Cancer Dictionary – A
abdominoperineal resection
Surgery to remove the anus, the rectum, and part of the sigmoid colon through an incision made in the abdomen. The end of the intestine is attached to an opening in the surface of the abdomen and body waste is collected in a disposable bag outside of the body. This opening is called a colostomy. Lymph nodes that contain cancer may also be removed during this operation.
adenocarcinoma (A-den-oh-KAR-sih-NOH-muh)
Cancer that begins in cells that line certain internal organs and that have gland-like (secretory) properties.
acute (uh-KYOOT)
Symptoms or signs that begin and worsen quickly; not chronic.
acute leukemia (uh-KYOOT loo-KEE-mee-uh)
A rapidly progressing cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of white blood cells to be produced and enter the blood stream.
acute lymphocytic leukemia (…LIM-foh-SIH-tik loo-KEE-mee-uh)
ALL. A fast-growing type of leukemia (blood cancer) in which too many lymphoblasts (immature white blood cells) are found in the blood and bone marrow. Also called ALL and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
acute myeloblastic leukemia (uh-KYOOT MY-eh-loh-BLAS-tik loo-KEE-mee-uh)
A quickly progressing disease in which too many immature white blood cells (not lymphocytes) are found in the blood and bone marrow. Also called AML, acute myeloid leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, and ANLL.
acute myelogenous leukemia (uh-KYOOT MY-eh-LAH-jeh-nus loo-KEE-mee-uh)
A quickly progressing disease in which too many immature white blood cells (not lymphocytes) are found in the blood and bone marrow. Also called AML, acute myeloid leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, and ANLL.
acute myeloid leukemia (uh-KYOOT MY-eh-loyd loo-KEE-mee-uh)
A quickly progressing disease in which too many immature white blood cells (not lymphocytes) are found in the blood and bone marrow. Also called AML, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, and ANLL.
acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (uh-KYOOT non-lim-foh-SIH-tik loo-KEE-mee-uh)
A quickly progressing disease in which too many immature white blood cells (not lymphocytes) are found in the blood and bone marrow. Also called acute myelogenous leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, AML, and ANLL.
acute promyelocytic leukemia (uh-KYOOT PRO-MY-eh-loh-SIH-tik loo-KEE-mee-uh)
APL. An aggressive (fast-growing) type of acute myeloid leukemia in which there are too many immature blood-forming cells in the blood and bone marrow. It is usually marked by an exchange of parts of chromosomes 15 and 17. Also called APL and promyelocytic leukemia.
adjunctive therapy (A-junk-tiv THAYR-uh-pee)
Another treatment used together with the primary treatment. Its purpose is to assist the primary treatment. Also called adjunct therapy.
advanced cancer (ad-VANST KAN-ser)
Cancer that has spread to other places in the body and usually cannot be cured or controlled with treatment.
advanced malignant mesothelioma (…muh-LIG-nunt meh-zuh-thee-lee-OH-muh)
Malignant mesothelioma that is stage II, III, or IV.
AJCC staging system (… STAY-jing SIS-tem)
A system developed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer for describing the extent of cancer in a patient’s body. The descriptions include TNM: T describes the size of the tumor and if it has invaded nearby tissue, N describes any lymph nodes that are involved, and M describes metastasis (spread of cancer from one body part to another).
allogeneic (A-loh-jeh-NAY-ik)
Taken from different individuals of the same species. Also called allogenic.
allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (A-loh-jeh-NAY-ik bone MAYR-oh tranz-plan-TAY-shun)
A procedure in which a person receives stem cells (cells from which all blood cells develop) from a genetically similar, but not identical, donor.
allogeneic stem cell transplantation (A-loh-jeh-NAY-ik stem sel tranz-plan-TAY-shun)
A procedure in which a person receives blood-forming stem cells (cells from which all blood cells develop) from a genetically similar, but not identical, donor. This is often a sister or brother, but could be an unrelated donor.
alveoli (al-VEE-oh-ly) Tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles in the lungs.
