Cancer — page 53 of 60

Cancer terms

5201. sterile (STER-il) Unable to produce children. Also means free from germs.
5202. sterile talc powder (STER-il...) A mineral, usually used in a powdered form. In cancer treatment, sterile talc powder is used to prevent pleural effusions (an abnormal…
5203. sternum The long flat bone that forms the center front of the chest wall. The sternum is attached to the collarbone and the first seven ribs.
5204. steroid (STAYR-oyd) Any of a group of lipids (fats) that have a certain chemical structure.
5205. steroid cream (STAYR-oyd...) A skin cream containing a type of drug that relieves swelling, itching, and inflammation.
5206. steroid drug (STAYR-oyd) A type of drug used to relieve swelling and inflammation. Some steroid drugs may also have antitumor effects.
5207. steroid metabolism gene (STAYR-oyd meh-TA-buh-lih-zum JEEN) A type of gene that helps the body build up or break down steroids.
5208. steroid therapy (STAYR-oyd THAYR-uh-pee) Treatment with corticosteroid drugs to reduce swelling, pain, and other symptoms of inflammation.
5209. STI571 A drug used to treat different types of leukemia and other cancers of the blood, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, skin tumors called dermatofibrosarcoma…
5210. stimulant (STIM-yoo-lunt) In medicine, a family of drugs used to treat depression, attention-deficit disorder (a common disorder in which children are inattentive…
5211. stoma (STOH-muh) A surgically created opening from an area inside the body to the outside.
5212. stomach (STUH-muk) An organ that is part of the digestive system. The stomach helps digest food by mixing it with digestive juices and churning it into a thin…
5213. stomach cancer (STUH-muk KAN-ser) Cancer that forms in tissues lining the stomach. Also called gastric cancer.
5214. stomatitis Inflammation or irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth.
5215. Stool The material in a bowel movement. Stool is made up of food that was not digested, bacteria, mucus, and cells from the intestines. Also called feces.
5216. Stool test A test to check for hidden blood in the bowel movement.
5217. streptavidin A small bacterial protein that binds with high affinity to the vitamin biotin. This streptavidin-biotin combination can be used to link molecules such as…
5218. streptozocin An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called alkylating agents.
5219. Stress The response of the body to physical, mental, or emotional pressure. This may make a person feel frustrated, angry, or anxious, and may cause unhealthy…
5220. stress protein (... PROH-teen) One of a group of proteins that help protect cells from stresses such as heat, cold, and low amounts of oxygen or glucose (sugar).
5221. stroke In medicine, a loss of blood flow to part of the brain, which damages brain tissue.
5222. Stroma (stro' mah) the supporting tissue or matrix of an organ; as distinguished from the functional part of the organ.
5223. Stromagen (stroh-MUH-jen) A product that is made of special stem cells taken from a patient's bone marrow and grown in the laboratory.
5224. Stromal cell (STROH-mul SEL) A type of cell that makes up certain types of connective tissue (supporting tissue that surrounds other tissues and organs).
5225. stromal tumor (STRO-mal) A tumor that arises in the supporting connective tissue of an organ.
5226. strontium A metal often used in a radioactive form for imaging tests and in the treatment of cancer.
5227. strontium chloride Sr 89 (STRON-shee-um KLOR-ide …) A salt form of the radioactive metal strontium-89 that is absorbed by a part of growing bone.
5228. strontium ranelate (STRON-chee-um RAN-uh-layt) A substance that is being studied in the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
5229. strontium-89 (STRON-shee-um…) A radioactive form of the metal strontium that is taken up by a part of growing bone.
5230. study agent A medicine, vitamin, mineral, food supplement, or a combination of them that is being tested in a clinical trial.
5231. Sturge-Weber syndrome A rare, congenital disorder that affects the brain, skin, and eyes. Abnormal blood vessel growth occurs in the trigeminal nerve in the face and the…
5232. SU006668 A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the families of drugs called protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors and…
5233. SU011248 A drug used to treat gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) that have not responded to treatment with imatinib mesylate (Gleevec).
5234. SU101 An anticancer drug that works by inhibiting a cancer cell growth factor. Also called leflunomide.
5235. SU11248 A drug used to treat gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) that have not responded to treatment with imatinib mesylate (Gleevec).
