spindle cell cancer(... KAN-ser) A type of cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs and that contains long spindle-shaped cells.
spindle cell sarcomaA type of connective tissue cancer in which the cells are spindle-shaped when examined under a microscope.
SPINEThe bones, muscles, tendons, and other tissues that reach from the base of the skull to the tailbone.
spine cancerCancer that begins in the spinal column (backbone) or spinal cord. The spinal column is made up of linked bones, called vertebrae.
spiral CT scanA detailed picture of areas inside the body. The pictures are created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine that scans the body in a spiral path.
spirituality(SPIR-ih-choo-A-lih-tee) Having to do with deep, often religious, feelings and beliefs, including a person's sense of peace, purpose, connection to…
spleenAn organ that is part of the lymphatic system. The spleen makes lymphocytes, filters the blood, stores blood cells, and destroys old blood cells.
Splenectomy(spleh-NEK-toh-mee) An operation to remove the spleen.
splenic(SPLEH-nik) Having to do with the spleen (an organ in the abdomen that makes immune cells, filters the blood, stores blood cells, and destroys old blood…
SporeA term used to describe a particle in plants, bacteria and fungi.
SporozoiteA stage in the life cycle of the malaria parasite. Sporozoites are produced in the mosquito and migrate to the mosquito's salivary glands.
Sporozoite rateThe proportion of female anopheline mosquitoes of a particular species that have sporozoites in their salivary glands (as seen by dissection), or that are…
spotted thistle(... THIH-sel) A plant whose leaves, stems, and flowers have been used in some cultures to treat certain medical problems.
Sprycel(SPRY-sel) A drug used to treat certain types of chronic myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
sputum(SPYOO-tum) Mucus and other matter brought up from the lungs by coughing.
sputum cytology(SPYOO-tum sy-TAH-loh-jee) Examination under a microscope of cells found in sputum (mucus and other matter brought up from the lungs by coughing).
squalamine lactateA drug that belongs to the family of drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors. It prevents the growth of new blood vessels into a solid tumor.
squamous cell(SKWAY-mus sel) Flat cell that looks like a fish scale under a microscope. These cells cover inside and outside surfaces of the body.
squamous cell carcinoma(SKWAY-mus sel KAR-sih-NOH-muh) Cancer that begins in squamous cells, which are thin, flat cells that look like fish scales.
squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck(SKWAY-mus sel KAR-sih-NOH-muh â¦) Cancer of the head and neck that begins in squamous cells (thin, flat cells that form the surface of the…
squamous intraepithelial lesion(SKWAY-mus IN-truh-eh-pih-THEEL-ee-ul LEE-zhun) A general term for the abnormal growth of squamous cells on the surface of the cervix.
SR-29142A drug that may protect healthy tissue from the toxic effects of anticancer drugs.
SR-45023AAn anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called bisphosphonates. It affects cancer cell receptors governing cell growth and cell death.
SR49059A substance being studied in the treatment of cancer. It inhibits a hormone growth factor that causes some cancer cells to divide.
SRSA type of radionuclide scan used to find carcinoid and other types of tumors. Radioactive octreotide, a drug similar to somatostatin, is injected into a…
SSGA substance being studied in the treatment of certain solid tumors, lymphoma, and myeloma. SSG may block enzymes needed for cancer growth.
SSI RateSurgical site infection rates per 100 operative procedures are found by dividing the number of SSIs by the number of total number of specific operative…
SSRIA type of drug that is used to treat depression. SSRIs slow the process by which serotonin (a substance that nerves use to send messages to one another)…
St. Benedict's thistle(SAYNT BEH-neh-diktz THIH-sel) A plant whose leaves, stems, and flowers have been used in some cultures to treat certain medical problems. St.
St. John's wortAn herbal product sold as an over-the-counter treatment for depression. It is being studied for its ability to lessen certain side effects of cancer…
ST1481A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called topoisomerase inhibitors. Also called gimatecan.
stable diseaseCancer that is neither decreasing nor increasing in extent or severity.
StageThe extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has…
stage 0 anal carcinoma in situ(... AY-nul KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal cells are found in the innermost lining of the anus.
stage 0 bladder carcinoma in situ(... BLA-der KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal cells are found on tissue lining the inside of the bladder.
stage 0 breast carcinoma in situ(... brest KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) There are 2 types of stage 0 breast cancer: ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS).
stage 0 cervical carcinoma in situ(... SER-vih-kul KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal cells are found in the cervical epithelium (the innermost lining of the cervix).
stage 0 chronic lymphocytic leukemia(... KRAH-nik LIM-foh-SIH-tik loo-KEE-mee-uh) There are too many lymphocytes in the blood, but there are no other symptoms of leukemia.
stage 0 colorectal carcinoma in situ(...KOH-loh-REK-tul KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal cells are found in the innermost lining of the colon and/or rectum.
stage 0 esophageal carcinoma in situ(...ee-SAH-fuh-JEE-ul KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal cells are found in the innermost layer of tissue lining the esophagus.
stage 0 extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma in situ(... EK-struh-heh-PA-tik bile dukt KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal cells are found in the innermost layer of tissue lining the extrahepatic bile duct.
stage 0 gallbladder carcinoma in situ(... GAWL-bla-der KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal cells are found in the innermost (mucosal) layer of the gallbladder.
stage 0 gastric carcinoma in situ(... GAS-trik KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal cells are found in the inside lining of the mucosal (innermost) layer of the stomach wall.
stage 0 maxillary sinus carcinoma in situ(... MAK-sih-layr-ee SY-nus KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal cells are found in the innermost lining of the maxillary sinus.
stage 0 medullary thyroid carcinoma in situ(... MED-yoo-LAYR-ee THY-royd KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) No tumor is found in the thyroid but abnormal cells are found by screening tests.
