Glossary Terms

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.

The use of drugs, vitamins, or other agents to try to reduce the risk of, or delay the development or recurrence of, cancer.

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

The muscles, bones, and joints that make up the area of the body between the neck and the abdomen.

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called clinical study.

Treatment using more than one anticancer drug.

A procedure in which tissue is frozen to destroy abnormal cells. Liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide is used to freeze the tissue. Also called cryoablation and cryosurgical ablation.

To heal or restore health; a treatment to restore health.

Any substance, other than food, that is used to prevent, diagnose, treat or relieve symptoms of a disease or abnormal condition. Also refers to a substance that alters mood or body function, or that can be habit-forming or addictive, especially a narcotic.

A thin, tube-like instrument used to look at tissues inside the body. An endoscope has a light and a lens for viewing and may have a tool to remove tissue.

A type of radiation therapy that uses a machine to aim high-energy rays at the cancer from outside of the body. Also called external-beam radiation therapy.

A type of radiation therapy in which radioactive material sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters is placed directly into or near a tumor. Also called brachytherapy, implant radiation therapy, and radiation brachytherapy.

A surgical procedure that uses the cutting power of a laser beam to make bloodless cuts in tissue or to remove a surface lesion such as a tumor.

Treatment that uses intense, narrow beams of light to cut and destroy tissue, such as cancer tissue. Laser therapy may also be used to reduce lymphedema (swelling caused by a buildup of lymph fluid in tissue) after breast cancer surgery.

Surgery to remove a whole lobe (section) of an organ (such as the lungs, liver, brain, or thyroid gland).

One of a pair of organs in the chest that supplies the body with oxygen, and removes carbon dioxide from the body.

Treatment that is given to help keep cancer from coming back after it has disappeared following the initial therapy. It may include treatment with drugs, vaccines, or antibodies that kill cancer cells, and it may be given for a long time.

A type of protein made in the laboratory that can bind to substances in the body, including tumor cells. There are many kinds of monoclonal antibodies. Each monoclonal antibody is made to find one substance. Monoclonal antibodies are being used to treat some types of cancer and are being studied in the treatment of other types. They can be used alone or to carry drugs, toxins, or radioactive materials directly to a tumor.

A group of lung cancers that are named for the kinds of cells found in the cancer and how the cells look under a microscope. The three main types of non-small cell lung cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common kind of lung cancer.

Cancer cells are found in sputum (mucus coughed up from the lungs), but no tumor can be found in the lung by imaging tests or bronchoscopy, or the tumor is too small to be checked.

Treatment given to relieve the symptoms and reduce the suffering caused by cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Palliative cancer therapies are given together with other cancer treatments, from the time of diagnosis, through treatment, survivorship, recurrent or advanced disease, and at the end of life.

A type of lung cancer that begins in the upper part of a lung and spreads to nearby tissues such as the ribs and vertebrae. Most Pancoast tumors are non-small cell cancers. Also called pulmonary sulcus tumor.

PDQ is an online database developed and maintained by the National Cancer Institute. Designed to make the most current, credible, and accurate cancer information available to health professionals and the public, PDQ contains peer-reviewed summaries on cancer treatment, screening, prevention, genetics, complementary and alternative medicine, and supportive care; a registry of cancer clinical trials from around the world; and directories of physicians, professionals who provide genetics services, and organizations that provide cancer care. Most of this information, and more specific information about PDQ, can be found on the NCI's Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq. Also called Physician Data Query.

Treatment with drugs that become active when exposed to light. These activated drugs may kill cancer cells.

Surgery to remove all of one lung. In a partial pneumonectomy, one or more lobes of a lung are removed.

Cancer that is growing, spreading, or getting worse.

The overall enjoyment of life. Many clinical trials assess the effects of cancer and its treatment on the quality of life. These studies measure aspects of an individual’s sense of well-being and ability to carry out various activities.

The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body. Also called irradiation and radiotherapy.

In a clinical setting, the step-by-step plan for how patients are to be treated; for example, the drug or type of radiation therapy that is to be given, the method by which it is to be given, the amount of time between courses, and the total length of treatment.

Surgery to remove part of an organ or gland. It may also be used to remove a tumor and normal tissue around it. In lung cancer surgery, segmental resection refers to removing a section of a lobe of the lung. Also called segmentectomy.

