Cancer Dictionary – S
sarcoma A cancer of the bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue.
sarcomatoid carcinoma (sar-KOH-muh-toyd kar-sih-NOH-muh) A type of cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs and that contains long spindle-shaped cells. Also called
Saville & Flint, LLC. A law firm that represents the victims of mesothelioma and leukemia and throughout the United States.
scan A picture of structures inside the body. Scans often used in diagnosing, staging, and monitoring disease include liver scans, bone scans, and computed tomography (CT) or computerized axial tomography (CAT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. In liver scanning and bone scanning, radioactive substances that are injected into the bloodstream collect in these organs. A scanner that detects the radiation is used to create pictures. In CT scanning, an x-ray machine linked to a computer is used to produce detailed pictures of organs inside the body. MRI scans use a large magnet connected to a computer to create pictures of areas inside the body.
Scar Carcinoma
second-look surgery Surgery performed after primary treatment to determine whether tumor cells remain.
secondary cancer A term that is used to describe either a new primary cancer or cancer that has spread from the place in which it started to other parts of the body.
solid tumor An abnormal mass of tissue that usually does not contain cysts or liquid areas. Solid tumors may be benign (not cancerous), or malignant (cancerous). Different types of solid tumors are named for the type of cells that form them. Examples of solid tumors are sarcomas, carcinomas, and lymphomas. Leukemias (cancers of the blood) generally do not form solid tumors.
spleen An organ that is part of the lymphatic system. The spleen produces lymphocytes, filters the blood, stores blood cells, and destroys old blood cells. It is located on the left side of the abdomen near the stomach.
splenectomy (spleh-NEK-toh-mee) An operation to remove the spleen.
splenic (SPLEH-nik) Having to do with the spleen (an organ in the abdomen that makes immune cells, filters the blood, stores blood cells, and destroys old blood cells).
splenomegaly Enlarged spleen.
squamous cell (SKWAY-mus sel) Flat cell that looks like a fish scale under a microscope. These cells cover inside and outside surfaces of the body. They are found in the tissues that form the surface of the skin, the lining of the hollow organs of the body (such as the bladder, kidney, and uterus), and the passages of the respiratory and digestive tracts.
squamous cell carcinoma (SKWAY-mus sel KAR-sih-NOH-muh) Cancer that begins in squamous cells, which are thin, flat cells that look like fish scales. Squamous cells are found in the tissue that forms the surface of the skin, the lining of the hollow organs of the body, and the passages of the respiratory and digestive tracts. Also called epidermoid carcinoma.
stage The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.
stage I malignant mesothelioma (…muh-LIG-nunt meh-zuh-thee-lee-OH-muh) Cancer is found in the lining of the chest wall and may also be found in the lining of the lung, the lining of the diaphragm (the thin muscle below the lungs and heart that separates the chest from the abdomen), or the lining of the sac that covers the heart on the same side of the chest. Also called localized malignant mesothelioma.
stage II malignant mesothelioma (…muh-LIG-nunt meh-zuh-thee-lee-OH-muh) Cancer is found in the lining of the chest wall and the lymph nodes on the same side of the chest. Cancer may also be found in the lining of the lung, the lining of the diaphragm (the thin muscle below the lungs and heart that separates the chest from the abdomen), or the lining of the sac that covers the heart on the same side of the chest. Stage II malignant mesothelioma is advanced malignant mesothelioma.
stage II non-small cell lung cancer
stage I non-small cell lung cancer Stage I is divided into stages IA and IB based on the size or location of the tumor. In stage IA, the tumor is in the lung only and is 3 centimeters or smaller. In stage IB, one or more of the following is true: (1) the tumor is larger than 3 centimeters; (2) cancer has spread to the main bronchus of the lung, and is at least 2 centimeters from the carina (where the trachea joins the bronchi); (3) cancer has spread to the innermost layer of the membrane that covers the lungs; and/or (4) the tumor partly blocks the bronchus or bronchioles and part of the lung has collapsed or developed pneumonitis (inflammation of the lung).
