Chapter 20 - Neoplasms and Cancer

Question 1

neoplasm

Answer 1

Also called tumor.

An abnormal mass of tissue that forms when cells grow and divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Neoplasms may be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).

Benign neoplasms may grow large but do not spread into, or invade, nearby tissues or other parts of the body.

Malignant neoplasms can spread into, or invade, nearby tissues. They can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.

Question 2

antineoplastic drugs

Answer 2

Antineoplastic drugs are medications used to treat cancer. Antineoplastic drugs are also called anticancer, chemotherapy, chemo, cytotoxic, or hazardous drugs.

These drugs come in many forms. Some are liquids that are injected into the patient and some are pills that patients take.

Question 3

tumor genomic assay

Answer 3

Tumor genomic assays (or tests) analyze a sample of a cancer tumor to see how active certain genes are. The activity level of these genes affects the behavior of the cancer, including how likely it is to grow and spread.

Genomic tests are used to help make decisions about whether more treatments after surgery would be beneficial.

Question 4

assay

Answer 4

1. to analyze (something, such as an ore) for one or more specific components
2. to judge the worth of
3. attempt

Question 5

assessment

Answer 5

1. the action or an instance of making a judgment about something
2. the amount assessed: an amount that a person is officially required to pay especially as a tax

Question 6

assess

Answer 6

1. to make a judgment about (something)
2. to officially say what the amount, value, or rate of (something) is
3. to tax or charge (someone or something): to require (a person, business, etc.) to pay a particular amount of money

Question 7

(singular: micrometastasis)

plural: micrometastases

Answer 7

a small collection of cancer cells that have been shed from the original tumor and spread to another part of the body through the blood or lymph nodes

Question 8

metastasis

Answer 8

Metastasis means that cancer spreads to a different body part from where it started. When this happens, doctors say the cancer has “metastasized.” Your doctor may also call it “metastatic cancer,” “advanced cancer,” or “stage 4 cancer.” But these terms can have different meanings.

For example, a cancer that is large but has not spread to another body part can also be called advanced cancer or locally advanced cancer. Ask your doctor to explain where the cancer has spread.

Question 9

zenith vs nadir vs horizon

Answer 9

zenith (def 1.): the strongest or most successful period of time
zenith (def 2.): the highest point reached in the sky by the sun, moon, etc.
zenith (def 3.): the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the nadir and vertically above the observer

nadir (def 1.): the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the zenith and vertically downward from the observer
nadir (def 2.): the lowest point

horizon (def 1.): the line where the earth or sea seems to meet the sky
horizon (def 2.): the limit or range of a person’s knowledge, understanding, or experience
horizon (def 3.): the limit of what is possible in a particular field or activity

In terms of astronomy, if I were to go outside: the zenith would be directly above me in the sky, the nadir would be directly below me under the ground, the horizon is what I see when I look straight ahead until I can’t see any further, but the true horizon is the imaginary line I would see if I could look at the curvature of the earth (which I can’t).

Question 10

radiofrequency ablation

Answer 10

The use of an electric current to heat up a small area of nerve tissue to stop it from sending pain signals. It can provide lasting relief for people with chronic pain, especially in the lower back, neck and arthritic joints.

Question 11

ablate, ablation

Answer 11

to remove or destroy especially by cutting, abrading, or evaporating

Question 12

abrade

Answer 12

1. to rub or wear away especially by friction: ERODE

2. to irritate or roughen by rubbing

Question 13

tumor seeding

Answer 13

Tumor seeding or needle seeding refers to rare occurrences when the needle inserted into a tumor during a biopsy dislodges and spreads cancer cells. It is sometimes called needle track or tract seeding because the cancer cells grow along the needle’s track.

Question 14

thrombocytopenia

Answer 14

a condition in which you have a low blood platelet count in the blood

Question 15

parenteral nutrition

Answer 15

Parenteral nutrition, often called total parenteral nutrition, is the medical term for infusing a specialized form of food through a vein (intravenously). The goal of the treatment is to correct or prevent malnutrition.

Parenteral nutrition provides liquid nutrients, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and electrolytes. Some people use parenteral nutrition to supplement feeding through a tube placed into the stomach or small intestine and others use it by itself.

