Cancer Terms Glossary

Dermatologist: A doctor who specializes in the treatment of skin conditions and diseases.

Distress Screening: A tool to identify stressors to be addressed throughout treatment, including psychosocial and emotional challenges.

DPD Deficiency: A metabolic disorder with low levels of the enzyme DPD, which is needed to break down certain chemotherapy drugs.

Early-Age Onset CRC: Colon and rectal cancers diagnosed in individuals under 50, often at a later stage.

Endoscopy: Examination using a lighted, flexible instrument to see inside the digestive tract.

Explanation of Benefits (EOB): A summary of medical treatment costs sent by an insurance company to a patient.

Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP): A syndrome with a gene mutation leading to numerous pre-cancerous polyps in the colon at a young age.

Family History: A record of a person’s relatives’ medical history, showing patterns of certain diseases.

Fecal Diversion: A surgical opening of part of the colon or small intestine to the skin, providing a passageway for stool to exit the body.

Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT): A test checking for hidden blood in the stool.

First-Line Therapy: The initial and preferred treatment for a condition.

FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test): A screening test for colorectal cancer that checks for blood in the stool from the lower intestines.

Follow-Up: Regular medical checkups after initial treatment to monitor health.

Genetic Testing: A laboratory method that looks for changes in genes, gene expression, or chromosomes to diagnose diseases or assess risk.

Genomic Testing: A comprehensive analysis of the genome to identify genetic mutations, gene expressions, and other alterations in DNA that may contribute to the development of cancer or other diseases.

Hospice Care: A program providing special care to people nearing the end of life who have stopped treatment to cure or control their disease, focusing on comfort and quality of life.

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC): A treatment using a heated solution with anticancer drugs infused directly into the abdominal cavity during surgery.

Ileostomy: An opening into the ileum (part of the small intestine) from the outside of the body, providing a new path for waste material after part of the intestine is removed.

Immunotherapy: A treatment using certain parts of a person’s immune system to fight diseases like cancer.

Integrative Medicine: An approach combining standard treatment with complementary therapies like massage and acupuncture.

Interdisciplinary Team: A group of healthcare professionals from diverse fields working together toward a common goal for the patient.

Interventional Radiology: A medical specialty performing minimally invasive treatments using imaging guidance.

Laparoscopy: A procedure that uses a laparoscope, inserted through the abdominal wall, to examine the inside of the abdomen.

Late Effects: Health problems occurring months or years after a disease is diagnosed or treatment ends.

Localized: Cancer found only in the tissue or organ where it began, not spread to other parts of the body.

Low Anterior Resection Surgery: A procedure to remove the rectum’s cancerous part while preserving the anus.

Low Residue Diet: A low-fiber diet with restrictions on foods increasing bowel activity, reducing fruit and vegetable intake, and excluding legumes, seeds, and nuts.

Lynch Syndrome: An inherited disorder increasing the risk of colorectal and other cancers, often before age 50.

Lymph Nodes: Small glands filtering lymph, part of the immune system, that can be sites for cancer spread.

Malignant: Describes cancer cells growing uncontrollably, invading nearby tissues, and spreading to other body parts.

Metastasis: The spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor to other body parts, forming new tumors.