stage 0 melanoma(... MEH-luh-NOH-muh) Abnormal melanocytes (cells that make melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color) are found in the epidermis (outer layer of the…
stage 0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma in situ(...NAY-zoh-fuh-RIN-jee-ul KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal cells are found in the lining of the nasopharynx (the upper part of the throat behind the…
stage 0 nonmelanoma skin carcinoma in situ(... non-MEH-luh-NOH-muh skin KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal cells are found in the squamous cell or basal cell layer of the epidermis (outer layer…
stage 0 oropharyngeal carcinoma in situ(...or-oh-fuh-RIN-jee-ul KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal cells are found in the lining of the oropharynx (the part of the throat at the back of the…
stage 0 penile carcinoma in situ(... PEE-nile KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal cells are found on the surface of the skin of the penis.
stage 0 testicular carcinoma in situ(...tes-TIH-kyuh-ler KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal cells are found in the tiny tubules where the sperm cells begin to develop.
stage 0 urethral carcinoma in situ(... yoo-REE-thrul KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal cells are found on the inside lining of the urethra.
stage 0 vaginal carcinoma in situ(...VA-jih-nul KAR-sih-NOH-muh in SY-too) Abnormal cells are found in tissue lining the inside of the vagina (birth canal).
stage 1 neuroblastoma(NUR-oh-blas-TOH-muh) Tumor is only found in one area; all of the tumor that can be seen is completely removed during surgery.
stage 2 neuroblastoma(NUR-oh-blas-TOH-muh) Stage 2 is divided into stages 2A and 2B. In stage 2A, the tumor is in one area only and not all of the tumor that can be seen can…
stage 3 neuroblastoma(NUR-oh-blas-TOH-muh) In stage 3 neuroblastoma, the tumor (1) cannot be completely removed during surgery and has spread from one side of the body to the…
stage 4 neuroblastoma(NUR-oh-blas-TOH-muh) Stage 4 neuroblastoma is divided into stages 4 and 4S. In stage 4, the tumor has spread to distant lymph nodes, the skin, and/or…
stage A prostate cancer(⦠PROS-tayt KAN-ser) A prostate cancer stage defined by the Jewett staging system.
Stage at DiagnosisThe stage that the cancer has progressed to at the time of diagnosis.
stage B prostate cancer(⦠PROS-tayt KAN-ser) A prostate cancer stage defined by the Jewett staging system.
stage C prostate cancer(⦠PROS-tayt KAN-ser) A prostate cancer stage defined by the Jewett staging system.
stage D prostate cancer(⦠PROS-tayt KAN-ser) A prostate cancer stage defined by the Jewett staging system.
stage I adrenocortical cancer(... uh-DREE-noh-KOR-tih-kul KAN-ser) Cancer of the adrenal gland that is smaller than 5 centimeters (smaller than 2 inches) and is found in the adrenal…
stage I adult Hodgkin lymphoma(... HOJ-kin lim-FOH-muh) Stage I is divided into stage I and stage IE. In stage I, cancer is found in a single group of lymph nodes.
stage I adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma(... non-HOJ-kin lim-FOH-muh) Stage I is divided into stage I and stage IE. In stage I, cancer is found in a single lymph node area.
stage I adult soft tissue sarcoma(...TIH-shoo sar-KOH-muh) Cancer of soft tissue (muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, or other supporting tissue of the body) that is any size, low…
stage I AIDS-related lymphomaStage I AIDS-related lymphoma is divided into stages I and IE. In stage I, cancer is found in one group of lymph nodes.
stage I cervical cancer(... SER-vih-kul KAN-ser) Cancer is found in the cervix only. Stage I is divided into stages IA and IB, based on the amount of cancer that is found.
stage I childhood Hodgkin lymphoma(...HOJ-kin lim-FOH-muh) Stage I is divided into stages I and IE. In stage I, cancer is found in only one group of lymph nodes.
stage I colorectal cancer(...KOH-loh-REK-tul KAN-ser) Cancer has spread beyond the innermost lining of the colon and/or rectum to the second and third layers and involves the…
stage I cutaneous T-cell lymphomaMay be either of the following: (1) stage IA cancer affecting less than 10% of the skin's surface and appearing as red, dry, scaly patches; (2) stage IB…
stage I endometrial cancerCancer is found in the uterus only. Stage I is divided into stage IA, IB, and IC, based on how far the disease has spread.
stage I esophageal cancer(...ee-SAH-fuh-JEE-ul KAN-ser) Cancer has spread beyond the innermost layer of tissue to the next layer of tissue in the wall of the esophagus.
stage I extrahepatic bile duct cancer(EK-struh-hih-PA-tik bile dukt) Stage I is divided into stage IA and IB. In stage IA, cancer is found only in the bile duct.
stage I gastric cancerStage I is divided into stage IA and stage IB, depending on where the cancer has spread.
stage I hypopharyngeal cancerThe tumor is found only in one area of the hypopharynx and is 2 centimeters or smaller.
stage I kidney cancerThe tumor is 7 centimeters or smaller and is found in the kidney only. Also called stage I renal cell cancer .
stage I laryngeal cancer(...luh-RIN-jul...) Cancer is found only in the area where it started. Stage I laryngeal cancer depends on where cancer is found in the larynx.
stage I malignant mesothelioma(...muh-LIG-nunt meh-zuh-thee-lee-OH-muh) Cancer is found in the lining of the chest wall and may also be found in the lining of the lung, the lining of…
stage I melanomaStage I is divided into stages IA and IB. In stage IA, the tumor is not more than 1 millimeter thick, with no ulceration.
stage I multiple myeloma(... MUL-tih-pul MY-eh-LOH-muh) Relatively few cancer cells have spread throughout the body. There may be no symptoms of disease.