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Adjuvant
therapy
Treatment added to the primary treatment to enhance the effectiveness
of the primary treatment. Radiation therapy often is used as an
adjuvant to surgery.
Alopecia
(al-oh-PEE-she-ah)
Hair loss.
Anesthesia
Loss of feeling or sensation to prevent pain. Certain drugs or gases
called "anesthetics" are used to achieve anesthesia so that medical
procedures may be performed without pain. A local anesthetic causes
loss of feeling in part of the body. A general anesthetic puts the
patient to sleep.
Antiemetic
(an-tee-e-MET-ik)
A medicine that prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting.
Biological
therapy
Treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system
to fight infection and disease; also called immunotherapy.
Brachytherapy
(BRAK-ee-THER-ah-pee)
Internal radiation therapy using an implant of radioactive material
placed directly into or near the tumor; also called "internal radiation
therapy."
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.
Cancer
types:
http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo/types/
Catheter
A thin, flexible, hollow tube through which fluids enter or leave
the body. Radioactive materials may be placed in catheters which
are placed near the cancer.
Chemotherapy
Treatment with anticancer drugs.
Cobalt 60
A radioactive substance used as a radiation source to treat cancer.
Coping
Fatigue, pain, other complications/side effects, nutritional
concerns, emotional concerns, end-of-life issues, treatment-related
issues, clinical trials information. MORE
>
CT (computed
tomography) scan
An x-ray procedure that uses a computer to produce a series of detailed
pictures of a cross section of the body; also called a CAT scan.
Dietitian
(also "registered dietitian")
A professional who plans diet programs for proper nutrition.
Dosimetrist
(d-SIM-uh-trist)
Working under the direction of the doctor and radiaiton physicist,
he/she plans and calculates the proper radiation dose for treatment.
Electron
beam
A stream of electrons (small negatively charged particles found
in atoms) that can be used for radiation therapy.
External
radiation
The use of radiation from a machine located outside of the body
to aim high-energy rays at cancer cells.
Fluoride
A chemical applied to the teeth to prevent tooth decay.
Gamma knife
Radiation therapy in which high energy rays are aimed at a brain
tumor from many angles in a single treatment session.
Gamma rays
High-energy rays that come from a radioactive source such as cobalt-60.
High dose--rate
remote brachytherapy
A type of internal radiation treatment in which the radioactive
source is removed between treatments; also known as "high dose-rate
remote radiation therapy."
Hyperfractionated
radiation
Radiation treatment that is given in smaller-than-usual doses two
or three times a day.
Implant
A radioactive source in a small holder that is placed in the body
in or near a cancer.
Internal
radiation
Radiation therapy that uses the technique of placing a radioactive
source in or near a cancer.
Interstitial
radiation
A radioactive source (implant) placed directly into the cancerous
tissue such as the head and neck region or the breast.
Intracavitary
radiation
A radioactive source (implant) placed in a body cavity such as the
chest cavity or the vagina.
Intraoperative
radiation
External radiation treatment given during surgery to deliver a large
dose of radiation to the tumor bed and surrounding tissue; also
called IORT.
Linear accelerator
A machine that creates high-energy radiation to treat cancers, using
electricity to form a stream of fast-moving subatomic particles;
also called "mega-voltage (MeV) linear accelerator" or a "linac."
Lumen
The cavity or channel within a tube or tubular organ such as a blood
vessel or the intestine.
Medical oncologist
A doctor who specializes in treating cancer with chemotherapy.
Neutron
A small, uncharged particle of matter found in the atoms of all
elements except hydrogen. Streams of neutrons generated by special
equipment can be used for radiation treatment.
Nutrition
Eating the right kinds of foods before, during, and after treatment
can help the patient feel better and stay stronger. For many patients,
however, some side effects of cancer and cancer treatments make
it difficult to eat well. Appetite, taste, and the ability to eat
enough food or absorb the nutrients from food may be affected. MORE >
Oncologist
A doctor who specializes in treating cancer.
Palliative
care, palliation
Treatment that relieves symptoms but does not cure disease. Palliative
care can help people with cancer live more comfortably.
Physical
therapist
A health professional trained in the use of treatments such as exercise
and massage.
Platelets
Blood cells that help stop bleeding by contributing to the formation
of clots.
Prosthesis
An artificial replacement for a body part.
Proton
A small, positively charged particle of matter found in the atoms
of all elements. Streams of protons generated by special equipment
can be used for radiation treatment.
Radiation
Energy carried by waves or a stream of particles.
Radiation
nurse
A nurse who specializes in caring for people who are undergoing
radiation therapy. He/she will coordinate your care, help you learn
about treatment, and tell you how to manage side effects. The Nurse
can also answer questions you or family members may have about your
treatment.
Radiation
Oncologist
A doctor who specializes
in using radiation to treat cancer. He/she works closely with the
other doctors and health care professioanls involved in caring for
the cancer patient.
Radiation
Oncology
Radiation Oncology
is the use of x-rays to treat cancer and other medical problems.
It is a unique blend of state-of-the-art technology and warm personal
care.
Radiation
physicist
The person who makes sure that the radiation machine delivers the
right amount of radiation to the treatment site. In consultation
with the radiation oncologist, the physicist also determines the
treatment schedule that will have the best chance of killing the
most cancer cells.
Radiation
therapist
The person who positions the cancer patient for treatment, runs
the equipment, and delivers the radiation.
Radiation
therapy
Treatment with high-energy rays (such as x-rays) to kill cancer
cells. The radiation may come from outside of the body (external
radiation) or from radioactive materials placed directly in the
tumor (internal or implant radiation). Types of radiation include
x-rays, electron beams, gamma rays, neutron beams, and proton beams.
Radioactive substances include cobalt, iridium, and cesium. (See
also gamma rays, brachytherapy, and x-rays.)
Radioactive
Capable of emitting high-energy rays or particles.
Radiologist
A doctor with special training in creating and interpreting pictures
of areas inside the body. The pictures are produced with x-rays,
sound waves, or other types of energy.
Reconstructive
surgery
Surgical procedure done to restore the shape of an area of the body
altered by cancer surgery.
Recurrent
Reappearance of cancer cells at the same site or in another location
after a disease-free period.
Red blood
cells
Cells that carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Also called "erythrocytes."
Remote brachytherapy
See "high dose-rate remote brachytherapy."
Simulation
The process used to plan radiation therapy so that the target area
is precisely located and marked.
Telangiectasia
A skin lesion that results from dilation of a group of small blood
vessels.
Treatment
port or treatment field
The place on the body at which the radiation beam is aimed.
Treatment
Types:
http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo
treatment/types-of-treatment
Tumor
An abnormal mass of excess tissue that results from excessive cell
division. Tumors perform no useful body function and may be either
benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Unsealed
internal radiation therapy
Internal radiation therapy given by injecting a radioactive substance
into the bloodstream or a body cavity. This substance is not sealed
in a container.
White blood
cells
Cells that help the body fight infection and disease.
X-rays
High-energy radiation that is used in low doses to diagnose disease
and in high doses to treat cancer.
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