medication which puts you to sleep to prevent pain during an operation.

gland

See lymph node

graft versus host disease (GVH or GVHD)

The condition that results when the immune cells of a transplant (usually of bone marrow) from a donor attack the tissues of the person receiving the transplant. A reaction of engrafted tissue against your own tissue.

granulocytes

White blood cells that help to protect you against bacterial infection; also called "polys", "segs", or neutrophils.

groin

The area of your body where the legs join the abdomen.

growth factors

A naturally occurring protein that causes cells to grow and divide. Too much growth factor production by some cancer cells helps them grow quickly. Other growth factors help normal cells recover from side effects of chemotherapy.

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