R-flurbiprofenA substance that is being studied as a treatment for cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
r-tPAA form of tissue plasminogen activator that is made in the laboratory. It helps dissolve blood clots and is used to treat heart attacks, strokes, and…
R101933A substance that is being studied for its ability to make cancer cells respond to drugs to which they have become resistant.
R115777A substance that is being studied in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and other types of cancer.
R1507A human monoclonal antibody being studied in the treatment of several types of cancer.
rabiesA disease of the nervous system caused by the rabies virus. Rabies is marked by an increase in saliva production, abnormal behavior, and eventual…
rAd/p53A substance that has been studied in the treatment of some types of cancer. rAd/p53 is a weakened adenovirus that carries the p53 gene into tumor cells…
Radiation(RAY-dee-AY-shun) Energy released in the form of particle or electromagnetic waves.
radiation brachytherapy(RAY-dee-AY-shun BRAY-kee-THAYR-uh-pee) A type of radiation therapy in which radioactive material sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters is placed…
radiation dermatitis(RAY-dee-AY-shun DER-muh-TY-tis) A skin condition that is a common side effect of radiation therapy.
radiation enteritis(RAY-dee-AY-shun EN-tuh-RY-tis) Inflammation of the small intestine caused by radiation therapy to the abdomen, pelvis, or rectum.
radiation fibrosis(RAY-dee-AY-shun fy-BROH-sis) The formation of scar tissue as a result of radiation therapy.
radiation necrosis(RAY-dee-AY-shun neh-KROH-sis) The death of healthy tissue caused by radiation therapy.
radiation nurseA health professional who specializes in caring for people who are receiving radiation therapy.
Radiation Oncologist(RAY-dee-AY-shun on-KAH-loh-jist) A doctor who specializes in using radiation to treat cancer.
radiation physicistA person who makes sure that the radiation machine delivers the right amount of radiation to the correct site in the body.
radiation surgery(RAY-dee-AY-shun SER-juh-ree) A type of external radiation therapy that uses special equipment to position the patient and precisely give a single large…
Radiation Therapy(RAY-dee-AY-shun THAYR-uh-pee) The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and…
Radical cure(also: radical treatment) Complete elimination of malaria parasites from the body; the term applies specifically to elimination of dormant liver stage…
radical cystectomy(RA-dih-kul sis-TEK-toh-mee) Surgery to remove all of the bladder (the organ that holds urine) as well as nearby tissues and organs.
radical hysterectomy(RA-dih-kul HIS-teh-REK-toh-mee) Surgery to remove the uterus, cervix, and part of the vagina.
radical local excision(RA-dih-kul LOH-kul ek-SIH-zhun) Surgery to remove a tumor and a large amount of normal tissue surrounding it. Nearby lymph nodes may also be removed.
radical lymph node dissectionA surgical procedure to remove most or all of the lymph nodes that drain lymph from the area around a tumor.
radical mastectomy(RA-dih-kul ma-STEK-toh-mee) Surgery for breast cancer in which the breast, chest muscles, and all of the lymph nodes under the arm are removed.
radical nephrectomy(RA-dih-kul neh-FREK-toh-mee) Surgery to remove an entire kidney, nearby adrenal gland and lymph nodes, and other surrounding tissue.
radical perineal prostatectomy(RA-dih-kul PAYR-ih-NEE-ul PROS-tuh-TEK-toh-mee) Surgery to remove all of the prostate through an incision between the scrotum and the anus.
radical prostatectomy(RA-dih-kul PROS-tuh-TEK-toh-mee) Surgery to remove the entire prostate. The two types of radical prostatectomy are retropubic prostatectomy (surgery…
radical retropubic prostatectomy(RA-dih-kul reh-troh-PYOO-bik PROS-tuh-TEK-toh-mee) Surgery to remove all of the prostate and nearby lymph nodes through an incision in the wall of the…
radical vulvectomy(RA-dih-kul vul-VEK-toh-mee) Surgery to remove the entire vulva (the external female genital organs, including the clitoris, vaginal lips, and the opening…
radioactive(RAY-dee-oh-AK-tiv) Giving off radiation.
radioactive drug(RAY-dee-oh-AK-tiv...) A drug containing a radioactive substance that is used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and in pain management of bone…
radioactive fallout(RAY-dee-oh-AK-tiv...) Airborne radioactive particles that fall to the ground during and after an atomic bombing, nuclear weapons test, or nuclear plant…
radioactive iodine(RAY-dee-oh-AK-tiv I-oh-dine) A radioactive form of iodine, often used for imaging tests or to treat an overactive thyroid, thyroid cancer, and certain…
radioactive palladium(RAY-dee-oh-AK-tiv puh-LAY-dee-um) A radioactive form of palladium (a metallic element that resembles platinum).
