A Lung Cancer Glossary - A - C
A diagnosis of lung cancer - or even the possibility of it - can plunge someone into a world of unfamiliar words and terms for tests, conditions, medicines and treatments. Knowing the words that your health care provider is using can help you make good decisions about treatment options and choices. Below are definitions of many of the terms that you'll encounter when discussing lung cancer with your treatment providers.
- adenocarcinoma (ADD-in-oh-kar-sin-OH-muh)
- a type of small cell lung cancer
- adjuvant therapy (ADD-joo-vent THAIR-uh-pee)
- Treatment given after the main treatment to help cure a disease. For instance, chemotherapy given after surgery to kill off any remaining cancer cells is adjuvant therapy.
- antiangiogenesis therapy (AN-tee-an-jee-oh-JEN-uh-sis THAIR-uh-pee)
- a treatment that stops new blood vessels from forming in tumors, thereby limiting tumor growth.
- asbestos (ess-BEST-iss)
- a natural material made from a mineral. Asbestos was widely used for nearly a century. The tiny fibers of asbestos can become trapped in the lungs, causing lung cancer many decades later.
- biological therapy (bye-uh-LAH-juh-kul THAIR-uh-pee)
- Treatment to increase the body's immune response to cancer. Also called immunotherapy
- biopsy (BY-ah-psee)
- To remove cells or tissues from the body for testing and examination under a microscope.
- bronchi (BRAHNK-eye)
- The large airways that connect the windpipe to the lungs.
- bronchial carcinoma (BRAHN-kee-yul kar-sin-OH-muh)
- Cancer that grows in the bronchi - the large airways that connect the lungs to the windpipe.
- bronchoscopy (brahn-KAH-skuh-pee)
- Using a lighted tube to look inside the windpipe, the bronchi or the lungs. The tube is inserted through the patient's nose or throat and is often used to help doctors find cancerous sites.
- CAT scan
- Computerized axial tomography. Also called a CT scan. A set of detailed pictures taken from different angles of the inside of the body. The pictures are combined to provide a three-dimensional cross section that can help doctors pinpoint the location of a tumor.
- cervical mediastinoscopy (SUR-vuh-kul MEE-dee-eh-stye-NAH-skuh-pee)
- A surgical procedure that allows doctors to examine the center of the chest. It can help doctors determine the stage of lung cancer and determine if it has spread to the lymph nodes. The doctor inserts a special instrument through a small incision made in the neck in order to see the inside of the chest.
- chemoprevention (KEE-moh-preh-VEN-shin)
- Using drugs, vitamins and other means to try to prevent or slow the progress of cancer. It may be used to prevent the recurrence of cancer after treatment.
- chemotherapy (KEE-moh-THAIR-up-ee)
- Using drugs to treat cancer.
- chest X-ray
- An X-ray of the inside of the chest is often the first step in diagnosing lung cancer and determining the location of a tumor or lesion.
- clinical trial
- A kind of research study where patients volunteer to test new ways of screening for, preventing, finding, or treating a disease. Clinical trials may provide the best chance of survival or treatment in cases of lung cancer that are not otherwise treatable, or offer options that are not available through traditional cancer treatments.
Related Articles
Lung Cancer - Overview
Lung Cancer is a type of cancer that forms in tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining air passages. Many lung cancers begin in the bronchi though others can start in other parts of the lungs. Lung cancer also has a tendency to form in the glands below the bronchi.
Lung Cancer - Probabilities
Lung cancer causes up to 30% of all cancer related deaths, and it is the 2nd leading cause of death among both men and women in western society. 85% of all lung cancers are caused by a person's smoking habit or just by breathing in the second-hand smoke of others.
Lung Cancer - Screening
At this moment in time, there is no particularly useful single test that can be considered 100% reliable for the early detection of lung cancer. Unfortunately unless someone is undergoing a health screen for something completely unrelated, lung cancer is very often only discovered in the later stages of the disease when it is often too late to do anything but offer palliative treatment.
Lung Cancer - Symptoms
The most common indicators and symptoms of lung cancer include the following: Fatigue Shortness of breath and wheezing (dyspnoea) A cough that doesn't go away and gets worse over time Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis Constant chest pain Coughing up blood (bloody sputum) (haemoptysis) Swelling of the neck and face Fever Loss of appetite and Weight loss (anorexia) Hoarse voice
Lung Cancer Treatment Options - Radiation
In many cases of lung cancer, surgery is not an option. This may be because of the advanced stage of the cancer, the location of the tumor or tumors, or because of the overall general health of the patient. In those cases, the oncologist may suggest radiation therapy to treat lung cancer. Even if surgery is an option, the doctor may suggest irradiation either before therapy to shrink the tumor or after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
Lung Cancer - Trends by Ethnicity, Sex and Race
In the USA and many other western countries, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. Lung cancer has been found to be the leading cancer killer among Caucasians, African-Americans, Asians and Hispanic males.
Lung Cancer - Overview
Lung Cancer is a type of cancer that forms in tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining air passages. Many lung cancers begin in the bronchi though others can start in other parts of the lungs. Lung cancer also has a tendency to form in the glands below the bronchi.
Lung Cancer - Probabilities
Lung cancer causes up to 30% of all cancer related deaths, and it is the 2nd leading cause of death among both men and women in western society. 85% of all lung cancers are caused by a person's smoking habit or just by breathing in the second-hand smoke of others.
Lung Cancer - Screening
At this moment in time, there is no particularly useful single test that can be considered 100% reliable for the early detection of lung cancer. Unfortunately unless someone is undergoing a health screen for something completely unrelated, lung cancer is very often only discovered in the later stages of the disease when it is often too late to do anything but offer palliative treatment.
Lung Cancer - Symptoms
The most common indicators and symptoms of lung cancer include the following: Fatigue Shortness of breath and wheezing (dyspnoea) A cough that doesn't go away and gets worse over time Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis Constant chest pain Coughing up blood (bloody sputum) (haemoptysis) Swelling of the neck and face Fever Loss of appetite and Weight loss (anorexia) Hoarse voice
Lung Cancer Treatment Options - Radiation
In many cases of lung cancer, surgery is not an option. This may be because of the advanced stage of the cancer, the location of the tumor or tumors, or because of the overall general health of the patient. In those cases, the oncologist may suggest radiation therapy to treat lung cancer. Even if surgery is an option, the doctor may suggest irradiation either before therapy to shrink the tumor or after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
Lung Cancer - Trends by Ethnicity, Sex and Race
In the USA and many other western countries, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. Lung cancer has been found to be the leading cancer killer among Caucasians, African-Americans, Asians and Hispanic males.