Healthcare terms starting with C

648 terms

C cell A type of cell in the thyroid. C cells make calcitonin, a hormone that helps control the calcium level in the blood.
c-ABL An enzyme that is involved in many cell processes, such as cell division. The gene for c-ABL is on chromosome 9.
c-erbB-2 A protein involved in normal cell growth. It is found in high levels on some breast cancer cells.
c-kit receptor (... reh-SEP-ter) A protein on the surface of some cells that binds to stem cell factor (a substance that causes certain types of cells to grow).
CA 19-9 assay A test that measures the level of CA 19-9 in the blood. CA 19-9 is a tumor marker released into the bloodstream from both cancer cells and normal cells.
CA-125 A substance that may be found in high amounts in the blood of patients with certain types of cancer, including ovarian cancer.
CAB Surgery in which a healthy blood vessel taken from another part of the body is used to make a new path for blood around a blocked artery leading to the…
cachexia (ka-KEK-see-a) Loss of body weight and muscle mass, and weakness that may occur in patients with cancer, AIDS, or other chronic diseases.
CAD Coronary artery disease. A disease in which there is a narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries (blood vessels that carry blood and oxygen to the…
cadmium (KAD-me-um) A metallic element that occurs naturally in tiny amounts in air, water, soil, and food.
caffeine (ka-FEEN) A substance found in the leaves and beans of the coffee tree, in tea, yerba mate, guarana berries, and in small amounts in cocoa.
calcification Deposits of calcium in the tissues. Calcification in the breast can be seen on a mammogram, but cannot be detected by touch.
Calcifications or Microcalcifications (cal-sih-fih-cay"-shuns) are a finding reported on mammograms. They are an indicator of increased in breast activity in some cells.
calcitonin (KAL-sih-TOH-nin) A hormone formed by the C cells of the thyroid gland. It helps maintain a healthy level of calcium in the blood.
calcitriol (kal-sih-TREE-ol) The active form of vitamin D. Calcitriol is formed in the kidneys or made in the laboratory.
calcium (KAL-see-um) A mineral found in teeth, bones, and other body tissues.
calcium carbonate A mineral taken primarily as a supplement to prevent osteoporosis. It is also being studied for cancer prevention.
calcium gluconate (KAL-see-um GLOO-koh-nayt) The mineral calcium, combined with a form of the sugar glucose. It is used to prevent and treat bone loss.
calcium levoleucovorin (KAL-see-um LEE-voh-LOO-koh-VOR-in) A drug used to reduce the toxic effects of folic acid antagonists (substances that block the action of folic acid)…
Calendar Day Every day of the calendar month, which includes Saturday, Sunday, and state and federal holidays.
calendula ointment (kuh-LEN-dyuh-luh OYNT-ment) A substance made from the flower of the marigold plant Calendula officinalis .
calgranulin A (kal-GRAN-yoo-lin ...) A protein that is made by many different types of cells and is involved in processes that take place both inside and outside of the…
calgranulin B (kal-GRAN-yoo-lin ...) A protein that is made by many different types of cells and is involved in processes that take place both inside and outside of the…
calluses Thick, hardened areas of the skin, generally on the foot, caused by friction or pressure.
caloric intake Refers to the number of calories (energy content) consumed.
Calorie (KA-luh-ree) A measurement of the energy content of food. The body needs calories as to perform its functions, such as breathing, circulating the blood…
CAM Forms of treatment that are used in addition to (complementary) or instead of (alternative) standard treatments.
Campath-1H A monoclonal antibody used to treat leukemia. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced substances that can locate and bind to cancer cells.
camphor A substance that comes from the wood and bark of the camphor tree or is made in the laboratory.
camptothecin An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called topoisomerase inhibitors.
camptothecin analog An anticancer drug related in structure to camptothecin, a topoisomerase inhibitor. One such drug is aminocamptothecin.
Cancell (kan-SEL) A liquid that has been promoted as a treatment for a wide range of diseases, including cancer.