radioactive seed(RAY-dee-oh-AK-tiv...) A small, radioactive pellet that is placed in or near a tumor.
radiofrequency ablation(RAY-dee-oh-FREE-kwen-see uh-BLAY-shun) A procedure that uses radio waves to heat and destroy abnormal cells.
radioimaging(RAY-dee-oh-IH-muh-jing) A method that uses radioactive substances to make pictures of areas inside the body.
radioimmunodiagnostics(RAY-dee-oh-IH-myoo-noh-DY-ug-NOS-tix) The use of radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies to help diagnose diseases, including cancer.
radioimmunoguided surgery(RAY-dee-oh-IH-myoo-noh-GIDE-ed SER-juh-ree) A procedure that uses radioactive substances to locate tumors so that they can be removed by surgery.
radioimmunotherapeutics(RAY-dee-oh-IH-myoo-noh-THAYR-uh-PYOO-tix) The use of radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies to treat diseases, including cancer.
radioimmunotherapy(RAY-dee-oh-IH-myoo-noh-THAYR-uh-pee) A type of systemic radiation therapy in which a radioactive substance is linked to an antibody that locates and…
radioisotope(RAY-dee-oh-I-suh-tope) An unstable form of a chemical element that releases radiation as it breaks down and becomes more stable.
radiolabeled(RAY-dee-oh-LAY-buld) Any compound that has been joined with a radioactive substance.
radiologic exam(RAY-dee-uh-LAH-jik ig-ZAM) A test that uses radiation or other imaging procedures to find signs of cancer or other abnormalities.
Radiologist(RAY-dee-AH-loh-jist) A doctor who specializes in creating and interpreting pictures of areas inside the body.
radiology(RAY-dee-AH-loh-jee) The use of radiation (such as x-rays) or other imaging technologies (such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging) to diagnose…
Radionuclide(RAY-dee-oh-NOO-klide) An unstable form of a chemical element that releases radiation as it breaks down and becomes more stable.
radionuclide scanning(RAY-dee-oh-NOO-klide SKAN-ing) A procedure that produces pictures (scans) of structures inside the body, including areas where there are cancer cells.
radiopharmaceutical(RAY-dee-oh-FAR-muh-SOO-tih-kul) A drug containing a radioactive substance that is used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and in pain management of…
radiosensitization(RAY-dee-oh-SEN-sih-tih-ZAY-shun) The use of a drug that makes tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy.
radiosensitizer(RAY-dee-oh-SEN-sih-TIZE-er) A drug that makes tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy.
radiosurgery(RAY-dee-oh-SER-juh-ree) A type of external radiation therapy that uses special equipment to position the patient and precisely give a single large dose…
Radiotherapeutic ablation(ray"-dee-o-ther"-uh-pyoo'-tik ay-blay"-shun) therapy using ionizing radiation to remove or destroy a part.
radiotherapy(RAY-dee-oh-THAYR-uh-pee) The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink…
RadonA toxic gas found in the soil beneath a house that can contribute to cancer and other illnesses.
Raftilose Synergy 1(RAF-tih-lose SIH-ner-jee ...) A substance that is used to improve the health of the digestive system and bones and is being studied in the prevention of…
raloxifene(ral-OX-ih-feen) A drug used to reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women who are at a high risk of developing the disease or who…
raloxifene hydrochloride(ral-OX-ih-feen HY-droh-KLOR-ide) A drug used to reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women who are at a high risk of developing…
raltitrexedAn anticancer drug that stops tumor cells from growing by blocking the ability of cells to make DNA.
randomizationWhen referring to an experiment or clinical trial, the process by which animal or human subjects are assigned by chance to separate groups that compare…
randomized clinical trialA study in which the participants are assigned by chance to separate groups that compare different treatments; neither the researchers nor the…
Range of SeverityThe area or scope of a physical or mental condition or complication of a physical or mental condition occurring during another disease and aggravating it…
ranpirnaseA substance being studied in the treatment of cancer. It is a type of ribonuclease enzyme. Also called Onconase.
