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31.6: Key Terms

  • Page ID
    111625
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    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

    This page titled 31.6: Key Terms is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax.

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