Cancelled Debts If you incurred a debt from a loan or from buying something on credit and a portion of the amount you owe is discharged or forgiven ("cancelled"), the…
Cancer (KAN-ser) A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the…
cancer antigen 125 (KAN-ser AN-tih-jen...) A substance that may be found in high amounts in the blood of patients with certain types of cancer, including ovarian cancer.
Cancer Burden An estimate of the financial, emotional, or social impact that cancer creates within the population.
cancer cluster (KAN-ser KLUS-ter) The occurrence of a larger-than-expected number of cases of cancer within a group of people in a geographic area over a period of time.
Cancer Information Service The Cancer Information Service is the National Cancer Institute's link to the public, interpreting and explaining research findings in a clear and…
cancer of the adrenal cortex A rare cancer that forms in the outer layer of tissue of the adrenal gland (a small organ on top of each kidney that makes steroid hormones, adrenaline…
cancer of unknown primary origin A case in which cancer cells are found in the body, but the place where the cells first started growing (the origin or primary site) cannot be determined.
cancer registry A state agency that collects information about cancer cases.
Cancer Statistics Review (CSR) An annual report containing the most recent incidence, mortality, and survival statistics, published by the Cancer Statistics Branch of the NCI.
cancer vaccine A vaccine designed to prevent or treat cancer.
candidiasis (kan-dih-DY-uh-siss) A condition in which Candida albicans, a type of yeast, grows out of control in moist skin areas of the body.
candidosis (kan-dih-DOH-siss) A condition in which Candida albicans, a type of yeast, grows out of control in moist skin areas of the body.
canertinib (can-ER-tih-nib) A substance being studied in the treatment of some types of cancer.
canertinib dihydrochloride (can-ER-tih-nib dy-HY-droh-KLOR-ide) A substance being studied in the treatment of some types of cancer.
Cantron A liquid that has been promoted as a treatment for a wide range of diseases, including cancer.
CAP-1 A protein that can stimulate an immune response. Also called carcinoembryonic antigen peptide-1.
Capacity Your ability to make your mortgage payments on time. This depends on your income and income stability (job history and security), your assets and savings…
capecitabine (ka-peh-SITE-uh-been) A drug used to treat stage III colon cancer in patients who had surgery to remove the cancer.
capillary The smallest type of blood vessel. A capillary connects an arteriole (small artery) to a venule (small vein) to form a network of blood vessels in almost…
capillary leak syndrome A condition in which fluid and proteins leak out of tiny blood vessels and flow into surrounding tissues, resulting in dangerously low blood pressure.
Capital Gains A capital gain is the amount you get from selling property, like stock or a house.
Capitation A flat per patient fee paid to providers no matter how many services they have provided.
capromab pendetide (KAP-roh-mab PEN-deh-tide) A substance used to detect prostate cancer. It contains a monoclonal antibody that binds to prostate cells, linked to a…
capsaicin (kap-SAY-ih-sin) A component of certain plants, including cayenne and red pepper, used topically for peripheral nerve pain.
capsule (KAP-sool) In medicine, a sac of tissue and blood vessels that surrounds an organ, joint, or tumor.
captopril A drug used to treat high blood pressure that is also being studied in the prevention of side effects caused by radiation therapy used in the treatment of…
Carbamate A chemical product used as an insecticide.
carbamide (KAR-buh-MIDE) A substance formed by the breakdown of protein in the liver. The kidneys filter carbamide out of the blood and into the urine.
carbendazim An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called antifungal agents.
carbogen An inhalant of oxygen and carbon dioxide that increases the sensitivity of tumor cells to the effects of radiation therapy.
carbohydrate A sugar molecule. Carbohydrates can be small and simple (for example, glucose) or they can be large and complex (for example, polysaccharides such as…
carbolic acid (kar-BAH-lik A-sid) A very poisonous chemical substance made from tar and also found in some plants and essential oils (scented liquid taken from plants).
