A blood test measuring hematocrit is often done for people going through cancer treatment. What is the definition of hematocrit?
Adenocarcinoma of the lung is a form of non-small cell lung cancer.
Medical definition of a form of cancer treatment
Medical definition of advance directive, a document that outlines your health care choices should you be unable to make them yourself.
Definition of advanced lung cancer, cancer that has spread.
Adverse Reaction - an unwanted negative reaction to a medication or treatment.
Definition of allopathic medicine, otherwise known as traditional or conventional Western medicine
Definition of alopecia, hair loss.
Definition of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, a genetic disorder.
Alternative medicine is sometimes used to help control the symptoms of lung cancer. What is alternative medicine?
Definition of alveoli, tiny air sacs in the lungs
Definition of analgesic, a medication given to reduce pain.
Learn the definition of anemia.
Definition of a type of drug to treat cancer.
Definition of anorexia, loss of appetite
Medical definition of antioxidant, a substance that protects cells from free radicals.
Medical definition of anti emetic, medications used to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting (emesis).
Episodes of apnea may occur during the late stages of lung cancer. What is the definition of apnea?
Medical definition of apoptosis, cell death.
Definition of asbestos, a material that can cause lung cancer.
Medical definition of atelectasis, collapse of a lung.
Medical definition of asymptomatic, lacking symptoms
Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma (BAC) is a rare form of lung cancer. What exactly is BAC? Learn what the definition of BAC means here.
Medical definition of benign, a term meaning not cancerous
Definition of beta-carotene, a vitamin found in certain foods.
Medical definition of biological therapy, treatment to improve the immune system.
Medical definition of biopsy, a sampling of tissue
Definition of brachytherapy, a form of radiation for cancer.
Bronchiectasis is a form of COPD, and can be a complication of lung cancer. What is the definition of bronchiectasis?
Chronic bronchitis is a serious lung disease that may increase the risk of lung cancer. What is the definition of chronic bronchitis?
Medical definition of bronchus, part of the respiratory system.
Medical definition of cachexia, a state of wasting seen with chronic diseases, such as cancer.
Definition of cancer survivor, someone who has been diagnosed with cancer.
Capillaries are small blood vessels involved in oxygen exchange. What is the definition of capillaries?
Definition of carcinogen, something that causes cancer.
Definition of carcinoma in situ, cancer confined to the tissue it began in.
Some carotenoids may lower the risk of cancer. What are carotenoids?
Medical definition of chemoprevention, the use of a substance to prevent, or prevent the recurrence of cancer.
Chemotherapy is a common treatment for lung cancer. What is chemotherapy, and when is it used?
Cheyne-stokes respirations are often seen at the end of life. What is the definition of cheyne-stokes respirations?
Definition of clinical trial, a study to evaluate new methods to treat disease.
Phase 1 clinical trials are done to evaluate the safety of a drug or treatment. What is the definition of phase 1 clinical trials?
Phase 2 clinical trials are done to evaluate a drug or treatment to see if it works. What is the definition of phase 2 clinical trials.
Phase 3 clinical trials are done before an experimental medication or treatment is approved for public use by the FDA. What is the definition of phase 3 clinical trials?
Phase 4 clinical trials are done after a medication or treatment has already been approved by the FDA. What is the definition of phase 4 clinical trials?
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a lung disease that can increase the risk of developing lung cancer. What is the definition of COPD?
Medical definition of cyanosis, a bluish discoloration of the skin
Medical definition of clubbing, a deformity of the fingers.
Definition of complete blood count (CBC), a blood test to determine levels of certain cells in the blood.
Definition of cytotoxic, causing cell death.
The "death rattle" is a common sound at the end of life. What is the definition of death rattle?
The diaphragm is an important muscle used in breathing. What is the diaphragm?
Your oncologist said that you are developing drug resistance to your cancer medication. What is the definition of drug resistance?
His doctor says he has a DVT (deep vein thrombosis). What is a DVT?
Definition of dyspnea, shortness of breath
Definition of dysphagia, difficulty swallowing.
Definition of dysguesia, an altered sensation of taste.
An ecchymosis can be a sign of a low platelet count. What is an ecchymosis?
Emphysema is a chronic lung disease. What is the definition of emphysema?
Definition of EGFR, a receptor found on the surface of cells.
Definition of esophagitis, inflammation of the esophagus.
