recurrent cancer(ree-KER-ent KAN-ser) Cancer that has recurred (come back), usually after a period of time during which the cancer could not be detected.
red blood cellA cell that carries oxygen to all parts of the body. Also called erythrocyte and RBC.
red cedar(...SEE-der) A type of evergreen tree with hard fragrant wood that is a member of the cypress family.
red cloverTrifolium pratense. A plant with flowers that has been used in some cultures to treat certain medical problems.
red dateThe fruit of the jujube plant. It has been used in some cultures to treat certain medical problems.
red elmThe inner bark of this plant has been used in some cultures to treat certain medical problems. It may have antioxidant effects.
Reed-Sternberg cellA type of cell that appears in people with Hodgkin disease. The number of these cells increases as the disease advances.
refluxThe backward flow of liquid from the stomach into the esophagus.
refractoryIn medicine, describes a disease or condition that does not respond to treatment.
refractory cancerCancer that does not respond to treatment. The cancer may be resistant at the beginning of treatment or it may become resistant during treatment.
Regenecare(reh-JEH-neh-KAYR) A substance being studied in the treatment of certain types of skin rash and skin pain in cancer patients.
regenerationIn biology, regrowth of damaged or destroyed tissue or body part.
regimenA treatment plan that specifies the dosage, the schedule, and the duration of treatment.
regionalIn oncology, describes the body area right around a tumor.
regional cancerRefers to cancer that has grown beyond the original (primary) tumor to nearby lymph nodes or organs and tissues.
regional chemotherapy(REE-juh-nul KEE-moh-THAYR-uh-pee) Treatment with anticancer drugs directed to a specific area of the body.
regional enteritis(REE-juh-nul EN-teh-RY-tis) Chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly the small intestine and colon.
regional lymph nodeIn oncology, a lymph node that drains lymph from the region around a tumor.
regional lymph node dissectionA surgical procedure to remove some of the lymph nodes that drain lymph from the area around a tumor.
registered dietitian(...dy-eh-TIH-shun) A health professional with special training in the use of diet and nutrition to keep the body healthy.
Reglan(REG-lun) A drug that increases the motility (movements and contractions) of the stomach and upper intestine.
regressionA decrease in the size of a tumor or in the extent of cancer in the body.
rehabilitation specialistA healthcare professional who helps people recover from an illness or injury and return to daily life.
RelapseThe return of signs and symptoms of cancer after a period of improvement.
relative odds(REH-luh-tiv â¦) A measure of the odds of an event happening in one group compared to the odds of the same event happening in another group.
relative risk(REH-luh-tiv â¦) A measure of the risk of a certain event happening in one group compared to the risk of the same event happening in another…
Relative Survival Rate(REH-luh-tiv ser-VY-vul â¦) A way of comparing survival of people who have a specific disease with those who don't.
relaxation techniqueA method used to reduce tension and anxiety, and control pain.
Relistor(REH-lih-stor) A drug used to relieve certain side effects caused by treatment with opiods (pain killers similar to morphine), such as constipation (hard…
REM sleepOne of the five stages of sleep. During REM sleep, the eyes move rapidly while closed and dreams occur.
RemeronA drug used to treat depression. It belongs to the family of drugs called antidepressant agents. Also called mirtazapine.
remissionA decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer. In partial remission, some, but not all, signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared.
remission induction therapyInitial treatment with anticancer drugs to decrease the signs or symptoms of cancer or make them disappear.
remote brachytherapy(...BRA-kee-THAYR-uh-pee) A type of internal radiation treatment in which the radioactive source is removed between treatments.
renal artery(REE-nal AR-tuh-ree) The main blood vessel that supplies blood to a kidney and its nearby adrenal gland and ureter.
renal capsuleThe fibrous connective tissue that surrounds each kidney.
renal cell cancerThe most common type of kidney cancer. It begins in the lining of the renal tubules in the kidney. The renal tubules filter the blood and produce urine.
renal collecting tubuleThe last part of a long, twisting tube that collects urine from the nephrons (cellular structures in the kidney that filter blood and form urine) and…
Renal Failure(REE-nul FAYL-yer) A condition in which the kidneys stop working and are not able to remove waste and extra water from the blood or keep body chemicals in…
renal fascia(REE-nul FA-shuh) A fibrous envelope of tissue that surrounds the kidney. Also called Gerota's capsule and Gerota's fascia.
renal function test(REE-nul FUNK-shun...) A test in which blood or urine samples are checked for the amounts of certain substances released by the kidneys.
renal glomerulusA tiny, round cluster of blood vessels within the kidneys. It filters the blood to reabsorb useful materials and remove waste as urine.
renal pelvisThe area at the center of the kidney. Urine collects here and is funneled into the ureter, the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder.
renal tubular acidosis(REE-nul TOO-byoo-ler A-sih-DOH-sis) A rare disorder in which structures in the kidney that filter the blood are impaired, producing urine that is more…
RenovaA topical preparation of tretinoin that is used to treat acne. Tretinoin is a form of vitamin A.
replicateTo make a copy or duplicate of something.
replication cycle(reh-plih-KAY-shun...) In biology, refers to the reproduction cycle of viruses.
