Learning the Medical Language – Chapter 19 – Cancer Medicine (Oncology) Terms & Definitions – Flashcards
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adenocarcinoma
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cancerous tumor of glandular tissue
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adjuvant therapy
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treatment of disease with substances that assist or enhance the action of primary treatment
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alkylating agents
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synthetic chemicals used in treatment of cancer
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alopecia
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partial or complete lack of hair
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alveolar
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pertaining to a small sac or alveolus
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anaplasia
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loss of differentiation of cells and reversion to a more primitive, unspecialized cell type
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angiogenesis
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process of forming new blood vessels
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antibiotics
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chemical substances produced by bacteria or primitive plants
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antimetabolites
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chemicals that prevent cell division by inhibiting formation of substances necessary to make DNA
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antimitotics
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drugs that block mitosis (cell division)
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apoptosis
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programmed cell death
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benign tumor
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noncancerous growth
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biological response modifiers
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substances produced by normal cells that block tumor growth or stimulate the immune system to fight cancer
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biological therapy
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use of the body's own defenses to fight tumor cells
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bone marrow biopsy
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small amount of bone marrow tissue is removed and exmined under a microscope for evidence of malignancy
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bone marrow transplant
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bone marrow tissue is infused intravenously into a patient
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brachytherapy
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placement of radioactive material in contact with or implanted into tumor tissue
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cachexia
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placement of radioactive material in contact with or implanted into tumor tissue
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carcinogens
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substance that produces cancer
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carcinoma
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cancerous tumor
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carcinoma in situ
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localized cancer, confined to it's site of origin
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cauterization
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process of burning tissue to destroy
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cellular oncogenes
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pieces of DNA that, when broken or dislocated, can cause a normal cell to become malignant
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chemotherapy
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treatment with drugs
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combination chemotherapy
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use of several chemotherapeutic agents together for treatment of tumors
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cryosurgery
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use of subfreezing temperature to destroy tissue
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cystic tumor
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a cystic tumor forms large open spaces filled with fluid
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cytogenetic analysis
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chromosomes of normal or tumor cells are examined for breaks, translocations, or deletions of DNA
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dedifferentiation
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loss of differntiation of cells; reversion to a more primitive, embryonic cell type
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deoxribonucleic acid
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genetic material within the nucleus of a cell; controls cell division and protein synthesis
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differentiating agents
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drugs that promote tumor cells to differentiate, stop growing and die
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differentiation
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specialization of cells; unspecialized cells are modified and altered to form specific and characteristic types and functions
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dysplastic
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pertaining to abnormal formation or development of cells; not clearly malignant
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electron beams
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low-energy beams of radiation for treatment of skin or surface tumors
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en bloc resection
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removal of a tumor with a large rea of surrounding tissue containing lymph nodes
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encapsulated
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surrounded by a capsule; benign tumors are encapsulated
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epidermoid
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resembling epidermis or outer layer of skin. Epidermoid tumors are composed of thin, plate-like cells
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excisional biopsy
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removal of tumor and a margin of normal tissue
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exentration
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wide resection involving removal of the tumor, it's organ of origin, and all surrounding tissue in the body space
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exfoliative cytology
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cells are scraped from a region of suspected disease and examined under the microscope
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external beam radiation
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radiation applied to a tumor from a distant source
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fiberoptic colonoscopy
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visual examination of the colon using a fiberoptic instrument (endoscope) malignant tumor of fibrous or connective tissue
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fibrosarcoma
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malignant tumor of fibrous or connective tissue
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fibrosis
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abnormal condition (proliferation) of fibrous connective tissue; occurring in the lung as a side effect of radiation for lung cancer
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follicular
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pertaining to forming small, glandular sacs
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fractionation
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method of administering radiation treatment in small, repeated doses rather than in a few large doses.
