PRDescribes cells that do not have a protein to which the hormone progesterone will bind.
PR-104A substance being studied in the treatment of cancer. PR-104 becomes active when cancer cells don't receive enough oxygen.
practitioner(prak-TIH-shuh-ner) A person who works in a specific profession. For example, a doctor or nurse is a healthcare practitioner.
Pravachol(PRA-vuh-KOL) A drug used to lower the amount of cholesterol in the blood and to prevent stroke and heart attack.
pravastatin(PRA-vuh-stat-in) The active ingredient in a drug used to lower the amount of cholesterol in the blood and to prevent stroke and heart attack.
pravastatin sodium(PRA-vuh-stat-in SOH-dee-um) A drug used to lower the amount of cholesterol in the blood and to prevent stroke and heart attack.
precancerous(pre-KAN-ser-us) A term used to describe a condition that may (or is likely to) become cancer. Also called premalignant.
precancerous dermatitis(pree-KAN-seh-rus DER-muh-TY-tis) A skin disease marked by scaly or thickened patches on the skin and often caused by prolonged exposure to arsenic.
precancerous dermatosis(pree-KAN-seh-rus DER-muh-TOH-sis) A skin disease marked by scaly or thickened patches on the skin, and often caused by prolonged exposure to arsenic.
precancerous polyps(pree-KAN-seh-rus PAH-lips) Growths that protrude from a mucous membrane. Precancerous polyps may (or are likely to) become cancer.
preclinical studyResearch using animals to find out if a drug, procedure, or treatment is likely to be useful.
precursor B-lymphoblastic leukemia(pree-KER-ser B-LIM-foh-BLAS-tik loo-KEE-mee-uh) A type of leukemia (blood cancer) in which too many B-cell lymphoblasts (immature white blood cells) are…
precursor lymphoblastic lymphoma(pree-KER-ser LIM-foh-BLAS-tik lim-FOH-muh) An aggressive (fast-growing) type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in which too many lymphoblasts (immature white blood…
precursor T-lymphoblastic leukemia(pree-KER-ser T-LIM-foh-BLAS-tik loo-KEE-mee-uh) A type of leukemia (blood cancer) in which too many T-cell lymphoblasts (immature white blood cells) are…
precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma(pree-KER-ser T-LIM-foh-BLAS-tik lim-FOH-muh) A type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in which too many T-cell lymphoblasts (immature white blood cells) are found…
predictive factor(prih-DIK-tiv FAK-ter) A situation or condition that may increase a person's risk of developing a certain disease or disorder.
prednisoloneA drug that is used to treat blood cell cancers (leukemias) and lymph system cancers (lymphomas).
prednisone(PRED-nih-sone) A drug that is used to treat several types of cancer and other disorders. Prednisone also inhibits the body's immune response.
pregabalin(preh-GAH-buh-lin) A drug used to treat nerve pain caused by diabetes or herpes zoster infection and certain types of seizures.
preleukemia(PREE-loo-KEE-mee-a) A group of diseases in which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells.
premalignant(pree-muh-LIG-nunt) A term used to describe a condition that may (or is likely to) become cancer. Also called precancerous.
premature ovarian failure(PREE-muh-CHOOR oh-VAYR-ee-un FAYL-yer) A condition in which the ovaries stop working before age 40.
Premenopausal(pree-MEH-nuh-pawz-ul) Having to do with the time before menopause. Menopause ("change of life") is the time of life when a woman's menstrual periods stop…
premycotic phase(PREE-my-CAH-tik fayz) A phase of mycosis fungoides in which a patient has areas of red, scaly, itchy skin on areas of the body that are usually not…
PrescriptionA direction written by the physician to the pharmacist for the preparation and use of a medicine or remedy.
Prevalence, CompleteThe number of people alive on a certain date who have been diagnosed with cancer at any time in their lives.
Prevalence, Limited DurationThe number of people who have received a diagnosis of cancer during a defined time period, and who are alive on the last day of that period.
prevascular space(pre-VAS-kyoo-ler...) The area in the front part of the chest between the lungs. Also called anterior mediastinum.
PreventionActivities to prevent illness such as routine check-ups, immunizations, patient counseling, and screenings.
PreventiveUnder the law, all health plans must cover certain preventive health services. Routine health care that includes screenings, checkups, and patient…
preventive mastectomy(pree-VEN-tiv ma-STEK-toh-mee) Surgery to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by removing one or both breasts before disease develops.
