Medical Glossary A
ABCs: The Associates for Breast and Prostate Cancer Studies (ABCs) is a group of philanthropists that was formed in 1990 and is comprised of more than 200 members from the Los Angeles-Westside area. The ABCs have raised more than $2 million for cancer research at John Wayne Cancer Institute.
Abdomen (AB-do-men): The part of the body that contains the pancreas, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, and other organs.
Accelerated phase (ak-SEL-er-ay-ted): Refers to chronic myelogenous leukemia that is progressing. The number of immature, abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood is higher than in the chronic phase, but not as high as in the blast phase.
Achlorhydria (a-klor-HY-dree-a): A lack of hydrochloric acid in the digestive juices in the stomach. Hydrochloric acid helps digest food.
Acoustic (ah-KOOS-tik): Related to sound or hearing.
Actinic keratosis (ak-TIN-ik ker-a-TO-sis): A precancerous condition of thick, scaly patches of skin; also called solar or senile keratosis.
Acute leukemia: A rapidly progressing cancer of the blood-forming tissue (bone marrow).
Adenocarcinoma (AD-in-o-kar-sin-O-ma): Cancer that begins in cells that line certain internal organs.
Adenoma (AD-in-o-ma): A noncancerous tumor.
Adjuvant therapy (AD-joo-vant): Treatment given in addition to the primary treatment to enhance the effectiveness of the primary treatment.
Adrenal glands (a-DREE-nal): A pair of small glands, one located on top of each kidney. The adrenal glands produce hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, the way the body uses food, and other vital functions.
Agranulocyte (A-gran-yoo-lo-SITE): A type of white blood cell; monocytes and lymphocytes are agranulocytes.
Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (AL-o-jen-AY-ik): A procedure in which a patient receives bone marrow from a compatible, though not genetically identical, donor.
Alpha-fetoprotein (AL-fa FEE-to-PRO-teen): A protein often found in abnormal amounts in the blood of patients with liver cancer.
Alveoli (al-VEE-o-lye): Tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles.
Amputation (am-pyoo-TAY-shun): Surgery to remove all or some of a body part.
Amylase (AM-il-aze): An enzyme that helps the body digest starches
Anal Cancer: Anal cancer, an uncommon cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the anus. The anus is the opening at the end of the rectum (the end part of the large intestine) through which body waste passes.
Anaplastic (an-ah-PLAS-tik): A term used to describe cancer cells that divide rapidly and bear little or no resemblance to normal cells.
Anastamosis (an-AS-ta-MO-sis): A procedure to connect healthy sections of the colon or rectum after the diseased portion has been surgically removed.
Androgen (AN-dro-jenz): A hormone that promotes the development and maintenance of male sex characteristics.
Anemia (a-NEE-mee-a): A decrease in the normal amounts of red blood cells.
Anesthesia (an-es-THEE-zha): Loss of feeling or awareness. A local anesthetic causes loss of feeling in a part of the body. A general anesthetic puts the person to sleep.
Anesthetic (an-es-THET-ik): A substance that causes loss of feeling or awareness. A local anesthetic causes loss of feeling in a part of the body. A general anesthetic puts the person to sleep.
Angiogenesis (an-gee-o-GEN-e-sis): Blood vessel formation, which usually accompanies the growth of malignant tissue.
Angiogram (AN-jee-o-gram): An x-ray of blood vessels; the patient receives an injection of dye to outline the vessels on the x-ray.
Angiography (an-jee-O-gra-fee): A procedure to x-ray blood vessels. The blood vessels can be seen because of an injection of a dye that shows up in the x-ray pictures.
Angiosarcoma (AN-jee-o-sar-KO-ma): A type of cancer that begins in the lining of blood vessels.
Antiandrogen (an-tee-AN-dro-jen): A drug that blocks the action of male sex hormones.
Antibiotics (an-ti-by-AH-tiks): Drugs used to treat infection.
Antibody (AN-ti-BOD-ee): A protein produced by certain white blood cells in response to a foreign substance (antigen). Each antibody can bind only to a specific antigen. The purpose of this binding is to help destroy the antigen. Antibodies can work in several ways, depending on the nature of the antigen. Some antibodies disable antigens directly. Others make the antigen more vulnerable to destruction by white blood cells.
Anticonvulsant (an-ti-kon-VUL-sant): Medicine to stop, prevent, or control seizures (convulsions).
Antithymocyte globulin (anti-THIGH-moe-site GLA-bu-lin): A protein preparation used to prevent and treat graft-versus-host disease.
Anus (AY-nus): The opening of the rectum to the outside of the body.
Aplastic anemia: A deficiency of certain parts of the blood caused by a failure of the bone marrow's ability to generate cells.
Apoptosis (ay-paw-TOE-sis): A normal cellular process involving a genetically programmed series of events leading to the death of a cell.
Areola (a-REE-oe-la): The area of dark-colored skin that surrounds the nipple.
Arterial embolization (ar-TEE-ree-al EM-bo-lih-ZAY-shun): Blocking an artery so that blood cannot flow to the tumor.
Arteriogram (ar-TEER-ee-o-gram): An x-ray of blood vessels, which can be seen after an injection of a dye that shows up in the x-ray pictures.
Asbestos (as-BES-tus): A natural material that is made up of tiny fibers. If the fibers are inhaled, they can lodge in the lungs and lead to cancer.
Ascites (a-SYE-teez): Abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen.
Aspiration (as-per-AY-shun): Removal of fluid from a lump, often a cyst, with a needle and a syringe.
Astrocytoma (as-tro-sye-TOE-ma): A type of brain tumor that begins in the brain or spinal chord in small, star-shaped cells called astrocytes.
Asymptomatic: Presenting no signs or symptoms of disease.
Ataxic gait (ah-TAK-sik): Awkward, uncoordinated walking.
Atypical hyperplasia (hy-per-PLAY-zha): A benign (noncancerous) condition in which tissue has certain abnormal features.
Autologous bone marrow transplantation (aw-TAHL-o-gus): A procedure in which bone marrow is removed from a patient and then is given back to the patient following intensive treatment.
Axilla (ak-SIL-a): The underarm.
Axillary (AK-sil-air-ee): Pertaining to the lymph nodes under the arm.
Axillary dissection (AK-sil-air-ee): Surgery to remove lymph nodes under the arm.