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Mesothelioma medical glossary
Below is a list of mesothelioma-related terms. This mesothelioma glossary provides simple information and definitions of expressions and vocabulary used by physicians and specialists at various mesothelioma treatment centers.
Adenocarcinoma
A malignant tumor that originates in glandular tissue.
Adjuvant therapy
Cancer treatment administered after primary treatment to improve a patient's prognosis. May include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, biological therapy, or radiation therapy.
Alternative medicine
Practices which replace standard therapies in treating illnesses or health conditions. Includes acupuncture, herbal preparations, massage, spiritual healing, meditation, and dietary supplements.
Anemia
A condition in which the number of red blood cells and/or hemoglobin in the blood is less than normal, causing a decrease in oxygen.
Asbestos
Term used to describe a group of commercially available mineral fibers including anthophyllite, chrysotile, actinolite, amosite, crocidolite, and tremolite. Asbestos exposure is known for its ability to cause serious illness when inhaled, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Asbestosis
A serious health condition caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers, characterized by scarring of the lungs.
Benign
The term used to describe a mild, non-cancerous tumor or growth. A benign tumor may grow, but it will not invade surrounding tissue or spread to other areas of the body.
Biological therapy
Treatment intended to enhance the ability of the body's natural immune system to fight cancer and other diseases. Also used to reduce side effects during some cancer treatments. Alternative names: immunotherapy, biotherapy
Biopsy
The removal of cells, fluid, or tissue samples to be examined by a pathologist in the diagnosis of different cancers.
Brachytherapy
A form of mesothelioma radiation treatment which involves placing a customized radioactive implant directly into the chest or the abdomen at the site of the tumor. This implant delivers highly targeted radiation to the cancerous area over a period of 12 weeks. Also called Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT).
Breakthrough pain
Acute periods of pain that come on rapidly despite the use of pain medication. May occur spontaneously or during a specific physical activity.
Bronchoscopic biopsy
A technique used to obtain tissue samples for cancer testing. A long, flexible fiber-optic tube called a "bronchoscope" is passed down the throat, allowing the doctor to examine the patient's main airways for tumors.
Cancer
The abnormal, uncontrolled growth of otherwise healthy cells which can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
Carcinogen
Any substance that has been found to cause cancer, such as asbestos.
Computed Tomography (CT) scan
A medical procedure that examines cross-section views of x-ray images and/or three-dimensional images of the body's internal structures. Used to identify abnormal structures in the body or guide the placement of instruments or treatments during a procedure.
Cell
The basic structural unit that makes up all living things. A cell is composed of chemicals and water and surrounded by a thin membrane.
Chemotherapy
Medical treatment using potent pharmalogical agents that destroy cancer cells.
Chronic pain
Mild to severe pain that continues and/or progresses over an extended period of time.
Clinical trials
Research studies conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of medications or medical devices by studying their effects on large groups of people, usually volunteers.
Combination chemotherapy
A cancer treatment approach that uses more than one drug.
Epithelium
The external layer of cells that covers all surfaces of the body such as the skin and mucous membranes exposed to the outside of the body.
External beam radiation therapy (EBRT)
A painless method of mesothelioma treatment that involves delivering radiation to a patient from a machine outside of the body. This is the most common form of radiation treatment for mesothelioma.
Gene therapy
Form of experimental cancer treatment that involves altering a gene.
Hospice
A program that provides specialized, end-of-life care for individuals who are terminally ill. May take place at home, at a hospital or at a designated hospice facility.
Immunotherapy
An alternative form of cancer therapy designed to strengthen the body’s natural ability to fight disease.
Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
A three-dimensional form of radiation therapy that uses computerized images to match the delivery of radiation to a tumor's exact measurements.
Laparoscopy
A form of surgery in which a thin, tube-like instrument called a laparoscope is inserted into the abdominal wall through a small incision. Allows structures and organs within the abdomen to be viewed and/or removed and examined for signs of disease.
