Glossary
Terms Related to Cancer

This glossary is provided as a quick reference for your convenience. Additional information can be obtained by typing keywords into Search (upper right of your screen) or by clicking on the underlined terms below. The glossary provided here is for informational purposes only and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem. Please consult your physician or our staff (904) 202-CARE (2273) for answers to questions or for more information.

adenocarcinoma - cancerous tumors of the glands, such as in the ducts or lobules of the breast.

adjuvant treatment - treatment that is added to other therapies to increase effectiveness.

basal cell carcinoma - the most common form of skin cancer; characterized by small, shiny, raised bumps on the skin that may bleed.

biopsy - a procedure performed to remove tissue or cells from the body for examination under a microscope.

bone scan - a nuclear imaging method to evaluate any degenerative and/or arthritic changes in the joints; to detect bone diseases and tumors; to determine the cause of bone pain or inflammation.

colonoscopy - a test that uses a long, flexible tube with a light and camera lens at the end (colonoscope) to examine inside the large intestine.

DRE (digital rectal exam) - procedure in which the physician inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to examine the rectum and the prostate gland for signs of cancer.

gamma knife - this is a precision, non-invasive technology that uses Gamma radiation to destroy brain tumors and treat other neurological disorders. The Gamma Knife acts like a surgeon's scalpel, using radiation instead of a scalpel to target diseased tissue while leaving surrounding healthy tissue intact.

hemorrhage - the medical term for bleeding.

lymph nodes - part of the lymphatic system; bean-shaped organs, found in the underarm, groin, neck, and abdomen, that act as filters for the lymph fluid as it passes through them.

metastasis - the spread of tumor cell in other areas of the body.

minimally invasive surgery - any technique involved in surgery that does not require a large incision.

needle aspiration - a procedure that uses a thin needle and syringe to collect tissue or drain a lump after using a local anesthetic.

PSA (prostate-specific antigen) - an antigen made by the prostate gland and found in the blood; may indicate cancer in the prostate gland.

squamous cell carcinoma - a form of skin cancer that affects about 20 percent of patients with skin cancer. This highly treatable skin cancer is characterized by red, scaly skin that becomes an open sore.

Squamous cell carcinoma is cancer that begins in squamous cells - thin, flat cells 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.

staging - an evaluation of the extent of disease that provides the basis for making treatment recommendations. For example, staging of a cancer includes the extent of a cancer; whether the disease has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

transitional cell carcinoma - a cancer that begins in the cells lining the bladder. Transitional cells also line the other parts of the urinary tract including the kidneys, ureters, and urethra. Transitional cell carcinoma is the most common kind of bladder cancer, occurring in about 90 percent of cases. This type of cancer is also called urothelial carcinoma.

ultrasound (sonography) - a diagnostic imaging technique which uses high-frequency sound waves and a computer to create images of blood vessels, tissues, and organs. Ultrasounds are used to view internal organs as they function, and to assess blood flow through various vessels.

xerostomia - a dry mouth condition; can be caused by a number of things, including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, kidney failure, infection with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), drugs used to treat depression, and radiation treatment for mouth or throat cancer.