Grade 1:
tumors are very well differentiated so that they closely resemble cells from the normal parent tissue of their origin
Grade IV:
tumors are so undifferentiated or anaplastic that even recognition of the tumors tissue of origin may be difficult
Grade II and III:
intermediate in appearance, moderately or poorly differentiated, as opposed to well defferentiated (grade 1) and undifferentiated (grade IV)
stage system T:
specifies the size and degree of local extension of the tumor
stage system N:
the number of regional lymph nodes that have been invaded by tumor
stage system M:
specifies the presence or absence of metastases (spreads to sites of tumor cells)
3 types of cancer with highest mortality rate:
pancreas, liver, esophagus
3 types of cancer with lowest mortality rate:
prostate, thyroid, testicular
characteristics of benign tumors:
slowly growing, encapsulated and noninvasive, well-differentiated, and nonmetastatic
characteristics of malignant tumors:
rapidly multiplying, invasive and infiltrative, anaplastic and undifferentiated, and metastatic
benign tumor:
noncancerous growth
biological response modifiers:
substances produced by normal cells that either directly block tumor growth or stimulate the immune system to fight cancer
chemotherapy:
treatment with drugs
grading of tumors:
evaluating the degree of maturity of tumor cells or indication of malignant transformation
malignant tumors:
a tumor having the characteristics of continuous growth
metastasis:
spread of a malignant tumor to a secondary site, literally, beyond control
radiation:
energy carried by a stream of particles
remission:
partial or complete disapperance of symptoms of disease
sarcoma:
cancerous tumor derived from connective or flesh tissue
staging of tumors:
system of evaulating the extent of spread of tumors
surgical procedures to treat cancer:
methods of removing cancerous tissue
alveol:
small sac
cac:
bad
carcin:
cancer
cauter:
burn, heat
chem:
chemical, drug
cry:
cold
cyst:
sac of fluid
fibr:
fibers
follicul:
small glandular sacs
fung:
fungus
medull:
soft, inner part
mucos:
mucous membrane
mut:
genetic change
mutagen:
causing genetic change
necr:
death
onc:
tumor
papill:
nipple-like
pharmac:
chemical, drug
plas:
formation
ple:
many, more
polyp:
polyp
prot:
first
radi:
rays
sarc:
felsh, connective tissue
scirrh:
hard
xer:
dry
-blastoma:
immature tumor
-genesis:
formation
-oma:
mass, tumor
-plasia:
formation, growth
-suppression:
to stop
-therapy:
treatment
ana:
backward
apo:
off, away
brachy:
short (distance)
epi:
upon
meta:
beyond, change
tele:
far
BMT:
bone marrow transplantation
bx:
biopsy
CA:
cancer
CEA:
carcinoembryonic antigen
mets:
metastases
PSA:
prostate-specific antigen
TNM:
tumor, nodes, metastases