[
say-lean]
saltwater solution.
[sar-
ko-muh]
a cancer that starts in connective tissue, such as cartilage, fat, muscle, or bone.
a study using either x-rays or radioisotopes to make images of internal body organs. See also bone scan, brain scan, computed tomography scan, imaging studies, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine scan, radioisotope, x-ray.
[
sin-till-
LAY-shun]
device used in nuclear medicine scans to detect radioactivity and make pictures that help diagnose cancer and other diseases. See also nuclear medicine, nuclear medicine scan.
[
sin-ti-mam
-AHG-gruh-fee]
an imaging study in which a radioactive tracer is put into a vein to find breast cancer cells. The tracer attaches to breast cancer cells. It is a newer technique that may help evaluate women with abnormal mammograms, and is still being studied as doctors try to improve its usefulness. See also imaging studies, mammogram. radioisotope.
the search for disease, such as cancer, in people who do not have any symptoms. For example, screening tests for colon cancer include colonoscopy and the fecal occult blood test. Some of the same tests used for screening may also be used as diagnostic tests, which look for cancer in a person after there is some sign of a problem. For instance, a colonoscopy would be a diagnostic test if it was used in a person who had blood in the stool or symptoms of a blockage. See also colon, colonoscopy, fecal occult blood test.
the pouch of skin that holds the testicles. See also testicles.
a tumor that forms as a result of spread (metastasis) of cancer from the place where it started (the primary site). See also metastasis, primary site.
[suh-
day-shun]
to make sleepy, calm, or relaxed. Drugs to cause sedation are often used along with medicines to numb an area for a procedure or certain types of surgery. See also anesthesia.
[seg-
men-tuhl re-
sek-shun]
surgery to remove part of an organ. With colon cancer, for instance, the cancer and a length of normal colon on either side of the cancer, as well as the nearby lymph nodes are removed. The remaining sections of the colon are then reattached. See also colon, lymph node.
[SERM]
an estrogen-like substance that has some, but not all, of the actions of estrogen. For example, raloxifene is classified as a SERM because it (like estrogen) prevents bone loss and lowers serum cholesterol but unlike estrogen, does not stimulate the uterus to grow a lining. Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors are also SERMs. See also aromatase inhibitors, estrogen, uterus.
[
see-muhn]
fluid released during male orgasm that contains sperm and seminal fluid. See also ejaculate, sperm.
[
sim-uh-nul
ves-ih-kuls]
glands at the base of the bladder and next to the prostate that release fluid into the semen during orgasm. Cancer that spreads beyond the prostate gland may invade the seminal vesicles. See also bladder, prostate, semen.
[
sen-tin-uhl]
sometimes abbreviated SNLB. A procedure that is used instead of routine lymph node dissection (removal) for some cancer types, Blue dye and/or a radioisotope is injected into the tumor at the time of surgery and the first (sentinel) node that picks up the dye is removed and biopsied. If the node does not contain cancer, fewer nodes are removed. See also biopsy, lymph node, lymph node dissection, radioisotope.
a non-cancerous lump or swelling that is caused by a build-up of clear fluid.
a mental health professional such as a licensed psychiatrist, social worker, clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, or psychologist with special training in counseling people about sexual changes, problems, and communication (for example, after treatment for cancer).
[
sex-tunt
by-op-see]
a biopsy of the prostate in which 6 core biopsy samples are taken, one each from the top, middle, and bottom of each side of the prostate. In most cases, doctors now take 12 or more core needle samples of the prostate for more complete sampling. See also biopsy, core needle biopsy, prostate.
unwanted effects of treatment such as hair loss caused by chemotherapy, and fatigue (extreme tiredness) caused by radiation therapy. See also chemotherapy, radiation therapy.
see radiation dose.
[
sig-moyd
ko-lun]
the fourth section of the colon. The sigmoid colon attaches to the rectum, which in turn connects to the anus, the opening where waste matter passes out of the body. See also anus, ascending colon, colon, descending colon, transverse colon, rectum.
[sig-
MOYD-uh-
scope]
a thin, flexible, hollow, lighted tube about the thickness of a finger. It is inserted through the rectum up into the lower part of the colon. This allows the doctor to look at the inside of the rectum and the lower part of the colon for cancer or for polyps (small growths that can become cancer). The sigmoidoscope is connected to a camera and TV monitor so the doctor can look closely at the inside of the colon. See also colon, polyp, rectum, sigmoid colon, sigmoidoscopy.