Carbon Dioxide (KAR-bun dy-OK-side) A colorless, odorless gas. It is a waste product made by the body.
carbon monoxide (KAR-bun muh-NOK-side) A poisonous gas that has no color or odor. It is given off by burning fuel (as in exhaust from cars or household heaters) and…
carbon-11 acetate (KAR-bun ... A-seh-tayt) A radioactive form of carbon that is used in positron emission tomography (PET) scanning.
carboplatin (KAR-boh-pla-tin) A drug that is used to treat symptoms of ovarian cancer that has come back after treatment with other anticancer drugs or to treat…
carboxyamidotriazole An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors.
carboxypeptidase-G2 A bacterial enzyme that is used to neutralize the toxic effects of methotrexate. It belongs to the family of drugs called chemoprotective agents.
carcinoembryonic antigen (KAR-sih-noh-EM-bree-AH-nik AN-tih-jen) A substance that is sometimes found in an increased amount in the blood of people who have certain cancers, other…
carcinoembryonic antigen peptide-1 (KAR-sih-noh-EM-bree-AH-nik AN-tih-jen PEP-tide-1) A protein that can stimulate an immune response to certain tumors. Also called CAP-1.
carcinogen (kar-SIN-o-jin) Any substance that causes cancer.
carcinogenesis The process by which normal cells are transformed into cancer cells.
carcinoid (KAR-sih-noyd) A slow-growing type of tumor usually found in the gastrointestinal system (most often in the appendix), and sometimes in the lungs or other…
carcinoid syndrome (KAR-sih-noyd SIN-drome) A combination of symptoms caused by the release of serotonin and other substances from carcinoid tumors of the gastrointestinal…
carcinoma (KAR-sih-NOH-muh) Cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.
carcinoma in situ (KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) A group of abnormal cells that remain in the tissue in which they first formed.
carcinoma of unknown primary (KAR-sih-NOH-muh...) A case in which cancer cells are found in the body, but the place where the cells first started growing (the origin or primary site)…
carcinomatosis (KAR-sih-NOH-muh-TOH-sis) A condition in which cancer is spread widely throughout the body, or, in some cases, to a relatively large region of the body.
carcinomatous meningitis (KAR-sih-NOH-muh-tus MEH-nin-JY-tis) Inflammation of the meninges (three thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord) caused by…
carcinosarcoma A malignant tumor that is a mixture of carcinoma (cancer of epithelial tissue, which is skin and tissue that lines or covers the internal organs) and…
carcinosis A condition in which cancer is spread widely throughout the body, or, in some cases, to a relatively large region of the body. Also called carcinomatosis.
carcinostatic (KAR-sin-o-STAT-ik) Pertaining to slowing or stopping the growth of cancer.
cardiac Having to do with the heart.
cardiac pacemaker (KAR-dee-AK PAYS-may-ker) An electronic device that is implanted in the body to monitor heart rate and rhythm.
cardiac sarcoma A rare cancer that develops in tissues of the heart. Also called heart cancer.
cardin (KAR-din) A plant whose leaves, stems, and flowers have been used in some cultures to treat certain medical problems.
cardiopulmonary Having to do with the heart and lungs.
cardiotoxicity (KAR-dee-oh-tok-SIH-sih-tee) Toxicity that affects the heart.
Cardiovascular (KAR-dee-oh-VAS-kyoo-ler) Having to do with the heart and blood vessels.
Cardiovascular Disease Relating to the blood supply to the heart. Diabetes is a major risk factor for developing heart disease.
Cardura (kar-DOO-ruh) A drug used to treat high blood pressure and urinary problems caused by an enlarged prostate.
Care Coordination The organization of your treatment across several health care providers. Medical homes and Accountable Care Organizations are two common ways to…
Care Provider A person who provides health services, such as, doctor, nurse, dentist, health educator.
carina tracheae (kuh-RY-nuh TRAY-kee-uh) A ridge at the base of the trachea (windpipe) that separates the openings of the right and left main bronchi (the large air…
carmustine An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called alkylating agents.
Carney complex (KAR-nee KOM-plex) A rare, inherited disorder marked by dark spots on the skin and tumors in the heart, endocrine glands, skin, and nerves.
carnitine A substance made in the muscles and liver, and also found in certain foods such as meat, poultry, fish, and some dairy products.