Surgery to remove a lung tumor in a lobe of the lung and a part of the main bronchus (airway). The ends of the bronchus are rejoined and any remaining lobes are reattached to the bronchus. This surgery is done to save part of the lung. Also called sleeve lobectomy.

The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

Abnormal cells are found in the lining of the airways. These abnormal cells may become cancer and spread into nearby normal tissue.

Stage III non-small cell lung cancer is divided into stages IIIA and IIIB. In stage IIIA, cancer has spread to lymph nodes on the same side of the chest as the tumor. Also, (1) the tumor may be any size; (2) part of the lung (where the trachea joins the bronchus) or the whole lung may have collapsed or become inflamed; (3) there may be one or more separate tumors in the same lobe of the lung; and/or (4) cancer may have spread to any of the following: main bronchus (but not the area where the trachea joins the bronchus), chest wall, diaphragm and the nerve that controls it, or membrane around the heart, lung, or lining the chest wall. OR in stage IIIA, cancer has spread to lymph nodes on the same side of the chest as the tumor. Also, (1) the tumor may be any size; (2) the whole lung may have collapsed or become inflamed; (3) there may be one or more separate tumors in any of the lobes of the lung with cancer; and/or (4) cancer may have spread to any of the following: main bronchus (but not the area where the trachea joins the bronchus), chest wall, diaphragm and the nerve that controls it, membrane around the lung or lining the chest wall, heart or the membrane around it, trachea, carina (where the trachea joins the bronchi), esophagus, sternum (chest bone), backbone, major blood vessels that lead to or from the heart, or the nerve that controls the larynx (voice box). OR in stage IIIA, cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes and the tumor may be any size. Cancer has spread to any of the following: trachea, carina, esophagus, sternum, backbone, heart, major blood vessels that lead to or from the heart, or the nerve that controls the larynx.

Stage III non-small cell lung cancer is divided into stages IIIA and IIIB. In stage IIIB, cancer has spread to lymph nodes above the collarbone or in the opposite side of the chest as the tumor. Also, (1) the tumor may be any size; (2) part of the lung (where the trachea joins the bronchus) or the whole lung may have collapsed or become inflamed; (3) there may be one or more separate tumors in any of the lobes of the lung with cancer; and/or (4) cancer may have spread to any of the following: main bronchus, diaphragm and the nerve that controls it, membrane around the lung, chest wall or the membrane that lines it, trachea, carina (where the trachea joins the bronchi), esophagus, sternum (chest bone), backbone, heart or the membrane around it, major blood vessels that lead to or from the heart, or the nerve that controls the larynx (voice box). OR in stage IIIB, cancer has spread to lymph nodes on the same side of the chest as the tumor. Also, (1) the tumor may be any size; (2) there may be separate tumors in different lobes of the same lung; and/or (3) cancer has spread to any of the following: trachea, carina, esophagus, sternum, backbone, major blood vessels that lead to or from the heart, or the nerve that controls the larynx.

The tumor may be any size and cancer may have spread to lymph nodes. One or more of the following is true: (1) there are one or more tumors in both lungs; (2) cancer is found in fluid around the lungs or the heart; and/or (3) cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the brain, liver, adrenal glands, kidneys, or bone.

Care given to improve the quality of life of patients who have a serious or life-threatening disease. The goal of supportive care is to prevent or treat as early as possible the symptoms of a disease, side effects caused by treatment of a disease, and psychological, social, and spiritual problems related to a disease or its treatment. Also called comfort care, palliative care, and symptom management.

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

An indication that a person has a condition or disease. Some examples of symptoms are headache, fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and pain.

A type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances, such as monoclonal antibodies, to identify and attack specific cancer cells. Targeted therapy may have fewer side effects than other types of cancer treatments.

A group or layer of cells that work together to perform a specific function.

An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancer), or malignant (cancer). Also called neoplasm.

A drug that interferes with cell communication and growth and may prevent tumor growth. Some tyrosine kinase inhibitors are used to treat cancer.

The bones, muscles, tendons, and other tissues that reach from the base of the skull to the tailbone. The vertebral column encloses the spinal cord and the fluid surrounding the spinal cord. Also called backbone, spinal column, and spine.

Surgery to remove a triangle-shaped slice of tissue. It may be used to remove a tumor and a small amount of normal tissue around it.

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