Brachytherapy (brak'e-ther'ah-pee): Radiotherapy treatment that is applied on or near the surface of the body.
Cancer: A general term used to describe more than 100 diseases that are characterized by the uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells that can invade and destroy healthy tissue.
Centi-Gray: The amount of radiation absorbed by the tissues.
Chemotherapy (kee'mo-ther'ah-pee): Treatment of a disease with anticancer drugs.
Dosimetrist (do-si-me'trist): Someone who plans and calculates the proper radiation dose for a particular treatment.
External Radiation: Radiation therapy delivered by a machine that focuses on the cancer site, (See also brachytherapy.)
Fluoride (floor’ide) Therapy: Application of fluoride gel to prevent tooth decay. Can be applied via a custom-fitted mouth piece.
Gamma Rays: A form of radiation used to treat cancer.
Immunotherapy (i-mu'no-ther'ah-pee): A general term used to describe treatments that involve stimulating the body's immune defense system. Physicians are conducting research that explores the possible uses of immunotherapy for treating cancer.
Implant: The insertion of an object into the body of a recipient. In cancer treatment, it involves temporarily placing a container of radioactive material in or near a cancer.
Internal Radiation: A type of cancer treatment that involves implanting a radioactive substance in the body close to the treatment area. (See also, interstitial implant and intracavitary implant.)
Interstitial (in'ter-stish'al) Implant: A radioactive material placed between layers of tissue, rather than in a body cavity.
Intracavitary (in'trah-kav'i-tear'ee) Implant: A radioactive material placed in a body cavity (e.g. the vagina; the chest cavity).
Intraoperative (in'trah-op'er-ah'tiv) Radiation: A large dose of radiation administered to the tumor bed and surrounding tissue during surgery.
Linear Accelerator: A machine used to treat cancer It creates and uses high-energy X-rays.
Malignant (mah-lig'nant): Cancerous (See also cancer)
Metastasis (me'ta-sta'sis): The spread of cancer from one area or organ to another area or organ not directly connected with it. The cells at the new site are like those at the site of the original cancer.
Oncologist (ong-kol'o-jist) A doctor who specializes in the treatment of tumors, particularly cancers.
Palliative (pal'e-a'tiv) Therapy: A treatment that relieves symptoms, but doesn't cure the disease.
Physical Therapist: A professional who has been trained to use physical methods of treatment, such as exercise and massage.
Radiation Physicist (fiz'a sist): A scientist with extensive training in measuring and delivering radiation doses.
Radioactive Isotope: A material that emits radiation.
Radiation Oncologist: A doctor with specialized training in the use of radiation to treat tumors, especially cancer.
Radiation Therapist: A professional trained in the use of radiation treatment equipment and in the accurate delivery of prescribed treatment. May also be referred to as a radiation therapy technologist.
Radiation Therapy: A medical treatment that uses X-rays, gamma-rays, radioactive isotopes and other forms of radiation to treat disease. (See also gamma rays, brachytherapy and X-ray.)
Radiologist (ra'dee-ol'o-jist): A physician who specializes in using X-rays and other forms of imaging to diagnose disease.
Radiotherapy (ra'dee-o-ther'ah-pee): See radiation therapy.
Registered Dietitian: A professional trained in proper nutrition who counsels people on maintaining a balanced diet. He or she may also recommend therapeutic nutrition to the sick.
Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue that is the result of excessive cell division. ~ performs no useful function in the body.
X-Ray: A type of radiation that is used in low doses to diagnose disease and, at high levels, to treat cancer.
|