5236. SU5416 A substance that has been studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the families of drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors and tyrosine kinase…
5237. SU6668 A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the families of drugs called protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors and…
5238. subcutaneous Beneath the skin.
5239. subcutaneous port A tube surgically placed into a blood vessel and attached to a disk placed under the skin.
5240. subependymal (SUB-eh-PEN-dih-mul) Describes the layer of cells just under the ependyma (the thin membrane that lines the fluid-filled spaces in the brain and spinal…
5241. suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SOO-ber-oyl-AN-ih-lide hy-drok-SA-mik A-sid) A drug that is used to treat cutaneous T-cell lymphoma that does not get better, gets worse, or comes back…
5242. subglottis (SUB-glot-is) The lowest part of the larynx; the area from just below the vocal cords down to the top of the trachea.
5243. subjective improvement An improvement that is reported by the patient, but cannot be measured by the healthcare provider (for example, "I feel better").
5244. submucosa (sub-myoo-KOH-suh) The layer of tissue under the mucosa (inner lining of some organs and body cavities that makes mucus).
5245. subserosa (sub-seh-ROH-suh) The layer of tissue under the serosa (outer lining of some organs and body cavities).
5246. subset analysis In a clinical study, the evaluation of results for some but not all of the patients who participated.
5247. substance abuse (SUB-stunts uh-BYOOS) The use of illegal drugs or the use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs or alcohol for purposes other than those for which…
5248. subtenon Used to describe injections through the membrane covering the muscles and nerves at the back of the eyeball.
5249. subtotal hysterectomy (sub-TOH-tul HIS-teh-REK-toh-mee) Surgery to remove the uterus, but not the cervix. Also called partial hysterectomy.
5250. sucralfate A drug used to treat ulcers. It adheres to proteins at the ulcer site and forms a protective coating over the ulcer.
5251. suction aspiration (SUK-shun as-per-AY-shun) A surgical procedure in which the cervix is dilated (opened) and vacuum is used to remove tissue from the uterus.
5252. suction evacuation (SUK-shun ee-VA-kyoo-A-shun) A surgical procedure in which the cervix is dilated (opened) and vacuum is used to remove tissue from the uterus.
5253. sudden infant death syndrome (…SIN-drome) The sudden and unexpected death of a healthy child who is younger than one year old, usually during sleep.
5254. suicide (SOO-ih-SYDE) The act of taking one's own life on purpose.
5255. sulfa drug A type of antibiotic used to treat infection. Also called sulfonamide.
5256. sulfonamide A type of antibiotic used to treat infection. Also called sulfa drug.
5257. sulfuric acid (sul-FYUR-ik A-sid) A strong acid that, when concentrated, is extremely corrosive to the skin and mucous membranes.
5258. sulindac A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is being studied as a treatment for cancer.
5259. sun protection factor (... proh-TEK-shun FAK-ter) A scale for rating the level of sunburn protection in sunscreen products.
5260. Sun's Soup (sunz soop) A mixture of vegetables and other edible plants that has been studied in the treatment of cancer.
5261. sunitinib (soo-NIH-tih-nib) A drug used to treat gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) that have not responded to treatment with imatinib mesylate (Gleevec).
5262. sunitinib malate (soo-NIH-tih-nib MA-layt) A drug used to treat gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) that have not responded to treatment with imatinib mesylate…
5263. sunscreen A substance that helps protect the skin from the sun's harmful rays. Sunscreens reflect, absorb, and scatter both ultraviolet A and B radiation to provide…
5264. Superficial Affecting cells on the surface. Not invasive.
5265. superfractionated radiation therapy (SOO-per FRAK-shuh-NAYT-ed RAY-dee-AY-shun THAYR-uh-pee) Radiation therapy that gives smaller doses (fractions) of radiation more often than standard…
5266. superior vena cava The large vein that carries blood from the head, neck, arms, and chest to the heart.
5267. superior vena cava syndrome A condition in which a tumor presses against the superior vena cava (the large vein that carries blood from the head, neck, arms, and chest to the heart).