AML A quickly progressing disease in which too many immature white blood cells (not lymphocytes) are found in the blood and bone marrow. Also called acute myelogenous leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, and ANLL.
angiosarcoma (AN-jee-o-sar-KO-ma) A type of cancer that begins in the cells that line blood vessels or lymph vessels. Cancer that begins in blood vessels is called hemangiosarcoma. Cancer that begins in lymph vessels is called lymphangiosarcoma.
asbestos (as-BES-tus) A natural material that is made of tiny fibers. Asbestos is a known cause of mesothelioma (pleural and peritoneal) and lung cancer. Asbestos became increasingly popular among manufacturers and builders in the late 19th century due to its resistance to heat, electricity and chemical damage, its sound absorption and tensile strength. When asbestos is used for its resistance to fire or heat, the fibers are often mixed with cement or woven into fabric or mats. Asbestos is used in brake shoes and gaskets for its heat resistance, and in the past was used on electric oven and hotplate wiring for its electrical insulation at elevated temperature, and in buildings for its flame-retardant and insulating properties, tensile strength, flexibility, and resistance to chemicals. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious illnesses, including mesothelioma and asbestosis. Since the mid 1980s, many uses of asbestos have been banned in many countries. wikipedia
Asbestos, Chrysotile (White)
Chrysotile, CAS No. 12001-29-5, is obtained from serpentine rocks which are common throughout the world. Chrysotile fibers are curly as opposed to fibers from amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite which are needlelike.[1] Chrysotile, along with other types of asbestos, has been banned in dozens of countries and is only allowed in the United States and Europe in very limited circumstances. Chrysotile has been used more than any other type and accounts for about 95% of the asbestos found in buildings in America.[2] Applications where chrysotile might be used include the use of joint compound. It is more flexible than amphibole types of asbestos; it can be spun and woven into fabric. The most common use is within corrugated asbestos cement roof sheets typically used for outbuildings, warehouses and garages. It is also found as flat sheets used for ceilings and sometimes for walls. Numerous other items have been made containing chrysotile including brake linings, cloth behind fuses (for fire protection), pipe insulation, in floor tiles and in rope seals to boilers. wikipedia
Asbestos, Amosite (Brown)
Amosite, CAS No. 12172-73-5, is a trade name for the amphiboles, named as an acronym from Asbestos Mines of South Africa. One formula given for amosite is Fe7Si8O22(OH)2. It is found most frequently as a fire retardant in thermal insulation products and ceiling tiles. wikipedia
Asbestos, Crocidolite (Blue)
Crocidolite, CAS No. 12001-28-4 is an amphibole found primarily in southern Africa, but also in Australia and possibly Russia. It is the fibrous form of the amphibole riebeckite. One formula given for crocidolite is Na2Fe2+3Fe3+2Si8O22(OH)2. Notes: chrysotile commonly occurs as soft friable fibers. Asbestiform amphibole may also occur as soft friable fibers but some varieties such as amosite are commonly straighter. All forms of asbestos are fibrillar in that they are composed of fibers with widths less than 1 micrometre. Asbestos with particularly fine fibers is also referred to as “amianthus”. Amphiboles such as tremolite have a crystal structure containing strongly bonded ribbonlike silicate polymers that extend the length of the crystal. Serpentine (chrysotile) has a sheetlike silicate anion which is curved and which rolls up like a carpet to form the fiber. wikipedia
Asbestos, Tremolite
Other regulated asbestos minerals, such as tremolite asbestos, CAS No. 77536-68-6, Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2; actinolite asbestos (or smaragdite), CAS No. 77536-66-4, Ca2(Mg, Fe)5(Si8O22)(OH)2; and anthophyllite asbestos, CAS No. 77536-67-5, (Mg, Fe)7Si8O22(OH)2; are less commonly used industrially but can still be found in a variety of construction materials and insulation materials and have been reported in the past to occur in a few consumer products. wikipedia
Asbestosis The scarring of lung tissue (around terminal bronchioles and alveolar ducts) resulting from the inhalation of asbestos fibers A chronic inflammatory medical condition affecting the parenchymal tissue of the lungs. It occurs after long-term, heavy exposure to asbestos and is therefore regarded as an occupational lung disease. Sufferers have severe dyspnea (shortness of breath) and are at an increased risk regarding several different types of lung cancer.
atelectasis (at-uh-LEK-tuh-sis) Failure of the lung to expand (inflate) completely. This may be caused by a blocked airway, a tumor, general anesthesia, pneumonia or other lung infections, lung disease, or long-term bedrest with shallow breathing. Sometimes called a collapsed lung.