[
sig-moid-
AH-skuh-pee]
a procedure in which a doctor can look into the rectum and the descending portion of the colon for polyps or other abnormalities. See also colorectal cancer screening, descending colon, rectum, sigmoid colon, sigmoidoscope, polyp.
a physical change you can see. Compare to symptom.
a process involving special x-ray pictures that are used to plan radiation treatment so that the area to be treated is precisely located and marked for treatment. See also external beam radiation therapy, x-ray.
see spectral karyotyping.
one of the 2 main types of lung cancer classified based on how the cells look under the microscope. Small cell lung cancer tends to grow and spread faster than non-small- cell lung cancer. Compare to non-small-cell lung cancer.
the longest section of the intestinal tube. It breaks down food and absorbs most of the nutrients. The small intestine leads into the large intestine. See also large intestine, gastrointestinal tract.
a health professional who helps people find community resources and provides counseling and guidance to help with issues like insurance coverage and nursing home placement. See also cancer care team.
see actinic keratosis.
[so-
mat-ick mew-
tay-shun]
a change in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that starts in one cell of the body at any time of life after an embryo is formed. All the cells that arise from that cell will typically have the same mutation, which in some cases can lead to cancer. This kind of mutation is different from inherited mutations, which are present at birth and in all the cells of the body. Somatic mutations are not passed on to children. Compare to inherited disease. See also deoxyribonucleic acid, mutation.
[
speck-truhl
KAIR-ee-o-
type-ing]
abbreviated SKY; also called chromosome painting. A cytogenetic blood test used to see all the pairs of chromosomes in a cell in different colors. See also chromosome, cytogenetics.
a health professional who is specially trained to work with people to help them communicate clearly. Speech therapists help re-establish communication skills and also make sure that patients can eat and drink.
the mature male reproductive cell that must combine with an egg (ova) to make a baby. Males start making sperm in their testicles after puberty. See also ova.
the percentage of cells that are replicating (making a copy of) their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). DNA replication usually means that a cell is getting ready to split into 2 new cells. A low s-phase fraction is a sign that a tumor is slow-growing; a high s-phase fraction shows that the cells are dividing rapidly and the tumor is growing quickly. See also deoxyribonucleic acid.
[
sfink-ter]
a ring-like muscle that can open and close to control the passage of substances in the body. The urethral sphincter squeezes the urethra shut and provides urinary control. There are 2 of these muscles in the anus to control stool (feces), called the external and internal anal sphincters. See also anus, urethra.
a long bundle of nerves that a makes up part of the central vervous system. It runs up the back enclosed inside the vertebrae (bones of the spine) and connects to the brain. It shuttles messages between the body and the brain, carrying sensory information from the body to the brain and motor information (signals to move body parts) from the brain to the body. See also brain, vertebra.
any process that results in pressure on the spinal cord, the spinal nerve trunks, or both. Pressure on the spinal cord can cause numbness, paralysis, or incontinence of stool or urine. This can happen when cancer spreads to the spine. See also spinal cord, incontinence.
see lumbar puncture.
[
spin-duhl sell]
a cell that, when seen under a microscope, looks like a long oval. Some types of sarcomas, melanomas, and carcinomas have this type of cell. There are also normal cells of the body that are shaped like spindles. See also carcinoma, melanoma, sarcoma.
also called helical CT. A special scanner that takes cross-sectional pictures around the body in a spiral or helix pattern. See also computed tomography scan.
organ of the immune system in the upper left side of the abdomen (belly) which stores blood, breaks down old blood cells, and helps form some white blood cells such as lymphocytes. See also immune system, lymphocyte.
[
spew-tum sy-
tahl-uh-jee]
a study of mucus or phlegm cells under a microscope to see if they are normal.
[
skway-mus sell
car-sin-
O-mah]
cancer that begins in the flat, non-glandular cells of the body, for example, the skin or the lining of the body’s organs.
the extent of a cancer, which is usually assigned a number from I to IV. May be called stage grouping. See also staging.
the process of finding out whether cancer has spread and if so, how far; the process of learning the stage of the cancer. There is more than one system for staging different types of cancer.
The TNM staging system, which is used most often, gives 3 key pieces of information.
T refers to the size of the tumor
N describes whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and if so, how many
M shows whether the cancer has spread (metastasized) to other organs of the body
Letters or numbers after the T, N, and M give more details about each of these factors. To make this information clearer, the TNM descriptions can be grouped together into a simpler set of stages, labeled with Roman numerals (usually from I to IV). In general, the lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. A higher number means a more serious cancer.
The 2 main types of staging are clinical and pathologic.
clinical staging is an estimate of the extent of cancer based on physical exam, biopsy results, and imaging tests.
pathologic staging is an estimate of the extent of cancer by studying the samples removed during surgery.
also called conventional treatment or mainstream treatment. The most commonly used and most widely accepted form of treatment, which has usually been tested and proven. See also clinical trials, therapy.
see hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
any type of cell that may mature into different types of cells. In cancer treatment, the term usually refers to the immature blood cells found in the bone marrow and in the blood. Even though they start out the same, these stem cells can mature into all types of blood cells. See also bone marrow.