Question 16

enteral nutrition

Answer 16

Enteral nutrition, also known as tube feeding, is a way of delivering nutrition directly to your stomach or small intestine. Your doctor might recommend tube feeding if you can’t eat enough to get the nutrients you need. When tube feeding occurs outside the hospital, doctors refer to it as home enteral nutrition (HEN).

Question 17

enteral

Answer 17

(chiefly of nutrition) involving or passing through the intestine, either naturally via the mouth and esophagus, or through an artificial opening

Question 18

parenteral

Answer 18

situated or occurring outside the intestine

especially: introduced otherwise than by way of the mouth, esophagus, or intestines

Question 19

enteric

Answer 19

1. of, relating to, or affecting the intestines

2. being or having a coating designed to pass through the stomach unaltered and disintegrate in the intestines

Question 20

alimentary

Answer 20

1. of or relating to nourishment or nutrition

2. furnishing sustenance or maintenance

Question 21

furnish

Answer 21

to provide with what is needed

especially: to equip with furniture

Question 22

Duane syndrome

Answer 22

Other names for this condition include: Duane’s retraction syndrome, eye retraction syndrome, retraction syndrome, congenital retraction syndrome and Stilling-Türk-Duane syndrome.

The syndrome was first described by ophthalmologists Jakob Stilling (1887) and Siegmund Türk (1896), and subsequently named after ophthalmologist Alexander Duane, who discussed the disorder in more detail in 1905.

Duane syndrome is a condition that restricts eye movement horizontally. It’s present at birth.

It’s more common for people with this syndrome to be unable to move their eyes outward toward their ears. But it can also affect their ability to move their eyes inward toward their nose. As they attempt to move their eyes inward, their eyelids close partially and their eyeball retracts into the socket.

Generally, Duane syndrome affects only one of a person’s eyes. Some people also develop vision loss in the affected eye, causing it to stray. But in most cases, no other symptoms are experienced.

Duane syndrome can be classified into three types:

Type 1 (most common). You have limited ability to move your eye toward your ear. Your ability to move your eye toward your nose is normal or almost normal.

Type 2. You have limited ability to move your eye toward your nose. You are able to move your eye toward your ear normally, or with only a slight restriction.

Type 3. You have restricted ability to move your eyes horizontally in either direction.

Question 23

adjuvant

Answer 23

1. (of therapy) applied after initial treatment for cancer, especially to suppress secondary tumor formation.
2. an ingredient used in some vaccines that helps create a stronger immune response in people receiving the vaccine
3. serving to aid or contribute
4. enhancing the effectiveness of medical treatment

Question 24

remission

Answer 24

1. the reduction or disappearance of the signs and symptoms of a disease, or the period in which such a thing occurs
2. the cancellation of a debt, charge, or penalty
3. forgiveness of sins

Question 25

pulmonary function tests (PFTs)

Answer 25

Noninvasive tests that show how well the lungs are working. The tests measure lung volume, capacity, rates of flow, and gas exchange. This information can help your healthcare provider diagnose and decide the treatment of certain lung disorders.

Question 26

immunodiagnostics

Answer 26

Immunodiagnostics is a technique of detection by using the ability of antibodies to bind to an antigen specifically. This is a very powerful, sensitive, and specific technique to detect a wide range of targets and has applications in the field of infectious diseases and autoimmune disease detection, cancer diagnostics, food safety, environment, etc.

Question 27

trichinellosis

Answer 27

Trichinellosis, also called trichinosis, is a disease that people can get by eating raw or undercooked meat from animals infected with the microscopic parasite Trichinella.

Trichinosis usually isn’t serious and often gets better on its own, usually within a few months. However, fatigue, mild pain, weakness and diarrhea may linger for months or years.

Question 28

moniker

Answer 28

name, nickname

Question 29

innuendo

Answer 29

a statement which indirectly suggests that someone has done something immoral, improper, etc.

Question 30

aspersion

Answer 30

1. an attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something
2. a sprinkling with water especially in religious ceremonies

Question 31

stigma

Answer 31

a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person

Question 32

stigmata

Answer 32

Stigmata (Ancient Greek: stigma, ‘mark, spot, brand’), in Christianity, are the appearance of bodily wounds, scars and pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ, such as the hands, wrists and feet. An individual bearing the wounds of stigmata is a stigmatist or a stigmatic.