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Cancer Glossary
Glossary of Common Cancer Terms
Biopsy: Surgical removal of a small piece of tissue for
microscopic examination, to determine if cancer cells are present.
Brachytherapy: Treatment with radioactive
"seeds" implanted in the body.
Chemotherapy: Treatment with anti-cancer drugs.
Clinical Trial: Evaluation of one or more cancer
treatments, with the cooperation of eligible cancer patients who
volunteer for a research study.
Cryoablation: Surgery using extremely cold temperatures.
CT scan: Cross-sectional x-ray using computerized
equipment.
Diagnosis: The process of identifying a disease.
Leukemia: Cancer of the blood-forming tissues.
-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (adult) (childhood)
-Acute Myeloid Leukemia (adult) (childhood)
-Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
-Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
-Hairy Cell Leukemia
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): An advanced diagnostic
process, similar to x-ray, using magnetic fields rather than
radiation.
Malignant: Cancerous, capable of spreading to other parts
of the body.
Mammogram: An image of the breast produced by a low-dose
x-ray.
Mastectomy: Surgical removal of a breast.
Metastasis: Spread of cancer from the original tumor to
another part of the body.
Oncologist: Physician specializing in the diagnosis and
treatment of cancer.
Palliative Therapy: Therapy that may diminish the symptoms
of the cancer but would not be intended to cure it.
Phase III Clinical Trial: A research study designed to
compare a standard cancer treatment to a more innovative method, to
determine which treatment is more effective.
Protocol: A regimen of care followed precisely for
inclusion in a research study.
Radiation Therapy: Treatment of cancer with high-energy
rays from x-rays or other sources of radiation.
Remission: The temporary or permanent disappearance of
cancer symptoms.
Resection: Surgical removal of a tumor.
Risk Factor: Something that increases a person's chances
of getting a particular type of cancer.
Sarcoma: A form of cancer arising in the supportive
tissues (bone, cartilage or muscle).
Screening: Using tests to find disease when there are no
symptoms.
Side Effects: Problems caused when cancer treatment
affects healthy cells in the body.
Stereotactic Core Biopsy: An innovative technique, less
invasive than a typical biopsy, for determining whether or not a
breast lesion is cancerous.
Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue due to excessive cell
division. Tumors perform no useful body function. They may be either
malignant (cancer) or benign (not cancer).
Ultrasound: Use of high-frequency sound vibrations to
detect abnormalities in organs.
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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute
for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other
healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health
condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you
should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your
condition once it has been diagnosed.
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Dubai Health & News
A publication of
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