📚 Medical Glossary
Understand the language of oncology with clear and precise definitions.
Oncology
The medical specialty focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.
Biopsy
A medical test involving the removal of cells or tissues for examination to see if cancer is present.
Metastasis
The spread of cancer cells from the original (primary) tumor to other parts of the body.
Benign
A tumor that is not cancerous and does not spread to other parts of the body.
Malignant
A cancerous tumor that can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body.
Chemotherapy
The use of drugs to destroy cancer cells, either throughout the body or in specific areas.
Radiotherapy
Treatment using high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
Immunotherapy
A treatment that uses certain parts of a person's immune system to fight diseases such as cancer.
Remission
A decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer.
Stage
A way to describe the size of a cancer and how far it has spread.
Palliative
Care focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness.
Carcinoma
Cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.
Sarcoma
Cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, or other connective or supportive tissue.
Adenocarcinoma
A type of cancer that forms in glandular structures.
Screening
Testing for a disease when there are no symptoms.
Prognosis
The likely course of a disease or the chance of recovery or recurrence.
Diagnosis
The process of identifying a disease, condition, or injury from its signs and symptoms.
Bladder Changes
Persistent changes such as blood in urine, frequency, or pain during urination.
Abdominal Bloating
Unexplained swelling or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen.
Mole Changes
New or existing moles that change in shape, size, or color (ABCDE criteria).
Non-healing Sore
Ulcers or skin sores that do not heal within 3 weeks.
Unexplained Headaches
Persistent or severe new headaches that may indicate neurological issues.
Jaundice
Yellowing of the skin or eyes, often related to liver or pancreatic conditions.
Persistent Heartburn
Chronic indigestion or acid reflux that does not respond to standard treatments.
Back Pain
Chronic, unexplained pain in the back that is not related to an injury.
TNM Staging
A system to describe the amount and spread of cancer: T (tumor size), N (lymph nodes involved), and M (metastasis presence).
Gleason Score
A grading system for prostate cancer based on how much the cancer cells look like normal cells under a microscope.
Grading
A classification of cancer cells based on how abnormal they look under a microscope (G1 to G4).
Adjuvant Therapy
Additional treatment given after the primary treatment (usually surgery) to lower the risk of the cancer returning.
Neoadjuvant Therapy
Treatment given as a first step to shrink a tumor before the main treatment, such as surgery, is performed.