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.
Preventive MedicineHealth care designed to prevent disease or discover and treat disease in the early stage.
Preventive ServicesRoutine health care that includes screenings, check-ups, and patient counseling to prevent illnesses, disease, or other health problems.
Prialt(PREE-ult) A drug used in the treatment of chronic pain. Also called SNX 111 and ziconotide.
PrimaquineA drug used against malaria for the prevention of P. vivax or for the eradication of the hypnozoites of P. vivax and P. ovale.
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 Care PhysicianA physician (M.D. – Medical Doctor or D.O. – Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) who directly provides or coordinates a range of health care services for…
Primary Care Physician (PCP)Your Primary Care Physician ("PCP") is the doctor you choose to provide basic health care.
Primary Care ProviderA physician (M.D. – Medical Doctor or D.O. – Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or physician assistant, as…
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…
Prior AuthorizationApproval from a health plan that may be required before you get a service or fill a prescription in order for the service or prescription to be covered by…
Priority SettingThe process used to establish priorities among service categories, to ensure consistency with locally identified needs, and to address how best to meet…
PrivilegesA clinician's right to practice his or her profession, such as medicine or surgery, at a particular hospital or health care facility.
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.
Product NumberA product number is assigned to each drug product associated with an NDA (New Drug Application).
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.
ProguanilA drug used against malaria. It is found in the combination atovaquone-proguanil which can be used for both prevention and treatment.
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…
prostatitis(prah-stuh-TY-tis) Inflammation of the prostate gland.
prostatocystectomy(PROS-tuh-toh-sis-TEK-toh-mee) Surgery to remove the bladder (the organ that holds urine) and the prostate.
Prosthesis(pros-THEE-sis) A device, such as an artificial leg, that replaces a part of the body.
prosthodontist(pros-tho-DON-tist) A dentist who specializes in replacing missing teeth or other structures of the mouth to restore an individual's appearance, comfort…
prostration(prah-STRAY-shun) A condition in which a person is so tired or weak that he or she is unable to do anything.
protease inhibitorA compound that interferes with the ability of certain enzymes to break down proteins.
proteasome inhibitorA drug that blocks the action of proteasomes. A proteasome is a large protein complex that helps destroy other cellular proteins when they are no longer…
protective factor(proh-TEK-tiv FAK-ter) Something that may decrease the chance of getting a certain disease.
protegrin(proh-TEH-grin) One of a family of small proteins found in white blood cells in pigs.
protein(PRO-teen) A molecule made up of amino acids that are needed for the body to function properly.
protein expression(PROH-teen ek-SPREH-shun) Refers to the amount of a protein made in a cell. The study of protein expression in cancer cells may give information about a…
protein kinase C(PROH-teen KY-nayz ...) An enzyme found throughout the body's tissues and organs. Several forms of PKC are involved in many cellular functions.
protein-bound paclitaxel(PROH-teen... PAK-lih-TAK-sil) A drug used to treat breast cancer that has spread or that has come back within 6 months after chemotherapy.
proteoglycanA molecule that contains both protein and glycosaminoglycans, which are a type of polysaccharide.
proteomic profileAn evaluation of proteins in a sample of blood. This may help detect early cancer or cancer recurrence, or help predict response to treatment.
proteomicsThe study of the structure and function of proteins, including the way they work and interact with each other inside cells.
ProtocelA liquid that has been promoted as a treatment for a wide range of diseases, including cancer.
protocolAn action plan for a clinical trial. The plan states what the study will do, how, and why.
ProtonA small, positively charged particle of matter found in the atoms of all elements.
proton beam radiation therapy(PROH-ton beem RAY-dee-AY-shun THAYR-uh-pee) A type of high-energy, external radiation therapy that uses streams of protons (small, positively charged…