5268. supplemental nutrition (SUH-pleh-MEN-tul noo-TRIH-shun) A substance or product that is added to a person's diet to make sure they get all the nutrients they need.
5269. supplemental oxygen therapy (SUH-pleh-MEN-tul OK-sih-jen THAYR-uh-pee) Treatment in which a storage tank of oxygen or a machine called a compressor is used to give oxygen to people…
5270. supplementation Adding nutrients to the diet.
5271. support group A group of people with similar disease who meet to discuss how better to cope with their disease and treatment.
5272. supportive care Care given to improve the quality of life of patients who have a serious or life-threatening disease.
5273. suppository (suh-POZ-ih-TOR-ee) A form of medicine contained in a small piece of solid material, such as cocoa butter or glycerin, that melts at body temperature.
5274. supraclavicular lymph node (SOO-pruh-kla-VIH-kyuh-ler...) A lymph node located above the clavicle (collarbone).
5275. supraglottic laryngectomy (SOO-prah-GLOT-ik LA-rin-JEK-toh-mee) An operation to remove the supraglottis, which is part of the larynx (voice box) above the vocal cords.
5276. supraglottis (SOO-pra-GLOT-is) The upper part of the larynx (voice box), including the epiglottis; the area above the vocal cords.
5277. suprarenal gland (SOO-pruh-REE-nul...) A small gland that makes steroid hormones, adrenaline, and noradrenaline.
5278. supratentorial (soo-pruh-ten-TOR-ee-ul) Having to do with the upper part of the brain.
5279. suramin (SOO-rah-min) A drug that is used to treat infections caused by parasites. It is also being studied in the treatment of cancer.
5280. surface electrode (SER-fuss ee-LEK-trode) A small device that is attached to the skin to measure or cause electrical activity in the tissue under it.
5281. Surgeon A doctor who removes or repairs a part of the body by operating on the patient.
5282. Surgery A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present; an operation.
5283. surgical biopsy (SER-jih-kul BY-op-see) The removal of tissues by a surgeon for examination by a pathologist. The pathologist may study the tissue under a microscope.
5284. surgical castration Surgical removal of the testicles (orchiectomy) or ovaries (oophorectomy) to stop the production of sex hormones.
5285. surgical oncologist (SER-jih-kul on-KAH-loh-jist) A doctor who performs biopsies and other surgical procedures in cancer patients.
5286. Surveillance (ser-VAY-lents) In medicine, the ongoing collection of information about a disease, such as cancer, in a certain group of people.
5287. Surveillance Data (Cancer) Data is used to monitor changes in cancer in a population. Included are measures of cancer incidence, morbidity, survival, prevalence and mortality.
5288. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program (SEER) The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the NCI is a collection of central cancer registries in the United States that collect…
5289. Survival Survival examines how long after diagnosis people live. Cancer survival is measured in a number of different ways depending on the intended purpose.
5290. survival rate (ser-VY-vul ...) The percentage of people in a study or treatment group who are alive for a certain period of time after they were diagnosed with or…
5291. Survival, Cause-specific A measure of net survival that is calculated by using the cause of death listed on death certificates to estimate the proportion of deaths due to cancer.
5292. Survival, Net Survival from cancer that is calculated in the absence of other causes of death.
5293. Survival, Observed An estimate of the probability of surviving all causes of death for a specified time interval calculated from the cohort of cancer cases.
5294. Survival, Period A newer method for calculating survival that uses only information from the most recent calendar years available.
5295. Survival, Progression-Free The length of time during and after treatment in which a patient is living with a disease that does not get worse.
5296. Survival, Relative A measure of net survival that is calculated by comparing observed (overall) survival with expected survival from a comparable set of people that do not…
5297. survivor (ser-VY-ver) One who remains alive and continues to function after overcoming difficulties or life-threatening diseases like cancer.
5298. Survivorship (ser-VY-ver-ship) In cancer, survivorship covers the physical, psychosocial, and economic issues of cancer, from diagnosis until the end of life.
5299. Sutent (SOO-tent) A drug used to treat gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) that have not responded to treatment with imatinib mesylate (Gleevec).
5300. SV40 Simian virus 40. A virus that infects some types of monkeys. It may also infect humans, and was found in some polio vaccines tested in the early 1960s.