Latency period
The time that elapses between the exposure to a carcinogenic substance, such as asbestos, and the development of a related illness, such as malignant mesothelioma.
Lymph node
A mass of tissue surrounded by connective tissue, located along lymphatic vessels. Lymph nodes filter lymphatic fluid (lymph) and store white blood cells (lymphocytes).
Malignant
Cancerous.
Mediastinoscopy
A biopsy method used in cancer testing. While a patient is under general anesthesia, a hollow, lighted tube is inserted behind the breastbone. Special instruments are used to take tissue samples from lymph nodes.
Mesothelioma
A tumor affecting the lining of the chest cavity or abdomen. Can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Malignant mesothelioma is known to be caused by exposure to asbestos and the subsequent inhalation of asbestos fibers.
Metastasis
Term used to describe the spread of cancer from one part of the body to another.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
A medical procedure in which high-frequency radio waves are used to create detailed images of internal body structures. Used to detect diseased or abnormal tissue or organs.
Needle biopsy
A biopsy method in which a long, hollow needle is inserted through the skin and into the pleura (lining of the lungs) to remove a small sample of the tumor for testing.
Opioids
A category of narcotic pain relievers that includes morphine, codeine, Duragesic, and Dilaudid, often prescribed to treat the pain associated with mesothelioma.
Oncology
A discipline focused on studying, diagnosing, and treating all types of cancer, such as mesothelioma.
Oncologist
A physician specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Pathologist
A medical specialist who diagnoses diseases by studying human cells and tissues under a microscope.
Palliative care
Health care intended to relieve discomfort and improve quality of life rather than provide a cure. It often becomes the focus of treatment when a disease is incurable or a patient does not want to pursue a cure.
Pericardial mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma affects the cells in the lining of the heart, also known as the pericardium.
Peritoneum
The membrane that makes up the lining of the abdominal cavity and covers the organs located within the abdomen.
Peritoneal mesothelioma
A form of mesothelioma that affects the peritoneum.
Photodynamic therapy
An alternative form of cancer treatment that involves injecting a photosensitizing agent directly into the tumor. The tumor is then exposed to a special laser designed to destroy the sensitized cells and eliminate the cancerous growth.
Prognosis
The expected course of a disease; the chance of recovery or survival.
Pleura
The thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and forms the lining of the interior wall of the chest cavity.
Pleural cavity
The space enclosed by the pleura.
Pleural mesothelioma
A form of mesothelioma that affects the pleura.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
A method used to test for the presence of cancer. In a PET scan, the patient is injected with glucose (a form of sugar) containing a radioactive atom. A special camera is then used to tell the doctor where radioactivity is present in the body, indicating areas that may contain cancerous growth.
Prognosis
Term used to describe the expected outcome of an illness or a patient's chance for recovery.
Pulmonary function test (PFT)
A special test that assesses how well a patient’s lungs are functioning. Often used following a mesothelioma diagnosis to determine if surgery is a safe option.
Radiation therapy
A cancer treatment involving high-energy radiation from x-rays and other sources which help shrink tumors and destroy cancer cells. Radiation may be delivered by an external machine or by way of radioactive materials placed inside the body.
Recurrence
The return of cancer to the same site as the original tumor following the disappearance or removal of the tumor. Also describes the return of cancer to another location in the body.
Remission
A reduction or disappearance of the physical symptoms of cancer, despite the fact that the cancer may still exist in the body. Remission may be partial or complete.
Stage
Term used to identify the progression of cancer in the body. Staging takes into account whether or not the cancer has spread (metastasis) as well as the size of the tumor.
Thoracoscopy
A biopsy method used in cancer testing. A thin, lighted tube with a small video camera on the end is inserted through a small incision in the chest wall, and pieces of tissue are removed for study.
Toxicity
The extent to which a natural or man-made substance can cause physical harm to people or animals.
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