Stage II is divided into stages IIA and IIB. In stage IIA, the tumor is 3 centimeters or smaller and cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes on the same side of the chest as the tumor. In stage IIB, cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes on the same side of the chest as the tumor and one or more of the following is true: (1) the tumor is larger than 3 centimeters; (2) cancer has spread to the main bronchus of the lung and is 2 centimeters or more from the carina (where the trachea joins the bronchi); (3) cancer has spread to the innermost layer of the membrane that covers the lungs; and/or (4) the tumor partly blocks the bronchus or bronchioles and part of the lung has collapsed or developed pneumonitis (inflammation of the lung). OR in stage IIB, cancer has NOT spread to lymph nodes and one or more of the following is true: (1) the tumor may be any size and cancer has spread to the chest wall, or the diaphragm, or the pleura between the lungs, or membranes surrounding the heart; (2) cancer has spread to the main bronchus of the lung and is no more than 2 centimeters from the carina (where the trachea meets the bronchi), but has not spread to the trachea; and/or (3) cancer blocks the bronchus or bronchioles and the whole lung has collapsed or developed pneumonitis (inflammation of the lung).
stage III malignant mesothelioma (…muh-LIG-nunt meh-zuh-thee-lee-OH-muh) Cancer has spread to the chest wall, mediastinum, heart, lining of the peritoneum, and/or beyond the diaphragm. Cancer may also have spread to lymph nodes on the other side of the chest or outside the chest. Stage III malignant mesothelioma is advanced malignant mesothelioma.
stage III non-small cell lung cancer Stage III is divided into stages IIIA and IIIB. In stage IIIA, cancer has spread to lymph nodes on the same side of the chest as the tumor; the tumor may be any size and cancer may have spread to the main bronchus, the chest wall, the diaphragm, the pleura around the lungs, or the membrane around the heart, but cancer has not spread to the trachea; and part or all of the lung may have collapsed or developed pneumonitis (inflammation of the lung). In stage IIIB, the tumor may be any size and has spread to lymph nodes above the collarbone or in the opposite side of the chest from the tumor; AND/OR to any of the following places: the heart, major blood vessels that lead to or from the heart, the chest wall, the diaphragm, the trachea, the esophagus, the sternum (chest bone) or backbone, to more than one place in the same lobe of the lung, and/or into the fluid of the pleural cavity surrounding the lung.
stage IV malignant mesothelioma (…muh-LIG-nunt meh-zuh-thee-lee-OH-muh) Cancer has spread to distant organs or tissues. Stage IV malignant mesothelioma is advanced malignant mesothelioma.
stem cell A cell from which other types of cells develop. For example, blood cells develop from blood-forming stem cells.
stem cell factor SCF. A drug being studied for its ability to increase the number of stem cells in the blood. It is a type of hematopoietic cell growth factor. Also called SCF, ancestim, and Stemgen.
stem cell transplantation A method of replacing immature blood-forming cells that were destroyed by cancer treatment. The stem cells are given to the person after treatment to help the bone marrow recover and continue producing healthy blood cells.Tumor
surgeon A doctor who removes or repairs a part of the body by operating on the patient.
surgery (SER-juh-ree) A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.
surgical biopsy (SER-jih-kul BY-op-see) The removal of tissues by a surgeon for examination by a pathologist. The pathologist may study the tissue under a microscope.
surgical oncologist (SER-jih-kul on-KAH-loh-jist) A doctor who performs biopsies and other surgical procedures in cancer patients.
survival rate (ser-VY-vul …) The percentage of people in a study or treatment group who are alive for a given period of time after diagnosis or treatment. This is often measured 5 years after diagnosis or treatment and called the 5-year survival rate. Also called overall survival rate.
survivor (ser-VY-ver) One who remains alive and continues to function after overcoming difficulties or life-threatening diseases like cancer.
survivorship (ser-VY-ver-ship) In cancer, survivorship covers the physical, psychosocial, and economic issues of cancer, from diagnosis until the end of life. It includes issues related to the ability to get health care and follow-up treatment, late effects of treatment, second cancers, and quality of life.