Oncology Terms

The study and treatment of tumors, including the origin, development, diagnosis, and treatment of malignancies

Where the tumor has spread to other parts of the body beyond the primary site. Metastatic sites (secondaries) may be regional or distant from the original tumor.

The treatment of disease by the use of chemical substances, especially the treatment of cancer by cytotoxic and other drugs

The treatment of disease, especially cancer, using X-rays or similar forms of radiation

Surgical radiology, is a sub-specialty of radiology providing minimally invasive image-guided diagnosis and treatment of diseases in every organ system, including image-guided biopsies.

Treatment that adds, blocks, or removes hormones. To slow or stop the growth of certain cancers (such as prostate and breast cancer), synthetic hormones or other drugs may be given to block the body’s natural hormones. type of cancer treatment designed to boost the body's natural defenses to fight the cancer. It uses substances either made by the body or in a laboratory to improve or restore immune system function.

A type of biological therapy that uses substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection, and other diseases. Some types of immunotherapy only target certain cells of the immune system.

A small disc made of plastic or metal about the size of a quarter that sits just under the skin. A soft thin tube called a catheter connects the port to a large vein. Chemotherapy medicines are given through a special needle that fits right into the port. Blood can also be drawn through the port.

Staging is where the disease is categorized as to how far it has spread. The precise staging system used will depend on the type of cancer the patient has. In general low stage patients are those with localized tumors that are easily resectable, whilst high stage patients are those with widespread metastases. The treatment given may largely depend upon which stage the patient is at diagnosis. (See Staging Handouts)

This is the removal of a small section of the tumor, the sample will be analyzed by a histopathologist in order to establish a precise diagnosis. Surgical procedure. This may be a needle biopsy, where a very fine needle is used to take a tiny sample of the tumor. Occasionally a surgeon may remove the whole tumor prior to diagnosis; a resection biopsy.

A substance in the body that may indicate the presence of cancer. Markers may be secreted by the tumor itself or produced by the body in response to the cancer. Tumor markers may aid diagnosis or give an indicator of how treatment is progressing. These markers are usually specific to certain types of cancer. For example neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is associated with a number of types of cancers, in particular neuroblastoma. Also alphafetoprotein (AFP) levels are often abnormally high in patients with Germ cell tumors.

Is where normal cells go through physical changes in order to form the different specialized tissues of the body. Malignant cells may range from well-differentiated (closely resembling the tissue of origin) or undifferentiated or anaplastic (bearing little similarity to the tissue of origin). In general it is the undifferentiated or anaplastic histologies which are more aggressive.

Is the branch of medicine that specializes in the study and treatment of blood and blood tissues (including bone marrow). A blood count is where the various types cells in the blood are measured. This may aid diagnosis and will be used during treatment to monitor toxicity. The Hematologist may also examine samples from a bone marrow aspiration (needle into the bone) and samples of spinal fluid from a lumbar puncture (needle between the vertebra of the spine).

The study of cells relating to the disease. (Histology is the microscopic study of cells and tissues, Pathology is the study of the disease). The histopathologist will determine a precise diagnosis by laboratory tests and microscopic examination of the cells.

Not cancerous/not spreading