[steh-
no-sis]
a narrowing (stricture) of a duct or canal. See also duct.
a very small tube or “straw-like” device that is put in to support and hold open a tube-shaped organ, such as a blood vessel or intestine.
[
steer-e-o-
TACK-tick
need-ul
by-op-see]
a method of needle biopsy that is useful in some cases in which calcifications or a mass can be seen on imaging tests but cannot be felt. A computer maps the location of the mass to guide the placement of the needle. See also biopsy, calcifications, needle aspiration, needle biopsy, imaging studies.
[
steer-e-o-
TACK-tick
ray-dee-o-
SUR-jer-ee]
a treatment method that focuses high doses of radiation at a tumor while limiting the exposure that normal tissue receives. Though it is called surgery, no knife or scalpel is used. The treatment may be useful for tumors that are in places where regular surgery would harm essential tissue, for example, in the brain or spinal cord, or when the patient’s condition does not permit regular surgery. See also radiation, spinal cord.
also called infertility. The inability to have children, which can result from some types of cancer treatment.
breastbone, the flat bone where the ribs meet in the center at the front of the chest.
[
sto-muh]
an opening, especially an opening made by surgery to allow elimination of body waste. See also colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy.
[
sto-muh-
TIE-tus]
inflammation, sores, or ulcers of the mouth. Stomatitis can be a side effect of some kinds of chemotherapy.
solid waste matter; feces.
a method to detect abnormal deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in cells that rub off from colorectal cancers and come out in the stool. This test may prove helpful in screening for colorectal cancer. See also colorectal cancer screening, deoxyribonucleic acid.
a mild type of laxative that helps keep the stool from becoming hard, dry, and difficult to pass. See also laxative.
passing a small amount of urine when coughing, laughing, sneezing, or exercising. Compare to overflow incontinence, urge incontinence.
[
strick-chure
, yoo-
ree-thrul]
a narrowing of the urethra due to scar tissue that blocks the flow of urine, which can result in overflow incontinence (leaking urine). This can be treated by surgically removing the scar tissue and stretching the urethra. See also overflow incontinence, urethra.
[
stro-muh]
connective tissue.
see gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
[
stron-tee-um]
a radioactive substance (radioisotope) that is used for treatment of bone pain from cancer that has spread to the bones. It is injected into a vein and is attracted to areas of bone containing cancer. The radiation given off by the strontium-89 kills the cancer cells, and helps relieve pain. See also radioisotope.
[
sub-mew-
KO-suh]
a layer of the colon between the muscularis mucosae and the muscularis propria. See also colon wall.
[
sue-pruh-klah-
VICK-you-lar]
lymph nodes that are found just above the collarbone (clavicle). See also lymph node.
[
sur-jun]
a doctor who operates.
also called open surgical biopsy. Removal of tissues using open surgery so that the tissues can be looked at under a microscope to find out if they contain cancer cells. Biopsies may also be done laparoscopically, or with thin needles. See also biopsy, fine needle aspiration biopsy, laparoscope.
edge of the tissue removed during surgery. A negative surgical margin means that no cancer cells were found on the outer edge of the removed tissue, and is considered a sign that none of the cancerous mass was left behind. A positive surgical margin means that cancer cells are found at the outer edge of the tissue removed and is usually a sign that some cancer remains in the body.
a doctor who specializes in using surgery to treat cancer. See also cancer care team.
the percentage of people still alive within a certain period of time after diagnosis or treatment. For cancer, a 5-year survival rate is often given. This does not mean that people can’t live more than 5 years, nor does it mean that those who live for 5 years are permanently cured. See also five-year relative survival rate.
not generally used as a medical word, survivor can have different meanings when applied to people with cancer. Some people use the word to refer to anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer. For example, someone living with cancer may be considered a survivor. Some people use the term to refer to someone who has completed cancer treatment. Others call a person a survivor if he or she has lived several years past a cancer diagnosis. The American Cancer Society believes that each person has the right to define his or her own experience with cancer and considers a cancer survivor to be anyone who describes himself or herself this way, from diagnosis throughout the rest of his or her life.
the state of being a cancer survivor, that is, having been diagnosed with cancer. See also survivor.
[
simp-tuhm]
a change in the body caused by an illness or condition, as described by the person experiencing it. Compare to sign.
[
sin-kruh-nus]
occurring at the same time; for example, cancer in both breasts at the same time is synchronous. See also bilateral, metachronous.
[
sin-er-
JIS-tick]
acting together. A synergistic agent can act together with one or more other agents to produce an effect greater than that of the sum of their individual effects. Some chemotherapy drugs act synergistically. See also chemotherapy.
[sis-
tem-ick]
in cancer, this term means that a cancer that started in one place has spread to distant organs or structures. Compare to in situ, localized cancer.
[sis-
tem-ick]
treatment that reaches and affects cells throughout the body; for example, chemotherapy. See also chemotherapy. Compare to local therapy.