Definition of esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach
An extrapleural pneumonectomy is a type of surgery for mesothelioma. What is an extrapleural pneumonectomy?
Medical definition of fast track (FDA designation) - an accelerated approval process for a treatment for a serious disease that addresses an unmet need.
A fine needle aspiration(FNA)biopsy is a procedure that is sometimes used to diagnose lung cancer. What is FNA? Learn the definition here.
The initial treatment for a disease or illness.
Definition of flavonoids, a group of substances found in plant-based foods.
Genetic markers may help us determine who is at risk for lung cancer in the future. What are genetic markers?
An individual may have a genetic predisposition to lung cancer if a family member has lung cancer. What is the definition of genetic predisposition.
A blood test for hemoglobin is often done for people going through cancer treatment. What is the definition of hemoglobin?
Medical definition of hemoptysis, coughing up blood.
The region of each lung where the bronchi, blood vessels, and nerves enter and leave the lungs.
Homeopathic medicine is a form of complementary/alternative medicine. How does homeopathic medicine differ from traditional medicine?
Your oncologist said hypercalcemia is causing your symptoms. What is the definition of hypercalcemia?
An inadequate level of oxygen in the blood.
A deficiency in the amount of oxygen delivered to body tissues.
The number of cases of a disease diagnosed during a specific period of time.
Definition of inoperable lung cancer, a lung cancer where surgery is not the most appropriate treatment option.
Integrative medicine is a treatment approach that is now offered at many cancer centers. What is integrative medicine?
The new drug has been studied in vitro. What is the definition of in vitro?
They said the drug worked in vivo as well as in vitro. What does in vivo mean?
Large cell lung cancer is an uncommon form of non-small cell lung cancer.
Medical definition of a surgical treatment for lung cancer.
Your doctor said your cancer is in your lymph nodes. What are lymph nodes?
Maintenance therapy is a treatment for cancer that has responded to intial therapy. What is maintenance therapy?
Medical definition of malignant, a term that means dangerous to health.
Definition of mediastinum, the area in the chest between the lungs.
My doctor diagnosed me with mesothelioma. What is the definition of mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma begins in tissue called the mesothelium. What is the definition of mesothelium?
Medical definition of metastasis, a term referring to the spread of cancer.
Micrometastases can affect treatment recommendations and prognosis with cancer. What is the definition of micrometastases?
Definition of mucositis, inflammation of mucous membranes
A decrease in production of blood cells by the bone marrow.
Definition of neoadjuvant therapy, treatment given before the main treatment for a disease.
Definition of neutropenia, a decrease in white blood cells.
A low level of neutrophils can raise the risk of infection. What are neutrophils?
oat cell carcinoma, oat cell lung cancer,oat cell cancer
Your doctor said the results of your test showed occult lung cancer. What is occult lung cancer?
Medical definition of oncologist, a physician that specializes in treating cancer.
Oncogenes can promote the development of cancer. What are oncogenes?
Medical definition of oximetry, a measurement of oxygen in the blood.
Pack-years is a measure of how much someone has smoked. What is the definition of pack-years?
Palliative sedation may be used for some people with intractable symptoms from cancer. What is the definition of palliative sedation?
Medical definition of palliative therapy, a form of cancer management.
A pancoast tumor is a form of lung cancer that grows in the upper parts of the lung. What is the definition of pancoast tumor?
Chemotherapy for cancer can cause pancytopenia. What is pancytopenia?
Medical definition of a partial response to treatment.
Definition of paraneoplastic syndrome, a variety of symptoms due to the presence of a tumor in the body.
Passive smoking may contribute to lung cancer risk as well as other diseases. What is passive smoking?
A physician who specializes in the diagnosis of disease by examining body tissues.
The pericardium helps protect the heart. What is the pericardium?
Definition of peripheral neuropathy, a nerve-related health condition.
A good performance status is needed for many cancer trials. What is performance status?
Petechiae can be a sign of a low platelet count. What are petechiae?
Definition of PET Scan - a type of radiological test used to evaluate lung cancer and other diseases.
Definition of photodynamic therapy, a treatment that uses a drug plus a special type of light to kill cancer cells.
Both radiation and some chemotherapy medications can cause photosensitivity during cancer treatment. What is photosensitivity?
A placebo is often used in clinical trials for cancer. What is a placebo?
Platelets are a type of blood cell. What are platelets?
