a certain level of overweight; in general, a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30. BMI is figured out based on height and weight, but is not an absolute measure for overweight or obesity. Because it does not differentiate between fat and muscle, other tests must be done to know whether a person with a high BMI is actually obese.
[uh-
kult or
o-
kult]
hidden or concealed. In cancer screening, can refer to small amounts of blood in stool that cannot be seen identified without special tests. See also fecal occult blood test and colorectal cancer screening.
[
ok-you-
PAY-shun-uhl]
a specially trained therapist who works with people who have disabilities to help them relearn how to perform daily activities. See also cancer care team.
refers to the use of a drug to treat a condition other than that for which it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
[o-
men-tum]
a large fatty sheet in the abdomen (belly) that drapes like an apron over the stomach, intestines, and other organs.
[
on-kuh-jeenz]
mutated (changed) forms of genes that cause cells to grow and divide. Oncogenes are related to normal genes called proto-oncogenes that control normal cell growth. But oncogenes may undergo changes that activate them, resulting in cells growing out of control and becoming cancerous. See also genes, tumors. Compare to tumor suppressor genes.
[on-
kahl-uh-jist]
a doctor with special training in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. See also cancer care team.
[on-
kahl-o-jee]
the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
[on-
kahl-o-jee]
a registered nurse with a master’s degree in oncology nursing who specializes in the care of cancer patients. Oncology nurse specialists may prepare and give treatments, monitor patients, prescribe and provide supportive care, and teach and counsel patients and their families. See also cancer care team.
[on-
kahl-o-jee]
a person with a master’s degree in social work who is an expert in coordinating and providing non-medical care to patients. The oncology social worker counsels and assists people with cancer and their families, especially in dealing with the non-medical issues that can result from cancer, such as financial problems, housing (when treatments are given at a facility away from home), and child care. See also cancer care team.
newer techniques that combine oncology (cancer care) with plastic surgery.
in breast cancer treatment, surgery done right after the biopsy (procedure to diagnose the cancer). The patient is given general anesthesia and does not know until waking up if the diagnosis was cancer or if extensive surgery (for instance mastectomy) was done. Once the only option in breast cancer, the one-step procedure is now rarely used, having been replaced by a two-step approach. See also anesthesia, biopsy, mastectomy, two-step procedure.
[oh-of-uh-
rek-tuh-me]
surgery to remove the ovaries. See also ovary.
[
off-thuhl-
MAHL-uh-jist]
a medical doctor who specializes in eye diseases.
refers to the mouth. For example, medicines that are taken orally are taken by mouth. Oral cancer is cancer of the mouth.
[
max-ill-o-
FAY-shul]
a surgeon who specializes in operating on the mouth, jaw, and face.
birth control pills, which contain estrogen and/or a progesterone-like substance, known as progestin. See also estrogen, hormone, progesterone.
[
or-key-
ECK-tuh-me]
surgery to remove the testicles; also called castration. See also hormone therapy, testicles.
[
or-oh-
FAIR-ingks]
the part of the throat below the soft palate and above the epiglottis, mostly behind the mouth. See also epiglottis, nasopharynx.
[or-thuh-
pee-dik]
a surgeon who specializes in diseases and injuries of the bones.
[
os-tee-o-puh-
RO-sis]
thinning of bone tissue, causing less bone mass and weaker bones, which is more common in older people. Osteoporosis can cause pain, deformity (especially of the spine), and broken bones. See also spine.
[
os-tuh-me]
a general term meaning an opening, especially one made by surgery. See also colostomy, ileostomy, tracheostomy, urostomy.
see enterostomal therapist.
[
o-toe-
lair-in-
GOL-uh-jist]
also called a head and neck surgeon or an ENT (ear, nose, throat doctor); a doctor who specializes in diseases of the ear, nose, and throat.
a person being treated without staying in the hospital. Compare to inpatient. See also ambulatory.
the eggs that are released (usually one at a time) each month during a woman’s reproductive (fertile) years. The egg must be fertilized by a sperm to grow into a baby. A female is born with all the ova she will ever have. The singular of ova is ovum. See also sperm.
removal of the ovaries or inactivation of their hormones. See also ablation, ovary, hormone therapy.
[
o-vuh-ree]
reproductive organ in the female pelvis. Normally a woman has 2 ovaries. They contain the eggs (ova) that, when joined with sperm, can result in pregnancy. Ovaries are also the main source of estrogen, the main female sex hormone. See also estrogen, ova, sperm.
urine leak that happens when the bladder cannot be emptied. A person with overflow incontinence may need to get up often during the night to urinate, take a long time to urinate, and have a dribbling stream with little force. Overflow incontinence is usually caused by blockage or narrowing of the bladder outlet, either from cancer or scar tissue. Compare with stress incontinence, urge incontinence.
