Cancer Dictionary – T
thoracalgia (THO-ruh-KAL-juh) Chest pain. Also called thoracodynia.
thoracentesis (THOH-ruh-sen-TEE-sis) Removal of fluid from the pleural cavity through a needle inserted between the ribs.
thoracic (thoh-RAH-sik) Having to do with the chest.
thoracic surgeon (thoh-RAH-sik SER-jun) A surgeon who specializes in operating on organs inside the chest, including the heart and lungs.
thoracic surgical oncologist (thoh-RAH-sik SER-jih-kul on-KAH-loh-jist) A surgeon who specializes in operating on tumors found inside the chest.
TNM staging system (… STAY-jing SIS-tem) A system for describing the extent of cancer in a patient’s body. T describes the size of the tumor and whether 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).
toxic (TOK-sik) Having to do with poison or something harmful to the body. Toxic substances usually cause unwanted side effects.
toxicity (tok-SIH-sih-tee) The extent to which something is poisonous or harmful. Industrial toxins include asbestos and benzene.
toxicology (TOK-sih-KAH-loh-jee) The study of poisons, including the source, effect, and treatment of poisoning. It is a branch of pharmacology (the study of drugs).
toxin (TOK-sin) A poison produced by certain animals, plants, or bacteria.
translocation (TRANZ-loh-KAY-shun) A genetic change in which a piece of one chromosome breaks off and attaches to another chromosome. Sometimes pieces from two different chromosomes will trade places with each other. Translocations may lead to medical problems such as leukemia. Translocations can be caused by exposure to benzene.
trust A legal document in which a person states what is to be done with his or her property after death. There are many types of trusts, and a trust may take the place of a will.
tubefeeding A type of enteral nutrition (nutrition that is delivered into the digestive system in a liquid form). For tubefeeding, a small tube may be placed through the nose into the stomach or the small intestine. Sometimes it is surgically placed into the stomach or the intestinal tract through an opening made on the outside of the abdomen, depending on how long it will be used. People who are unable to meet their needs with food and beverages alone, and who do not have vomiting or uncontrollable diarrhea may be given tubefeedings. Tubefeeding can be used to add to what a person is able to eat or can be the only source of nutrition.
tumor (TOO-mer) An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancerous), or malignant (cancerous). Also called neoplasm.
tumor antigen vaccine (…AN-tih-JEN…) A vaccine made of cancer cells, parts of cancer cells, or pure tumor antigens (substances isolated from tumor cells). A tumor antigen vaccine may stimulate the body’s immune system to find and kill cancer cells.
tumor board review A treatment planning approach in which a number of doctors who are experts in different specialties (disciplines) review and discuss the medical condition and treatment options of a patient. In cancer treatment, a tumor board review may include that of a medical oncologist (who provides cancer treatment with drugs), a surgical oncologist (who provides cancer treatment with surgery), and a radiation oncologist (who provides cancer treatment with radiation). Also called a multidisciplinary opinion.
tumor burden Refers to the number of cancer cells, the size of a tumor, or the amount of cancer in the body. Also called tumor load.
tumor debulking (TOO-mer dee-BUL-king) Surgical removal of as much of a tumor as possible. Tumor debulking may increase the chance that chemotherapy or radiation therapy will kill all the tumor cells. It may also be done to relieve symptoms or help the patient live longer. Also called debulking.
tumor load Refers to the number of cancer cells, the size of a tumor, or the amount of cancer in the body. Also called tumor burden
tumor marker (TOO-mer …) A substance that may be found in tumor tissue or released from a tumor into the blood or other body fluids. A high level of a tumor marker may mean that a certain type of cancer is in the body. Examples of tumor markers include CA 125 (in ovarian cancer), CA 15-3 (in breast cancer), CEA (in ovarian, lung, breast, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract cancers), and PSA (in prostate cancer).
tumor suppressor gene (TOO-mer suh-PREH-ser jeen) One of a pair of genes (units of heredity passed from parent to offspring) that causes the cell to make a protein that controls cell growth. Cancer may develop when the tumor suppressor protein does not work because of mutations (changes in the DNA ) in the genes. The mutations in the tumor suppressor genes can be inherited or acquired. Also called antioncogene.