Uterine Cancer FAQs: Glossary
abdomen (AB-do-men): The part of the body that contains the pancreas, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, and other organs.
benign (beh-NINE): Not cancerous; does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body.
biological therapy (by-o-LAHJ-i-kul): Treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system to fight infection and disease. Also used to lessen side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments. Also called immunotherapy or biological response modifier (BRM) therapy.
biopsy (BY-ahp-see): A procedure used to remove cells or tissues in order to look at them under a microscope to check for signs of disease. When an entire tumor or lesion is removed, the procedure is called an excisional biopsy. When only a sample of tissue is removed, the procedure is called an incisional biopsy or core biopsy. When a sample of tissue or fluid is removed with a needle, the procedure is called a needle biopsy or fine-needle aspiration.
bladder : The organ that stores urine.
cancer : A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body.
cervix (SER-viks): The lower, narrow end of the uterus that forms a canal between the uterus and vagina.
chemotherapy (kee-mo-THER-a-pee): Treatment with anticancer drugs.
clinical trial : A research study that tests how well new medical treatments or other interventions work in people. Each study is designed to test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease.
colonoscopy (ko-lun-AHS-ko-pee): An examination of the inside of the colon using a thin, lighted tube (called a colonoscope) inserted into the rectum. If abnormal areas are seen, tissue can be removed and examined under a microscope to determine if disease is present.
corpus : The body of the uterus.
CT scan : Computed tomography scan. A series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body; the pictures are created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. Also called computed axial tomography (CAT) scan.
dilation and curettage (dye-LAY-shun and kyoo-reh-TAHZH): D &C. A minor operation in which the cervix is expanded enough (dilation) to permit the cervical canal and uterine lining to be scraped with a spoon-shaped instrument called a curette (curettage).
endometriosis (en-do-mee-tree-O-sis): A benign condition in which tissue that looks like endometrial tissue grows in abnormal places in the abdomen.
endometrium (en-do-MEE-tree-um): The layer of tissue that lines the uterus.
estrogen replacement therapy : ERT. Hormones (estrogen and/or progesterone) given to postmenopausal women, or women who have had their ovaries surgically removed. Hormones are given to replace the estrogen no longer produced by the ovaries.
estrogens (ES-tro-jins): A family of hormones that promote the development and maintenance of female sex characteristics.
fallopian tubes (fa-LO-pee-in): Part of the female reproductive tract. The long slender tubes through which eggs pass from the ovaries to the uterus.
fibroid (FYE-broyd): A benign smooth muscle tumor, usually in the uterus or gastrointestingal tract. Also called leiomyoma.
fundus : The larger part of a hollow organ that is farthest away from the organ's opening. The bladder, gallbladder, stomach, uterus, eye, and the cavity of the middle ear all have a fundus.
grade : The grade of a tumor is determined by how abnormal the cancer cells appear when examined under a microscope, the probable growth rate of the tumor, and its tendency to spread. The systems used to grade tumors vary with each type of cancer.
gynecologic oncologist (guy-neh-ko-LAH-jik on-KOL-o-jist): Doctors who specialize in treating cancers of the female reproductive organs.
gynecologist (guy-neh-KAH-lo-jist): A doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the female reproductive organs.
hormone therapy : Treatment of cancer by removing, blocking, or adding hormones. Also called endocrine therapy.
hormones : Chemicals produced by glands in the body and circulated in the bloodstream. Hormones control the actions of certain cells or organs.
hyperplasia (hye-per-PLAY-zha): An abnormal increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue.
hysterectomy (hiss-ter-EK-toe-mee): An operation in which the uterus is removed.
local therapy : Treatment that affects cells in the tumor and the area close to it.
lymph node : A rounded mass of lymphatic tissue that is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue. Also known as a lymph gland. Lymph nodes are spread out along lymphatic vessels and they contain many lymphocytes, which filter the lymphatic fluid (lymph).
lymphatic system (lim-FAT-ik): The tissues and organs that produce, store, and carry white blood cells that fight infection and other diseases. This system includes the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes and a network of thin tubes that carry lymph and white blood cells. These tubes branch, like blood vessels, into all the tissues of the body.
malignant (ma-LIG-nant): Cancerous; a growth with a tendency to invade and destroy nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.
menopause (MEN-o-pawz): The time of life when a woman's menstrual periods stop for at least a year. Also called "change of life."
menstruation : Periodic discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus. Until menopause, menstruation occurs approximately every 28 days when a woman is not pregnant.
metastasis (meh-TAS-ta-sis): The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another. Tumors formed from cells that have spread are called "secondary tumors" and contain cells that are like those in the original (primary) tumor. The plural is metastases.
