Comprehensive Cancer Care at Dartmouth Health: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Support

Glossary of Cancer Terminology

During your journey through cancer diagnosis and treatment at Dartmouth Health, you will encounter various medical jargon. Below are explanations for some common terms that may be used:

• Benign: This term describes a tumor that does not have the potential to spread metastasize to other parts of the body. Benign tumors outnumber malignant ones significantly. Treatment recommations for benign conditions dep on their size, location, and whether they are causing symptoms.

• Biopsy: A procedure involving tissue sample extraction performed to identify if the sample includes cancer cells or confirms the presence of cancerous growths.

• Cancer: This broad term encompasses any malignancy characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation that can spread metastasize throughout the body.

• Chemotherapy: Treatment using anti-cancer drugs administered singly or in combination to eradicate cancer cells or hinder their proliferation.

• Chest X-Ray: A diagnostic imaging technique that visualizes internal organs and bones within the chest cavity through a series of x-rays, providing doctors with detled images of the thoracic region.

• Concurrent Treatment: Chemotherapy administered alongside radiation therapy as part of an integrated treatment plan.

• Computed Tomography Scan CT: An advanced imaging method that combines numerous x-ray images to create cross-sectional views and provide clear detls about internal organs and bone structures.

• oscope: A flexible tube equipped with a light source for insertion into the nose or mouth, guiding visualization through the throat and upper digestive or respiratory tracts.

• Infusion: The delivery of medication directly into the bloodstream via intravenous route, often seen as an essential method to provide concentrated treatments such as chemotherapy.

• Lesion: A general term used by physicians to denote any physical abnormality. It may encompass tumors, tumor-like conditions, or un-diagnosed findings needing further investigation.

• Malignant: Refers to a tumor characterized by uncontrollable proliferation capable of spreading to distant parts of the body; often synonymous with cancer.

• Metastasis: whereby part of a tumor breaks off and travels to another site within the body, a common pathway for sarcomas typically affecting lung tissue but possibly reaching other locations as well.

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI: A diagnostic technique that uses magnetic fields to generate high-quality images of internal organs and tissues without radiation exposure.

• Neoadjuvant Therapy: Pre-treatment chemotherapy or radiation med at shrinking a tumor before surgical removal, potentially improving outcomes by making surgery more effective.

• Neoplasm: Another term for a tumor arising from a single cell that undergoes multiple duplications; also known as a monoclonal tumor due to its origin from one mono cell clone.

• Positron Emission Tomography Scan PET: An imaging method that reveals cellular activity within the body by highlighting areas of increased metabolic activity, particularly in cancer cells which appear brighter on the scan for accurate location and staging.

• Primary Tumor: Refers to the initial tumor from which metastases originate; once metastasis occurs, this term specifically identifies the original site of malignancy.

For more information about Dartmouth Cancer Center's approach to diagnosis and treatment, please visit our websitehttps:www.dartmouthcancercenter.comwhy-choose-dartmouth-cancer-center or contact us directly. At Dartmouth Health, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive care through an interdisciplinary team approach tlored to meet your specific needs.

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