Defining Cancer Terms
The doctors, nurses and staff at Comprehensive Cancer Centers understand that patients want to learn more about their cancer type and treatment plan as soon as they are diagnosed. The team works closely with patients, and their caregivers, to provide useful information about cancer, treatment plans and follow up care.
We know that during each appointment there may be several questions and concerns depending on how treatment is going. To make your cancer journey a little easier, we’ve outlined some key cancer terms you can familiarize yourself with to be more knowledgeable when coming to your next appointment.
Cancer Terms
- Acute – The term refers to symptoms that start and develop quickly, and although symptoms can often be severe, they often do not last a long time.
- Benign – This means a tumor is not cancerous. It does not spread into surrounding tissue or other organs in the body.
- Biopsy – A procedure that helps your Comprehensive Cancer Centers oncologist determine whether cancer cells are present. The procedure will surgically remove a small piece of tissue or tumor for complete examination.
- Breast Surgeons – If a breast cancer diagnosis requires surgery, Comprehensive’s team of breast surgeons will perform the operation and then depending on the stage of disease, refer you to a medical oncologist and/or radiation oncologist.
- Cancer Cells – These cells divide and reproduce abnormally and may spread to other areas of the body, often crowding normal tissue and cells.
- Cancer Genetic Counseling – This service is provided by Comprehensive to use your body’s genetic material to determine potential cancer risks and treatment pathways.
- Carcinogens – Substances that can cause cancer such as tobacco smoke. For improved prevention risk reduction, your cancer care team will provide insights in how to avoid these dangers.
- Chemotherapy – This is a common cancer treatment where drugs are used to remove cancer from the body and prevent cancer cells from growing.
- Clinical Research Studies – Allows for access to cutting edge treatment and therapies before they become available to the general public.
- Combination Therapy – The use of multiple treatment types during cancer treatments. These could include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and others depending on your type and stage of cancer.
- Diagnosis – This is your doctor’s identification of a disease that needs treatment. They will notate signs and symptoms by using imaging procedures and/or lab results shared with patients.
- Drug Resistance – This occurs when cancer cells resist the effects of a specific drug. A different treatment plan may be recommended if this occurs.
- Grading – This technique classifies cancer cells, providing information about probable tumor growth rates and possibility of cancer spreading.
- Hematologists – Comprehensive Cancer physicians who specialize in blood diseases and diseases of the bone marrow. They may work together with other oncologists to treat certain cancers.
- Immunotherapy – The treatment utilizes substances that stimulate the body’s immune system to better treat diseases.
- Localized – Refers to cancer confined to the site where it started to develop.
- Lumpectomy – A surgical procedure to remove a benign or malignant tumor and surrounding normal breast tissue.
- Malignant Tumors – These cancerous growths may spread to other areas of the body, destroying nearby tissue.
- Mastectomy – The complete removal of the breast.
- Medical Oncologists – These physicians are specially trained to diagnose and treat cancer and they may use chemotherapy and other forms of treatments.
- Primary Tumor – This is the place where cancer begins to grow and if cancer does grow and spread, they are then called secondary tumors.
Prognosis states the likely outcome of a disease in a new cancer patient. Doctors will note the chance of recovery and a prediction of the disease’s outcome. - Radiation Oncologist –Comprehensive Cancer Centers physicians who are specially trained to use radiation to treat cancer. They may work alongside other physicians in the cancer care team to treat patients
- Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy – A surgical procedure of the underarm lymph nodes to determine if cancer has spread from its original site.
- Staging – This diagnostic technique determines how far cancer has spread (if it has spread), where the cancer is located, and if it’s affecting function of nearby organs.
The team at Comprehensive Cancer Centers wants to help patients get a better understanding of terms that are unfamiliar to them, or to their family and friends assisting in treatment. We understand that feeling good about treatment comes from a better understanding of cancer and personalized treatment plans.
Comprehensive Cancer Centers Can Help
The physicians at Comprehensive Cancer Centers provide a variety of treatment options for cancer, blood disorders, breast health conditions as well as lung disease and sleep disorders. To schedule an appointment with the team at Comprehensive, call 702-952-3350.
The content is this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