Prialt(PREE-ult) A drug used in the treatment of chronic pain. Also called SNX 111 and ziconotide.
Primary CareHealth services that cover a range of prevention, wellness, and treatment for common illnesses.
primary care doctorA doctor who manages a person's health care over time. A primary care doctor is able to give a wide range of care, including prevention and treatment, can…
primary central nervous system lymphoma(PRY-mayr-ee SEN-trul NER-vus SIS-tem lim-FOH-muh) Cancer that forms in the lymph tissue of the brain, spinal cord, meninges (outer covering of the…
primary CNS lymphoma(PRY-mayr-eeâ¦lim-FOH-muh) Cancer that forms in the lymph tissue of the brain, spinal cord, meninges (outer covering of the brain), or eye…
primary effusion lymphoma(PRY-mayr-ee eh-FYOO-zhun lim-FOH-muh) A rare, aggressive (fast-growing) type of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma marked by an abnormal build-up of fluids in a…
primary endpointThe main result that is measured at the end of a study to see if a given treatment worked (e.g.
primary myelofibrosis(... MY-eh-loh-fy-BROH-sis) A progressive, chronic disease in which the bone marrow is replaced by fibrous tissue and blood is made in organs such as the…
primary ovarian insufficiency(PRY-mayr-ee oh-VAYR-ee-un IN-suh-FIH-shen-see) A condition in which the ovaries stop working before age 40.
primary therapy(PRY-mayr-ee THAYR-uh-pee) The first treatment for a disease or condition. In patients with cancer, primary therapy can be surgery, chemotherapy…
primary treatment(PRY-mayr-ee ...) The first treatment for a disease or condition. In patients with cancer, primary treatment can be surgery, chemotherapy, radiation…
primitive neuroectodermal tumor(PRI-muh-tiv NOOR-oh-EK-toh-DER-mul TOO-mer) One of a group of cancers that develop from the same type of early cells, and share certain biochemical and…
prinomastatA substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It is a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and belongs to the family of drugs called…
pro-oxidantA substance that can produce oxygen byproducts of metabolism that can cause damage to cells.
ProbabilityThe chance that an event occurs. It is usually expressed as a percent. Zero percent denotes impossibility, while 100% denotes certainty.
probenecid(proh-BEN-uh-sid) A drug that is used to treat gout and is used together with some antibiotics to make them work better.
procarbazineA drug that is used to treat cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called alkylating agents.
prochlorperazine(pro-klor-PAIR-a-zeen) A drug used to prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting. It belongs to the family of drugs called antiemetics.
proctitis(prok-TY-tis) Inflammation of the mucous membrane that lines the rectum (the last several inches of the large intestine closest to the anus).
proctoscopy(prok-TOS-koh-pee) Examination of the rectum using a proctoscope, inserted into the rectum.
proctosigmoidoscopy(PROK-toh-sig-moy-DOS-koh-pee) Examination of the lower colon using a sigmoidoscope, inserted into the rectum.
progenyOffspring; the product of reproduction or replication.
progesterone(proh-JES-tuh-RONE) A type of hormone made by the body that plays a role in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
progesterone receptor(proh-JES-teh-rone reh-SEP-ter) A protein found inside the cells of the female reproductive tissue, some other types of tissue, and some cancer cells.
progesterone receptor negative(proh-JES-teh-rone reh-SEP-ter NEH-guh-tiv) Describes cells that do not have a protein to which the hormone progesterone will bind.
progesterone receptor positive(proh-JES-teh-rone reh-SEP-ter PAH-zuh-tiv) Describes cells that have a protein to which the hormone progesterone will bind.
progesterone receptor test(proh-JES-teh-rone reh-SEP-ter test) A lab test to find out if cancer cells have progesterone receptors (proteins to which the hormone progesterone will…
progestin(pro-JES-tin) Any natural or laboratory-made substance that has some or all of the biologic effects of progesterone, a female hormone.
prognosisThe likely outcome or course of a disease; the chance of recovery or recurrence.
prognostic factor(prog-NOS-tik FAK-ter) A situation or condition, or a characteristic of a patient, that can be used to estimate the chance of recovery from a disease or…
programmed cell deathA type of cell death in which a series of molecular steps in a cell leads to its death.
progression(proh-GREH-shun) In medicine, the course of a disease, such as cancer, as it becomes worse or spreads in the body.
progression-free survival(pruh-GREH-shun... ser-VY-vul) The length of time during and after treatment in which a patient is living with a disease that does not get worse.
prolactin(proh-LAK-tin) A hormone that is made by the pituitary gland (a pea-sized organ in the center of the brain).