Definition of pleura, the membrane lining the lungs.
Medical definition of pleural effusion, fluid build-up in the lining of the lungs.
Pleurectomy is one type of surgical procedure done for mesothelioma. What exactly does a pleurectomy entail?
Pleurodesis is a procedure sometimes performed with lung cancer. What does a pleurodesis entail?
A pleuroscopy is a procedure that may be done to diagnose or treat complications of lung cancer. What is a pleuroscopy?
Medical definition for removal of one of the lungs
The original organ or tissue where a cancer began.
Definition of a disease that is worsening.
Definition of pneumothorax, the leakage of air into the chest cavity.
The number of people living with a particular disease during a given amount of time.
Medical definition of prognosis, the likely outcome of a disease.
Definition of progression-free survival (PFS), a period of time during cancer treatment.
Medical definition of a cancer therapy
Pulmonary fibrosis is one of those clinical terms a lung cancer patient may hear, perhaps in relation to his radiation therapy. What does it mean exactly? Learn the full definition here.
Pulmonary Embolism is a serious complication during lung cancer treatment. What is the definition of pulmonary embolism?
Definition of pulmonologist, a physician who specialized in lung diseases.
Qigong is an alternative medical practice that is sometimes used to help with cancer symptoms. What is qigong?
Medical definition of radiofrequency ablation, a procedure used to treat cancer.
Definition of Radiation Oncologist, a physician that specializes in using radiation therapy to treat cancer.
Radiation Pneumonitis can occur as a complication of radiation therapy for lung cancer. What is the definition of radiation pneumonitis?
Definition of radon, a gas that can cause lung cancer.
Red blood cells (RBC's) can be affected by chemotherapy for lung cancer. What are red blood cells (RBC's)?
Reflexology is a form of alternative medicine sometimes used for the symptoms of lung cancer. What is reflexology?
Medical definition of remission, no detectable sign of cancer
SBRT (stereotactic body radiotherapy) is a new treatment for lung cancer. What is SBRT?
Your doctor called your lung cancer a secondary cancer. What is the definition of secondary cancer?
Treatment for a disease or condition after first-line treatment has failed.
Small cell carcinomas can occur in the lungs as well as other parts of the body. What is a small cell carcinoma?
Your doctor found a solitary pulmonary nodule on your chest x-ray. What is the definition of solitary pulmonary nodule?
Medical definition of spirometry, a test of lung function.
Sputum is sometimes looked at to test for lung cancer. What is sputum?
Definition of sputum cytology, a method of sampling sputum (mucous) for cancerous cells.
Squamous cell lung cancer is a form of non-small cell lung cancer. What is squamous cell lung cancer?
Definition of stomatitis, inflammation of the mucous membranes in the mouth.
The superior vena cava is a large vessel that can become obstructed with lung cancer. What is the superior vena cava?
SVC syndrome is an uncommon complication of lung cancer. What is SVC syndrome?
Medical definition of survival rate, the percent of people who survive a disease for a specific amount of time.
Medical definition of surfactant, a substance produced by the lungs that keeps them expanded.
Tachypnea can be a sign with lung cancer that you aren't getting enough oxygen. What is the definition of tachypnea?
Targeted therapy is a type of treatment for cancer. What is the definition of targeted therapy?
An abnormally low number of platelets in the blood.
Definition of thoracentesis, a procedure to remove fluid from the chest.
Thoracoscopy can be used to diagnose and sometimes treat lung cancer. What is thoracoscopy?
The trachea is a major airway in the respiratory system. What is the trachea?
Definition of tumor markers, substances that may be elevated in the body when a tumor is present.
Tumor suppressor genes can prevent the growth of tumors. What are tumor suppressor genes?
Definition of unresectable - a tumor that is unable to be removed by surgery.
Definition of uranium, a radioactive metal found in nature.
Definition of video-assisted thorascopic surgery (VATS), and procedure used to operate inside the chest.
Visualization is a mind-body practice. What does it entail exactly? Learn the definition of visualization here.
Watchful waiting is one approach after a diagnosis of cancer or the identification of a suspicious nodule. What is watchful waiting?
White blood cells (WBCs)are an important part of the immune system. What are white blood cells?
Definition of wedge resection, a type of lung cancer surgery.
Wheezing can be a symptom of lung cancer as well as many other lung conditions. What is wheezing?