Reporting DelayThe time elapsed before a diagnosed cancer case is reported to the NCI. Currently, there is a standard delay of 22 months between the end of the diagnosis…
reproductive cellAn egg or sperm cell. Each mature reproductive cell carries a single set of 23 chromosomes.
reproductive system(REE-proh-DUK-tiv SIS-tem) The organs involved in producing offspring. In women, this system includes the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the uterus (womb)…
resectable(ree-SEK-tuh-bul) Able to be removed by surgery.
resection(ree-SEK-shun) A procedure that uses surgery to remove tissue or part or all of an organ.
resectoscope(reh-SEK-toh-skope) A thin, tube-like instrument used to remove tissue from inside the body. A resectoscope has a light and lens for viewing.
residual diseaseCancer cells that remain after attempts to remove the cancer have been made.
resiquimod(reh-SIH-kwih-mod) A substance being studied in the treatment of some types of skin cancer.
resistant cancerCancer that does not respond to treatment. The cancer may be resistant at the beginning of treatment, or it may become resistant during treatment.
resorptionA process in which a substance, such as tissue, is lost by being destroyed and then absorbed by the body.
respirator(RES-pih-RAY-ter) In medicine, a machine used to help a patient breathe. Also called ventilator.
respiratory syncytial virus(RES-pih-ruh-TOR-ee sin-SIH-shul VY-rus) A virus that causes respiratory infections with cold-like symptoms. Also called RSV.
respiratory system(RES-pih-ruh-TOR-ee SIS-tem) The organs that are involved in breathing. These include the nose, throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.
respiratory therapist(RES-pih-ruh-TOR-ee THAYR-uh-pist) A health professional trained to evaluate and treat people who have breathing problems or other lung disorders.
respiratory therapy(RES-pih-ruh-TOR-ee THAYR-uh-pee) Exercises and treatments that help improve or restore lung function.
respiratory tract(RES-pih-ruh-TOR-ee trakt) The organs that are involved in breathing. These include the nose, throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.
response(reh-SPONTS) In medicine, an improvement related to treatment.
response rate(reh-SPONTS...) The percentage of patients whose cancer shrinks or disappears after treatment.
restingIn biology, refers to a cell that is not dividing.
resveratrol(rez-VEER-uh-trol) A substance found in the skins of grapes and in certain other plants, fruits, and seeds.
retch (RECH)The action of the stomach and esophagus to try to vomit (eject some or all of the contents of the stomach).
Retin-AA topical preparation of tretinoin that is used to treat acne. Tretinoin is a form of vitamin A.
Retin-A-MicroA topical preparation of tretinoin that is used to treat acne. Tretinoin is a form of vitamin A.
retina(RET-ih-nuh) The light-sensitive layers of nerve tissue at the back of the eye that receive images and sends them as electric signals through the optic…
retinoblastoma(REH-tih-noh-blas-TOH-muh) Cancer that forms in the tissues of the retina (the light-sensitive layers of nerve tissue at the back of the eye).
Retinoic acid(REH-tih-NOH-ik A-sid) A form of vitamin A that is made by the body, and can also be made in the laboratory.
retinol(REH-tih-nol) An active form of vitamin A found in animal foods such as liver, whole eggs, and whole milk. Also called vitamin A.
retinyl palmitateA drug that is being studied in the prevention of cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called retinoids.
retromolar trigone(reh-troh-MOH-ler TRY-gone) The small area behind the wisdom teeth.
retroperitoneal(REH-troh-PAYR-ih-toh-NEE-ul) Having to do with the area outside or behind the peritoneum (the tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers most of the…
retropubic prostatectomy(reh-troh-PYOO-bik PROS-tuh-TEK-toh-mee) Surgery to remove the prostate through an incision made in the wall of the abdomen.
RetrospectiveLooking back at events that have already taken place.
retrospective cohort studyA research study in which the medical records of groups of individuals who are alike in many ways but differ by a certain characteristic (for example…
retrospective studyA study that compares two groups of people: those with the disease or condition under study (cases) and a very similar group of people who do not have the…
retroviral vectorRNA from a virus that is used to insert genetic material into cells.
retrovirus(REH-troh-VY-rus) A type of virus that has RNA instead of DNA as its genetic material.
reverse transcription(ree-VERS tran-SKRIP-shun) In biology, the process in cells by which an enzyme makes a copy of DNA from RNA.
ReVia(reh-VEE-uh) A drug that blocks the action of opiates (drugs used to treat pain).
Revlimid(REV-lih-mid) A drug that is similar to thalidomide, and is used to treat multiple myeloma and certain types of anemia.
RevM10 geneAn antiviral gene that is being studied in the treatment of cancer in patients who have HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Reye syndrome(RAY SIN-drome) A rare disease that damages the brain and liver and causes death if not treated.
rF-TRICOMA cancer vaccine made with a form of a chicken virus that does not cause disease in humans. It is being studied in the treatment of some types of cancer.
RFT5-dgA immunotoxin(... IH-myoo-noh-TOK-sin) A monoclonal antibody linked to a toxic substance. It is being studied in the treatment of melanoma that has spread to distant…
rhabdoid tumorA malignant tumor of either the central nervous system (CNS) or the kidney. Malignant rhabdoid tumors of the CNS often have an abnormality of chromosome…
rhabdomyosarcoma(RAB-doh-MY-oh-sar-KOH-muh) Cancer that forms in the soft tissues in a type of muscle called striated muscle.
rheumatismA group of disorders marked by inflammation or pain in the connective tissue structures of the body. These structures include bone, cartilage, and fat.
Rheumatoid arthritis(ROO-muh-TOYD ar-THRY-tis) An autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints, and may cause severe joint damage, loss of…
Rheumatrex(ROO-muh-trex) A drug used to treat some types of cancer, severe skin conditions such as psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
rhIL-11A drug used to increase the number of blood cells, especially platelets, in some cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
rhinoscope(RY-noh-skope) A thin, tube-like instrument used to examine the inside of the nose.