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Defining Cancer Terms Medical terminology is immensely useful for doctors, who can use it to precisely describe conditions to one another, but it can be confusing to the layperson. Here is a glossary of cancer terms often used. acupuncture stimulation of specific points on the body using needles, heat, and so on, for the purpose of balancing energy throughout the body anticipatory grief grief we experience prior to a pet’s death as we anticipate our impending loss benign Not malignant; in other words, not cancer benign tumors tumors composed of abnormal cells that are not malignant and do not invade or replace normal tissues biopsy a representative sample of an abnormal growth that is submitted for analysis and identification cancer the general term used to describe the uncontrolled growth of abnormal, invasive cells on or within the body cancer cachexia a state of accelerated starvation caused by cancer’s takeover of the energy-generating pathways in the body cartilage products substances derived from cartilage of cattle and sharks cesium or colbalt therapy another term for radiation therapy chemotherapy powerful drugs to kill cancer cells chiropractic medicine a medical treatment using manipulation that focuses on the relationship between the spine and nervous system clinical pathology a veterinary specialist trained to examine, identify, and analyze under the microscope small number of cells from a needle biopsy complementary therapy medical treatment options that are outside the realm of conventional, accepted, proven treatments complete blood count (CBC) evaluation of peripheral blood that assesses bone marrow function by noting the numbers, distribution, and structure of different types of blood cells computerized tomography (CT) scan a diagnostic scanning process that uses computer technology to produced images of cross sections through the body cremains the ashes that remain after the body has been cremated cryosurgery the freezing of tumor cells in a controlled area by applying liquid nitrogen debulking the surgical removal of as much of a tumor as possible to decrease the number of tumor cells in the body dry or moist desquamation changes in the skin following radiation therapy that resemble sun burn endoscopic biopsy a small representative sample of abnormal tissue removed via an endoscope. An endoscope is a thin, flexible tube containing fibers that transmit light. It is used to visualize the inside surfaces of the respiratory system, the digestive system, and the lower urinary tract. esophagostomy tube a soft rubber feeding tube surgically placed through the side of the neck into the esophagus, maintained to allow food to bypass the mouth euthanasia the peaceful ending of a pet’s life through the administration of an overdose of anesthesia. Euthanasia is performed when a pet can no longer be kept comfortable excisional biopsy removal of an entire tumor with the border of normal tissue on all side. The “block” of tissue is then submitted for analysis fine needle aspirate removal of cells from a tumor by way of a hollow needle and syringe. The cells are then analyzed by a veterinary clinical pathologist. This procedure is also called needle biopsy gastrostomy tube (g-tube) a soft rubber feeding tube surgically placed from the outside of the body directly to the stomach, maintained to allow food to bypass the mouth and esophagus grade How abnormal or aggressive a cancer is, as determined by biopsy. The grade is often a number from 1-5, 1 being the “best,” or least abnormal, and 5 being the “worst,” but other grading schemes are sometimes used, so ask your vet to explain what the grade of a particular cancer means. The grade of malignancy along with its stage (see below), determines what treatment is best and give a general idea of the dog’s prognosis. herbal and botanical medicine products created from herbs and other plants that are used for medical purposes histopathologist another term for surgical pathologist homeopathic medicine a treatment option involving very dilute remedies made from naturally occurring substances hospice care compassionate care administered to an animal patient prior to euthanasia but after cancer therapy stops working hypercalcemia abnormally elevated levels of calcium in the blood immune modulation therapy stimulation of the immune system in very specific ways to assist in killing cancer cells immunoaugmentive therapy an experimental cancer treatment that involves injecting blood products daily into the animal patient for the purpose of stimulating the pets immune system incisional biopsy removal of a representative sample of a tumor via a surgical incision invasive A cancer that spreads outward from its point of origin into adjacent tissues. irradiation another term for radiation therapy jejunostomy tube (J-tube) a soft rubber feeding tube surgically placed directly into the small intestine, maintained to allow food to bypass the mouth, esophagus, and stomach lymph nodes Small lumps of tissue containing white blood cells that are found along the lymphatic system, a network of fluid-filled vessels that’s separate from the veins and arteries. Cells from a malignant tumor often enter the lymphatic system, so the lymph nodes closest to the tumor-plus any lymph nodes elsewhere that are enlarged-are often biopsied to see whether the cancer has spread. