Following is a list of medical terms that may be helpful.
A - E | F- L | M - O | P - S | T - Z
Adenocarcinoma (A-den-oh-kar-si-NOH-muh): a type of cancer that begins in glandular tissue.
Antibodies (AN-ti-bod-eez): substances produced by the body's immune system. Antibodies are also manufactured for use as drugs.
Antiemetic (an-tee-uh-MET-ik):drug used to prevent and relieve nausea and vomiting.
Benign (buh-NINE): a tumor that is not cancer (it is not malignant).
Biopsy (BY-op-see): removal of a small amount of tissue from a patient for examination. A pathologist looks at this tissue to see if cancer is present.
Carcinoma in situ (kar-si-NOH-ma in SI-too): cancer that has not spread to any other surrounding tissues.
Cell (sel): a unit that makes up organized tissue. A cell is the basic "building block" of living organisms.
CT (or CAT) scan [computed tomography (tuh-MOG-ruh-fee)]: the use of an X-ray controlled by a computer to create detailed pictures of areas in the body.
Curative treatments: treatments given with the goal of providing a cure.
Dosimetrist (doh-SIM-uh-trist): a person trained to plan the doses and schedule of radiation (also called medical dosimetrist).
Ears, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor: doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the ear, nose, and throat.
Endoscope (EN-duh-skope): a device used by a doctor to view inside the hollow areas of the body, such as the esophagus or nasal cavity. An endoscope is a long, thin, lighted tube with a lens. It may also have a tool that takes a small tissue sample.
Endoscopy (en-DOSS-kuh-pee): the use of an endoscope to view an area of the body.
Epiglottis (eh-pi-GLOT-tis): a lidlike structure that covers the larynx so food will not enter the air passages when swallowing.
Esophagoscope (ee-SAHF-uh-goh-skope): an endoscope inserted into the mouth to look at the esophagus.
Esophagus (ee-SAHF-uh-gus): the tube that extends from the pharynx to the stomach. Food moves through the esophagus to your stomach.
External beam radiation: a type of therapy in which a source of radiation outside the body is directed toward the tumor.
Glandular cells: specialized cells found in glands. These cells make substances such as sweat, tears, and saliva.
Hard palate (PAL-ut): the bony part of the roof of the mouth (the palate) that separates the nasal and oral cavities.
Hypopharynx (hy-poh-FEHR-inks): the lower part of the pharynx.
Laryngoscope (luh-RING-guh-skope): an endoscope inserted into the mouth to look at the larynx.
Larynx (LEHR-inks): also called the voice box, the larnynx is a short tube that leads to the lungs. Located just below the pharynx, the larynx contains the vocal cords and the epiglottis, which moves to cover the larynx to prevent food from entering the air passages when swallowing.
Local therapy: a treatment, such as surgery and radiation, that work at the site of the tumor. (See also systemic therapy.)
Lymph (LIM-pf): a usually clear fluid from tissues in the body that is returned to the blood by the lymphatic system. The lymph plays an important role in the immune system and helps transport waste away from cells.
Lymph node (LIM-pf node): a mass of tissue that filters lymph and stores white blood cells. If cancer cells move through the lymphatic system, they can collect in the lymph nodes.
Lymphatic (lim-FAT-ik) system: the system of the body that helps fight infection and disease. It includes bone marrow, the spleen, and lymph nodes. It also includes lymphatic vessels that carry lymph.
Malignant (muh-LIG-nunt): cancerous.
Medical oncologist (ong-KAHL-uh-jist): a doctor who is specially trained in the use of drugs to treat cancer.
Metastasis (muh-TAS-tuh-sis): the spread of cancer from the original tumor to other parts of the body.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): imaging technique that uses a powerful magnet and a computer to make pictures of areas inside the body.
Mucosa (myoo-KOH-zuh): a lining found in cavities of the body, such as the digestive and respiratory tracts. The mucosa is kept lubricated by secretions (mucus).
Mucosal (myoo-KOH-zuhl): a type of cell that forms the mucosa.
Nasal cavity: the hollow space inside the nose.
Nasopharyngoscope (nay-zoh-fuh-RING-guh-skope): an endoscope that is inserted through the nose to look at the nasal cavity and nasopharynx.
Nasopharynx (nay-zoh-FEHR-inks): the upper part of the pharynx, behind the nose.
Oncology (ong-KAHL-uh-jee): the study and treatment of tumors.
Oncology (ong-KAHL-uh-jee) nurse: a nurse trained to treat and care for patients with cancer.