MRI : Magnetic resonance imaging (mag-NET-ik REZ-o- nans IM-a-jing). A procedure in which a magnet linked to a computer is used to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body.
myometrium (mye-o-MEE-tree-um): The muscular outer layer of the uterus.
osteoporosis (OSS-tee-oh-pa-ROW-sis): A condition that is characterized by a decrease in bone mass and density, causing bones to become fragile.
ovaries (O-va-reez): The pair of female reproductive glands in which the ova, or eggs, are formed. The ovaries are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus.
Pap test : The collection of cells from the cervix for examination under a microscope. It is used to detect changes that may be cancer or may lead to cancer, and can show noncancerous conditions, such as infection or inflammation. Also called a Pap smear.
pathologist (pa-THOL-o-jist): A doctor who identifies diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope.
pelvis : The lower part of the abdomen, located between the hip bones.
precancerous (pre-KAN-ser-us): A term used to describe a condition that may or is likely to become cancer. Also called premalignant.
progesterone (pro-JES-ter-own): A female hormone.
prognosis (prog-NO-sis): The likely outcome or course of a disease; the chance of recovery.
radiation oncologist (ray-dee-AY-shun on-KOL-o-jist): A doctor who specializes in using radiation to treat cancer.
radiation therapy (ray-dee-AY-shun): The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, neutrons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy) or from material called radioisotopes. Radioisotopes produce radiation and are placed in or near a tumor or near cancer cells. This type of radiation treatment is called internal radiation therapy, implant radiation, or brachytherapy. Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that circulates throughout the body. Also called radiotherapy.
rectum : The last 8 to 10 inches of the large intestine.
risk factor : Anything that increases the chance of developing a disease.
salpingo-oophorectomy (sal-PIN-go o-o-for-EK-toe-mee): Surgical removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries.
sarcoma : A cancer of the bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels or other connective or supportive tissue.
side effects : Problems that occur when treatment affects healthy cells. Common side effects of cancer treatment are fatigue, nausea, vomiting, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss, and mouth sores.
sigmoidoscopy (sig-moid-OSS-ko-pee): Inspection of the lower colon using a thin, lighted tube called a sigmoidoscope. Samples of tissue or cells may be collected for examination under a microscope. Also called proctosigmoidoscopy.
speculum (SPEK-yoo-lum): An instrument used to widen an opening of the body to make it easier to look inside.
stage : The extent of a cancer within the body, including whether the disease has spread from the original site to other parts of the body. Staging refers to the determination of the extent of cancer.
staging : Doing exams and tests to learn the extent of the cancer within the body, especially whether the disease has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.
surgery : A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out if disease is present.
systemic therapy (sis-TEM-ik): Treatment that uses substances that travel through the bloodstream, reaching and affecting cells all over the body.
tissue (TISH-oo): A group or layer of cells that together perform specific functions.
tumor (TOO-mer): An abnormal mass of tissue that results from excessive cell division. Tumors perform no useful body function. They may be either benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
ultrasonography (UL-tra-son-OG-ra-fee): A study in which sound waves (called ultrasound) are bounced off tissues and the echoes are converted into a picture (sonogram).
uterus (YOO-ter-us): The small, hollow, pear-shaped organ in a woman's pelvis. This is the organ in which a fetus develops. Also called the womb.
vagina (vah-JYE-na): The muscular canal extending from the uterus to the exterior of the body. Also called the birth canal.
x-ray : High-energy radiation used in low doses to diagnose diseases and in high doses to treat cancer.
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