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) a computer-assisted imaging technology especially well suited for uncovering tumors in the soft tissues of the body malignant cancerous malignant tumors tumors that invade other tissues or destroy and replace normal cells mass A growth or tumor. A mass can be benign or malignant. massage therapy medical treatment that involves manipulation of the body tissues with a focus on muscles, circulation, and the nervous system meridians parallel channels of energy that flows throughout the body and are modified with the application of acupuncture metastasis the relocation and growth of cancer cells from the original tumor site to other parts of the body mucositis a side effect of radiation therapy in which the mucous membranes that line the mouth develop irritation and ulceration. Mucositis is a temporary event. multifocal a term used to indicate that disease in present in more than one location in the body nasgastric tube (N-G tube) a small-diameter, soft rubber tube that is passed through a nostril, through the nasal passages, and down the esophagus into the stomach for delivery of liquid nutrients, bypassing the mouth needle biopsy removal of cells from a tumor by way of a hollow needle and syringe. The cells are then analyzed by a veterinary clinical pathologist. This procedure is also called fine needle aspirate. neoplasia cancer nutritional therapy the use of specific nutrients of lifestyle diets to treat disease oncologist A doctor who specializes in treating cancer. orthovoltage therapy another term for radiation therapy osteosarcoma a type of cancer originating in bone ovariohysterectomy surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries from the female animal palliative treatment (e.g. palliative radiation) any treatment used for the purpose of relieving symptoms associated with a tumor rather then with the intention of curing cancer paraneoplastic event or syndrome a symptom or set of symptoms that result from cancer, but which are felt in the body far from the original tumor site pathologist A doctor who specializes in examining biopsies , blood, urine, and other tissue samples to diagnose diseases pharmacological and biological therapy treatment options involving drugs, vaccines, or other materials (e.g. shark cartilage) not yet accepted by the traditional medical establishment preemptive pain management medicating to prevent pain and discomfort prognosis The likelihood that a dog’s cancer can be treated successfully; a dog’s “prognosis without treatment” is how long he is likely to live if the cancer is not treated radiation therapy the application of specific, intense energy from a machine or radioactive substance that can kill cancer cells or prevent them from growing and dividing radiograph the image produced on special film when X rays are passed through a part of the body. The X rays are blocked to varying degrees by the tissues of the body, producing many shades of gray on the radiograph. Denser tissues like bone block more X rays and appear white, soft tissues like muscle block fewer X rays and appear gray, and air blocks no X rays and appear black. radiotherapy another term for radiation therapy recurrence return of cancer after it has been treated remission The disappearance of detectable cancer. “Remission” is used rather than “cure” in discussing cancer because if one cancer cell remains in a dog’s body, it is possible for the cancer to return in the future. serum biochemical profile blood tests that evaluate organ system functions, blood sugar, and levels of minerals in the body squamous cell carcinoma a type of cancer originating in the skin surgical pathologist (histopathologist) a veterinary pathologist trained to identify and evaluate fixed, stained samples of tissue under the microscope stage The size of the cancerous tumor and whether it has spread (metastasized) to other sites in the body. The stage may be given in letters, numbers, or a combination of the two. total parental nutrition (TNP) a method of providing all necessary nutrients intravenously tumor A mass or growth. A tumor can be benign or malignant; a “fatty tumor” (lipoma) is one common example of a benign tumor. tumor margin the border around a tumor’s outer perimeter that is carefully evaluated by the surgical pathologist to determine if all cancer cells have been removed at surgery urinalysis evaluation of the components of urine, including a microscopic examination and any cellular debris x-ray therapy another term for radiation therapy |