Rapamune(RAP-uh-MYOON) A drug used to prevent the rejection of organ and bone marrow transplants by the body.
rapamycin(RAP-uh-MY-sin) A drug used to prevent the rejection of organ and bone marrow transplants by the body.
rapid eye movement sleepOne of the five stages of sleep. During rapid eye movement sleep, the eyes move rapidly while closed and dreams occur.
rapid hormone cyclingA procedure in which drugs that block the production of male hormones are alternated with male hormones and/or drugs that promote the production of male…
rapid-onset opioidAn opioid that relieves pain quickly. Opioids are drugs similar to opiates such as morphine and codeine but do not contain and are not made from opium.
Raptiva(rap-TEE-vuh) A monoclonal antibody used to treat psoriasis (a chronic skin disease).
ras geneA gene that has been found to cause cancer when it is altered (mutated). Agents that block its activity may stop the growth of cancer.
ras peptide(rass PEP-tide) A short piece of the ras protein, which is made by the ras gene. The ras gene has been found to cause cancer when it is mutated (changed).
rasburicaseA drug that is used to treat high blood levels of uric acid in patients receiving treatment for cancer.
rattlesnake rootAn eastern North American perennial herb. A substance obtained from the root of the plant has been used in some cultures to treat a number of medical…
rauschpfeffer(ROWSH-FEH-fer) An herb native to islands in the South Pacific. Substances taken from the root have been used in some cultures to relieve stress, anxiety…
RAV12A monoclonal antibody that is being studied in the treatment of some types of cancer.
ravuconazoleA substance that is being studied in the treatment of infections caused by fungi. It belongs to the family of drugs called antifungal agents.
RBCA cell that carries oxygen to all parts of the body. Also called erythrocyte and red blood cell.
rebeccamycinA substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called antineoplastic antibiotics.
rebeccamycin analog(reh-BEH-kuh-MY-sin A-nuh-log) A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer.
Rebound Hyperglycemia(Somogyi Effect) In diabetes a rebound phenomenon of reactive hyperglycemia in response to a proceeding period of relative hypoglycemia that has increased…
Recentin(reh-SEN-tin) A substance being studied in the treatment of some types of cancer.
receptor(reh-SEP-ter) A molecule inside or on the surface of a cell that binds to a specific substance and causes a specific physiologic effect in the cell.
recombinant(ree-KOM-bih-nunt) In genetics, describes DNA, proteins, cells, or organisms that are made by combining genetic material from two different sources.
recombinant adenovirus-p53(ree-KOM-bih-nunt A-den-oh-VY-rus ...) A substance that has been studied in the treatment of some types of cancer.
recombinant fowlpox-TRICOM vaccine(ree-KOM-bih-nunt â¦vak-SEEN) A cancer vaccine made with a form of a chicken virus that does not cause disease in humans.
recombinant human interleukin-11(ree-KOM-bih-nunt HYOO-mun in-ter-LOO-kin...) A drug used to increase the number of blood cells, especially platelets, in some cancer patients receiving…
recombinant tissue plasminogen activator(ree-KOM-bih-nunt TIH-shoo plaz-MIN-oh-jen AK-tih-vay-tur) A form of tissue plasminogen activator that is made in the laboratory.
recombinant vaccinia-CEA-MUC-1-TRICOM vaccine(ree-KOM-bih-nunt vak-SIN-ee-uh ⦠vak-SEEN) A cancer vaccine made with a form of vaccinia virus that does not cause disease in humans.
recombinant vaccinia-TRICOM vaccine(ree-KOM-bih-nunt vak-SIH-nee-uh ⦠vak-SEEN) A cancer vaccine made with a form of a vaccinia virus that does not cause disease in humans.
reconstructive surgeonA doctor who can surgically reshape or rebuild (reconstruct) a part of the body, such as a woman's breast after surgery for breast cancer.
Reconstructive SurgerySurgery and follow-up treatment needed to correct or improve a part of the body because of birth defects, accidents, injuries or medical conditions.
recover(ree-KUH-ver) To become well and healthy again.
recreational therapy(...THAYR-uh-pee) A type of therapy that uses activities to help meet the physical and emotional needs of patients with an illness or disability and help…
RecrudescenceA repeated attack of malaria due to the survival of malaria parasites in red blood cells.
rectal(REK-tul) By or having to do with the rectum. The rectum is the last several inches of the large intestine closest to the anus.
rectal cancer(REK-tul KAN-ser) Cancer that forms in the tissues of the rectum (the last several inches of the large intestine closest to the anus).