Oncology Terms

Question 1

alopecia

Answer 1

Hair loss. Some cancer treatments (radiation of the head and chemotherapy) can be the cause.

Question 2

anaplasia

Answer 2

pattern of growth in which cells lack normal characteristics and differ in shape and organization with respect to their cells of origin; usually, anaplastic cells are malignant

Question 3

angiogenesis

Answer 3

growth of new blood vessels that allow cancer cells to grow

Question 4

apoptosis

Answer 4

a normal cell mechanism of programmed cell death

Question 5

benign

Answer 5

not cancerous; benign tumors may grow but are unable to spread to other organs or body parts

Question 6

brachytherapy

Answer 6

delivery of radiation therapy through internal implants placed inside or adjacent to the tumor

Question 7

cancer

Answer 7

a group of disorders characterized by abnormal cell proliferation, in which cells ignore growth-regulating signals in the surrounding environment

Question 8

carcinogenesis

Answer 8

process of transforming normal cells into malignant cells

Question 9

carcinogens

Answer 9

chemicals, physical factors, and other agents that cause cancer

Question 10

chemotherapy

Answer 10

the use of medications to kill tumor cells by interfering with cellular functions and reproduction

Question 11

cytokines

Answer 11

substances produced primarily by cells of the immune system to enhance production and functioning of components of the immune system

Question 12

extravasation

Answer 12

leakage of intravenous medication from the veins into the subcutaneous tissues

Question 13

grading

Answer 13

identification of the type of tissue from which the tumor originated and the degree to which the tumor cells retain the functional and structural characteristics of the tissue of origin

Question 14

graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)

Answer 14

an immune response initiated by T lymphocytes of donor tissue against the recipient’s tissues (skin, gastrointestinal tract, liver); an undesirable response

Question 15

graft-versus-tumor effect

Answer 15

the donor immune cell response against the malignancy; a desirable response

Question 16

malignant

Answer 16

having cells or processes that are characteristic of cancer

Question 17

metastasis

Answer 17

spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor to distant sites

Question 18

mucositis

Answer 18

inflammation of the lining of the mouth, throat, and gastrointestinal tract often associated with cancer therapies

Question 19

myelosuppression

Answer 19

suppression of the blood cell–producing function of the bone marrow

Question 20

nadir

Answer 20

lowest point of white blood cell depression after therapy that has toxic effects on the bone marrow

Question 21

neoplasia

Answer 21

uncontrolled cell growth that follows no physiologic demand; cancer

Question 22

neutropenia

Answer 22

abnormally low absolute neutrophil count

Question 23

oncology

Answer 23

field or study of cancer

Question 24

palliation

Answer 24

relief of symptoms and promotion of comfort and quality of life regardless of the disease stage

Question 25

precision medicine

Answer 25

using advances in research, technology, and policies to develop individualized plans of care to prevent and treat disease

Question 26

radiation therapy

Answer 26

the use of ionizing radiation to kill malignant cells

Question 27

staging

Answer 27

process of determining the extent of disease, including tumor size and spread or metastasis to distant sites

Question 28

stomatitis

Answer 28

inflammation of the oral tissues, often associated with some chemotherapeutic agents and radiation therapy to the head and neck region

Question 29

targeted therapies

Answer 29

cancer treatments that seek to minimize the negative effects on healthy tissues by disrupting specific cancer cell functions (such as malignant transformation), metabolism, communication pathways, processes for growth and metastasis, and genetic coding

Question 30

thrombocytopenia

Answer 30

decrease in the number of circulating platelets; associated with the potential for bleeding

Question 31

vesicant

Answer 31

substance that can cause inflammation, damage, and necrosis with extravasation from blood vessels and contact with tissues