Medical Glossary C

Calcium (KAL-see-um): A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones.

Cancer: A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body.

Cancer Screening: Different tests may show whether a person has a higher than normal risk for getting certain types of cancer. The person's family history and medical history are also key parts of the cancer screening process.

Carcinogen (kar-SIN-o-jin): Any substance that is known to cause cancer.

Carcinogenesis: The process by which normal cells are transformed into cancer cells.

Cartilage (KAR-ti-lij): Firm, rubbery tissue that cushions bones at joints. A more flexible kind of cartilage connects muscles with bones and makes up other parts of the body, such as the larynx and the outside of the ears.

Catheter (KATH-et-er): A tube that is placed in a blood vessel to provide a pathway for drug or nutrients.

Cauterization (KAW-ter-i-ZAY-shun): The use of heat to destroy abnormal cells.

CEA assay: A laboratory test to measure the level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a substance that is sometimes found in an increased amount in the blood of patients with certain cancers.

Cell: The basic unit of any living organism.

Cell differentiation: The process during which young, immature (unspecialized) cells take on individual characteristics and reach their mature (specialized) form and function.

Cell motility: The ability of a cell to move.

Cell proliferation: An increase in the number of cells as a result of cell growth and cell division.

Cellular adhesion: The close adherence (bonding) to adjoining cell surfaces.

Central nervous system: The brain and spinal cord. Also called CNS.

Cerebellum (sair-uh-BELL-um): The portion of the brain in the back of the head between the cerebrum and the brain stem.

Cerebral hemispheres (seh-REE-bral HEM-iss-feerz): The two halves of the cerebrum.

Cerebrospinal fluid (seh-REE-bro-spy-nal): The watery fluid flowing around the brain and spinal cord. Also called CSF.

Cerebrum (seh-REE-brum): The largest part of the brain. It is divided into two hemispheres, or halves.

Cervical Cancer: Cancer of the cervix, a common kind of cancer in women, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the tissues of the cervix. The cervix is the opening of the uterus (womb).

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (SER-vih-kul in-tra-eh-pih-THEEL-ee-ul NEE-o-play-zha): A general term for the growth of abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix. Numbers from 1 to 3 may be used to describe how much of the cervix contains abnormal cells. Also called CIN.

Cervix (SER-viks): The lower, narrow end of the uterus that forms a canal between the uterus and vagina.

Chemoprevention (KEE-mo-pre-VEN-shun): The use of natural or laboratory made substances to prevent cancer.

Cholangiosarcoma (ko-LAN-jee-o-sar-KO-ma): A type of cancer that begins in the bile ducts.

Chondrosarcoma (KON-dro-sar-KO-ma): A cancer that forms in cartilage, occurring mainly in the pelvis, femur, and shoulder areas.

Chordoma (kor-DO-ma): A form of bone cancer that usually starts in the lower spinal column.

Chromosome (KRO-mo-soam): Part of a cell that contains genetic information. Normally, human cells contain 46 chromosomes that appear as a long thread inside the cell.

Chronic leukemia (KRON-ik): Leukemia that progresses slowly.

Chronic phase (KRON-ik): Refers to the early stages of chronic myelogenous leukemia or chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The number of immature, abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood is higher than normal, but lower than in the accelerated or blast phase.

Circles of Distinction: The Circles of Distinction giving program began in 1995 to provide major funding to help the Institute broaden the scope of its scientific and clinical programs and make it one of the premier cancer centers in the United States today. There are several giving levels, or Circles, beginning at $25,000, and gifts may be pledged over a three to five year period. A different jewel identifies each Circle. Participating individuals, corporations and foundations are prominently displayed on the Honor Wall located in the lobby of the Institute's Research Building. Members of the Circles of Distinction receive a custom-designed solid gold logo pin bearing the jewel of their Circle. Donors also receive special privileges, which include complimentary parking, pre-admission to Saint John's Health Center and being honored at an annual black-tie dinner.

CNS (central nervous system): The brain and the spinal cord.