Proleukin(pro-LOO-kin) A drug used to treat some types of cancer. It is a form of interleukin-2, a cytokine made by leukocytes (white blood cells), that is made in…
proliferating(proh-LIH-fuh-RAYT-ing) Multiplying or increasing in number. In biology, cell proliferation occurs by a process known as cell division.
Proliferative(pro li" fer uh tiv) the reproduction or multiplication similar forms, such as cells.
proliferative index(proh-LIH-fuh-RAY-tiv ...) A measure of the number of cells in a tumor that are dividing (proliferating).
prolymphocytic leukemiaA type of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), in which too many immature white blood cells (prolymphocytes) are found in the blood and bone marrow.
promegapoietin(proh-MEH-guh-POY-eh-tin) A drug given during chemotherapy to increase blood cell regeneration.
ProMune(PROH-myoon) A substance that is being studied in the treatment of some types of cancer.
promyelocytic leukemia(PROH-MY-eh-loh-SIH-tik loo-KEE-mee-uh) An aggressive (fast-growing) type of acute myeloid leukemia in which there are too many immature blood-forming…
ProphylacticIn medicine, something that prevents or protects.
prophylactic cranial irradiation(proh-fih-LAK-tik KRAY-nee-ul ir-RAY-dee-AY-shun) Radiation therapy to the head to reduce the risk that cancer will spread to the brain.
prophylactic mastectomy(PROH-fih-LAK-tik ma-STEK-toh-mee) Surgery to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by removing one or both breasts before disease develops.
prophylactic oophorectomy(PROH-fih-LAK-tik oh-oh-foh-REK-toh-mee) Surgery intended to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by removing the ovaries before disease develops.
prophylactic surgerySurgery to remove an organ or gland that shows no signs of cancer, in an attempt to prevent development of cancer of that organ or gland.
prospectiveIn medicine, a study or clinical trial in which participants are identified and then followed forward in time.
prospective cohort studyA research study that follows over time groups of individuals who are alike in many ways but differ by a certain characteristic (for example, female…
Prost 30A monoclonal antibody that is being studied in the detection and treatment of cancer.
prostaglandin(PROS-tuh-GLAN-din) One of several hormone-like substances made by the body. Different prostaglandins control blood pressure, contraction of smooth…
prostaglandin E1(PROS-tuh-GLAN-din â¦) A drug that is used to treat impotence (inability to have an erection) and is being studied in the treatment of sexual…
prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2(PROS-tuh-GLAN-din-EN-doh-peh-ROK-side SIN-thayz) An enzyme that speeds up the formation of substances that cause inflammation and pain.
ProstaScint(PROS-tuh-sint) A substance used to detect prostate cancer. It contains a monoclonal antibody that binds to prostate cells, linked to a substance that can…
ProstaScint scan(PROS-tuh-sint SKAN) An imaging test used to detect prostate cancer. The patient receives an injection of an indium 111-labeled form of ProstaScint, which…
prostate(PROS-tayt) A gland in the male reproductive system. The prostate surrounds the part of the urethra (the tube that empties the bladder) just below the…
prostate cancer(PROS-tayt KAN-ser) Cancer that forms in tissues of the prostate (a gland in the male reproductive system found below the bladder and in front of the…
prostate-specific antigen(PROS-tayt-speh-SIH-fik AN-tih-jen) A substance produced by the prostate. It may be found in higher levels in the blood of men who have prostate cancer…
prostate-specific antigen testA blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a substance produced by the prostate and some other tissues in the body.
prostatectomy(PROS-tuh-TEK-toh-mee) An operation to remove part or all of the prostate. Radical (or total) prostatectomy is the removal of the entire prostate and some…
prostatic acid phosphatase(prah-STA-tik A-sid FOS-fuh-tays) An enzyme produced by the prostate. It may be found in increased amounts in men who have prostate cancer.
prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia(prah-STA-tik IN-truh-eh-puh-THEE-lee-ul NEE-oh-PLAY-zhuh) Noncancerous growth of the cells lining the internal and external surfaces of the prostate…