Unit 4 & 5- Cancer Flashcards
A classification system that characterizes cancer cells based upon how similar they look to their normal
counterparts.
Cancer grade
A classification system that describes the extent to which a tumor has spread.
Cancer stage
The spread of malignant tumor cells to other parts of the body through blood/lymph vessels.
Metastasis
The process of growing new blood/lymph vessels
Angiogenesis
A tumor that is hyper-proliferating, but has not spread beyond the local area of the epithelium where it
originated – not cancerous
Benign tumor
Hyperproliferating tumor that has acquired the ability to migrate into the surrounding stroma - cancerous
Malignant tumor
A hyperproliferating malignant tumor that has acquired the ability to travel through the blood and lymph to
secondary sites – cancerous.
Metastatic tumor
A sample of tissue used for diagnostic purposes.
Biopsy
A test performed to identify the nature of a cancer.
Diagnostic test
The examination of the interior of a body canal, such as the esophagus, bladder, stomach, or colon, using a
flexible camera.
Endoscopy
A group of cancers of white blood cells that typically originate in the bone marrow.
Leukemias
Surgical removal of all or part of a breast
Mastectomy
The return of symptoms of cancer following a period of remission.
Relapse
Reduction of cancer symptoms that indicates absence of disease
Remission
A program /shelter that provides care to decrease pain and symptoms for patients as well as addressing
emotional and spiritual needs of the patient.
Hospice