CNS prophylaxis (pro-fi-LAK-sis): Chemotherapy or radiation therapy to the central nervous system (CNS). This is preventive treatment. It is given to kill cancer cells that may be in the brain and spinal cord, even though no cancer has been detected there.

Colectomy (ko-LEK-to-mee): An operation to remove all or part of the colon. In a partial colectomy, the surgeon removes only the cancerous part of the colon and a small amount (called a margin) of surrounding healthy tissue.

Colon (KO-lun): The long, coiled, tubelike organ that removes water from digested food. The remaining material, solid waste called stool, moves through the colon to the rectum and leaves the body through the anus.

Colon Cancer: Cancer of the colon, a common form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the tissues of the colon. The colon is part of the body's digestive system. The last 6 feet of intestine is called the large bowel or colon.

Colonoscope (ko-LON-o-skope): A flexible, lighted instrument used to view the inside of the colon.

Colonoscopy (ko-lon-OS-ko-pee): An examination in which the doctor looks at the colon through a flexible, lighted instrument called a colonoscope.

Colony-stimulating factors: Substances that stimulate the production of blood cells. Treatment with colony-stimulating factors (CSF) can help the blood-forming tissue recover from the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Colorectal (ko-lo-REK-tul): Related to the colon and/or rectum.

Colostomy (ko-LOS-to-mee): An opening created by a surgeon into the colon from the outside of the body. A colostomy provides a new path for waste material to leave the body after part of the colon has been removed.

Colposcopy (kul-POSS-ko-pee): A procedure in which a lighted magnifying instrument (called a colposcope) is used to examine the vagina and cervix.

Combination chemotherapy: Treatment in which two or more chemicals are used to obtain more effective results.

Common bile duct: Bile ducts are passageways that carry bile. Two major bile ducts come together into a "trunk"-the common bile duct which empties into the upper part of the small intestine (the part next to the stomach).

Condylomata acuminata (kon-di-LOW-ma-ta a-kyoo-mi-NA-ta): Genital warts caused by certain human papillomaviruses.

Conization (ko-ni-ZAY-shun): Surgery to remove a cone-shaped piece of tissue from the cervix and cervical canal. Conization may be used to diagnose or treat a cervical condition. Also called cone biopsy.

Continent reservoir (KAHN-tih-nent RES-er-vwar): A pouch formed from a piece of small intestine to hold urine after the bladder has been removed.

Corpus: The body of the uterus.

Craniopharyngioma (KRAY-nee-o-fah-rin-jee-O-ma): A type of brain tumor that develops in the region of the pituitary gland near the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, and thirst. These tumors are usually benign, but are sometimes considered malignant because they can press on or damage the hypothalamus and affect vital functions.

Craniotomy (kray-nee-OT-o-mee): An operation in which an opening is made in the skull so the doctor can reach the brain.

Cryptorchidsm (kript-OR-kid-izm): A condition in which one or both testicles fail to move from the abdomen, where they develop before birth, into the scrotum; also called undescended testicles.

CT (or CAT) scan: A series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body; the pictures are created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. Also called computed tomography scan or computed axial tomography scan.

Curettage (kyoo-re-TAHZH): Removal of tissue with a curette.

Curette (kyoo-RET): A spoon-shaped instrument with a sharp edge.

Cutaneous (kyoo-TAY-nee-us): Related to the skin.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a disease in which certain cells of the lymph system (called T-lymphocytes) become cancer (malignant) and affect the skin. Lymphocytes are infection-fighting white blood cells that are made in the bone marrow and by other organs of the lymph system. T-cells are special lymphocytes that help the body's immune system kill bacteria and other harmful things in the body.

Cyst (sist): A sac or capsule filled with fluid.

Cystectomy (sis-TEK-to-mee): Surgery to remove the bladder.

Cystoscope (SIS-to-skope): An instrument that allows the doctor to see inside the bladder and remove tissue samples or small tumors.

Cystoscopy (sist-OSS-ko-pee): A procedure in which the doctor inserts a lighted instrument into the urethra (the tube leading from the bladder to the outside of the body) to look at the bladder.