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fulguration
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destruction of tissue by elecytric sparks generated by a high-frequency current
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fungating tumor
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gross description of tumor growth in which cells pile one on top of another and project from the tissue surface
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genetic screening
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family members are tested to determine whether they have inherited a cancer-causing gene
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grading of tumors
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evaluating the microscopic appearance of tumor cells to determine their degree of differentiation or maturity and thus malignant transformation
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gray
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unit of absorbed radiation dose
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gross description of tumors
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visual appearance of tumors, such as cystic, fungating, inflammatory, medullary, necrotic, polypoid, ulcerating, and verrucous
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hyperplasia
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increased growth in numbers of normal cells
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immunohistochemistry
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localizing antigens or proteins in tissues using labeled (colored or florescent) antibodies
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incisional biopsy
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piece of tumor is removed for examination to establish a diagnosis
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infiltrative
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pertaining to extending beyond normal tissue boundaries
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invasive
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having the ability to enter and destroy surrounding tissue
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irradiation
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exposure to any form of radiant energy such as light, heat or x-rays
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laparoscopy
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visual examination of the abdominal cavity using small incisions and a laparoscope (endoscope)
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linear accelerator
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device that produces high energy x-ray beams for treatment of deep-seated tumors
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malignant tumor
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cancerous tumor
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mammography
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x-ray examination of the breast
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medullary tumor
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large, fleshy tumors
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mesenchymal
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pertaining to embryonic connective tissue from which all connective tissues arise
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metaplasia
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conversion of normal cells into a less differentiated type in response to chronic stress or injury
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metastasis
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spread of a cancerous tumor to another site (change of place) or secondary location
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microscopic description of tumors
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appearance of tumors as viewed under the microscope
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mitosis
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cell division or replication of cells; creation of two identical daughter cells from a parent cell
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mixed-tissue tumors
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tumors composed of different types of tissue
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modality
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method of treatment
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mucinous
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pertaining to cystic tumors filled with mucus
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mucositis
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inflammation of mucous membranes
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mutagenic
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pertaining to producing a mutation
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mutation
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change in genetic material (DNA) of a cell
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myelosuppression
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bone marrow depression or formation of blood cells
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necrotic tumor
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tumor that contains dead cells
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neoplasm
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new growth; benign or malignant
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neuroblastoma
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malignant childhood tumor originating in cells of the nervous system
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nucleotide
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unit of DNA composed of a sugar, phosphate, and a base
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oncogene
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region of DNA in tumor cells or in viruses that cause cancer
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oncology
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study of tumors (malignant tumors)
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osteosarcoma
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malignant tumor of bone
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palliative
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relieving, but not curing symptoms
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papillary
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pertaining to nipple-like projections
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pedunculated
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possessing a stem or stalk
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pharmacokinetics
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study of the distribution and removal of drugs in the body over a period of time
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photon therapy
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radiation treatment using x-rays and gamma rays delivered to tumor tissue via a linear accelerator
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pleomorphic
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pertaining to a variety of shapes or cell types
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pneumonitis
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inflammation of the lungs
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polypoid tumor
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resembling a polyp that protrudes from a base
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protein marker tests
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measurements of the level of specific proteins in the blood or on the surface of tumor cells
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protocol
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detailed plan for treatment of an illness
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proton therapy
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subatomic particles produced by a cyclotron deposit bsorbed dose of radiation at a finite, focused point in the body
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radiation
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energy carried by a stream of particles
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radicurable tumor
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tumor cells that are destroyed with radiotherapy
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radionuclide scans
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radioactive substances are injected intravenously and scans are taken of organs
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radioresistant tumor
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tumor cells that require large doses of radiation to be destroyed
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radiosensitive tumor
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tumor in which radiation can cause death of cells without damage to surrounding tissue
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radiosensitizers
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drugs that increase the sensitivity of tumor cells to x-rays
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radiotherapy
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treatment of tumors using radiation
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relapse
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return of symptoms of disease
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remission
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partial or complete disappearance of symptoms of disease
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retinoblastoma
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malignant tumor of the retina of the eye
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ribonucleic acid
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cellular substance that, along with DNA, plays a role in protein synthesis
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sarcoma
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cancerous tumor derived from connective or fleshy tissue
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scirrhous
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pertaining to hard, densely packed tumors, overgrown with fibrous tissue
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serous
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pertaining to a clear fluid that remains after blood has clotted
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sessile
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type of polyp that extends from a broad base as opposed to growing on a stalk
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simulation
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study prior to radiation therapy using CT scan or MRI to map treatment
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solid tumor
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tumor composed of a mass of cells
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staging of tumors
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system of evaluating the extent of spread of tumors
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stem cell transplantation
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stem cells are harvested from the bloodstream of a patient and then reinfused after the patient has received chemotherapy
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stereotactic radiosurgery
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a single large dose of radiation delivered under stereotactic (highly precise) guidance to destroy a vascular abnormality or treat small intracranial tumors
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steroids
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complex, naturally occurring chemicals, such as hormones, that are used in cancer chemotherapy
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teletherapy
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radiation delivered to a tumor from a distant source, such as a linear accelerator or cyclotron
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ulcerating tumor
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growth that has open, exposed surfaces resulting from death of overlying tissue
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verrucous tumor
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tumor, whose growth pattern, resembles a wart
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viral oncogenes
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pioeces of DNA from viruses that infect a normal cell and cause it to become malignant
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virus
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infectious agent that reproduces by entering a host cell and using the host's genetic material to make copies of itself
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xerostomia
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dryness of the mouth