Oral cavity: the mouth, including the lips, the front two-thirds of the tongue, the gums, the lining of the cheeks and lips, the bottom of the mouth under the tongue, the hard palate, and the area behind the wisdom teeth.
Organ: a part of the body with a specific job. An organ is made of more than one type of tissue. Examples include the liver, kidneys, and heart.
Oropharynx (or-oh-FEHR-inks): the part of the pharynx that includes the soft palate (back of the mouth), the base of the tongue, and the tonsils.
Otolaryngologist (oh-toh-lehr-ing-GOL-uh-jist): an ear, nose, and throat (or ENT) doctor.
Palliative (PAL-ee-uh-tiv) treatment: a treatment that relieves symptoms without curing the disease. The goal of palliative treatment is to help improve the patient's quality of life.
Paranasal (pehr-uh-NAY-zul) sinuses: the hollow spaces in the bones around the nose.
Parotid (puh-RAH-tid) glands: the largest of the salivary glands. There are two parotid glands, one in front of and just below each ear.
Pathologist (puh-THOL-uh-jist): a doctor who looks at tissue samples to detect diseas. Pathologists help diagnosis cancer by looking for cancer cells.
PET [or positron emission tomography (tuh-MOG-ruh-fee)] scan: imaging technique that looks at what happens to a substance given to a patient. A PET scan can help distinguish cancer cells from normal, healthy cells.
Pharynx (FEHR-inks): the throat, a hollow tube that starts behind the nose and leads to the esophagus.
Primary therapy: a therapy directed toward the primary (original) tumor.
Primary tumor: the original tumor.
Prognosis (prog-NOH-sus): forecast of the likely outcome of a disease. A prognosis may take into account how well a patient will do in response to treatment.
Radiation oncologist (ong-KAHL-uh-jist): a doctor who uses radiation therapy to treat cancer.
Radiologist (ray-dee-AHL-uh-jist): a doctor who uses X-rays and other image technology to diagnose and treat disease.
Reconstructive or plastic surgery: operations performed to re-build areas of the body that may have been damaged by cancer and/or the removal of the tumor.
Resectable (ree-SEK-tuh-bul): can be removed by surgery.
Saliva: spit. Saliva is an important body fluid, playing a role in swallowing, speech, and eating. Saliva keeps the mouth moist and helps to break down food in the mouth.
Salivary glands: the glands that produce saliva (spit).
Sign: an indication of disease or illness that can be seen, felt, or measured by a health care professional.
Soft palate (PAL-ut): the fleshy part of the roof of the mouth (the palate), which separates the nasal and oral cavities.
Squamous (SKWA-mus) cell carcinoma (kar-si-NOH-muh): a cancer that starts in squamous cells. Squamous cells have a scaly appearance. They are found in tissue that forms the skin surface, the lining of hollow organs, and passages of the respiratory and digestive tracts. Most cancers of the head and neck are squamous cell carcinomas.
Staging: a system to classify cancer. Staging helps detect the extent of disease. It is important in choosing treatments.
Supportive care treatments: treatments to help relieve pain, address the side effects of treatments, and to help emotional or other problems related to cancer and its treatments.
Surgical oncologist (ong-KAHL-uh-jist): a doctor who is specially trained to remove cancer with surgery.
Survival rate: the percentage of people in a cancer study who survive the cancer for a specific amount of time after diagnosis or treatment.
Symptom (SIM-tum): a feeling or problem that a patient feels, but that cannot be seen, touched, or measured by a health care professional.
Systemic (sis-TEM-ik) therapy: a treatment that works throughout the body. In head and neck cancer, chemotherapy is a systemic therapy.
Tissue: a group of cells that perform a function.
TNM System: system used to stage (classify) cancers. It is based on the primary tumor (T), lymph nodes (N), and metastases (M).
3-dimensional (3-D) conformal radiation therapy: method of giving radiation that uses 3-D images of the tumor. Higher doses of radiation can be used to treat the cancer, because 3-D conformal radiation may help spare the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor.
Tonsils (TAHN-sulz): small, rounded masses of tissue found on each side of the throat. The tonsils help protect the body from foreign substances, such as bacteria.
Trachea (TRAY-kee-uh): the tube that leads from the larynx to the lungs. The trachea is also known as the windpipe.
Tumor: an abnormal tissue mass. A tumor is created from uncontrolled growth of cells. A benign tumor is not cancer; a malignant tumor is cancer.
Unresectable (un-ree-SEK-tuh-bul): cannot be removed by surgery.
Xerostomia (zee-roh-STOW-mee-uh): dry mouth caused when the salivary glands can't make enough saliva.
Source:
National Cancer Institute
Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 31st ed.
Human Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed.
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