Medical Terms Used in Oncology

Oncology is the field of medicine specializing in cancer.

Types

• Carcinoma is a cancer of the skin, mucous membranes, glands or internal organs. Leukemia affects the blood-forming tissues. Sarcoma affects muscles, connective tissues or bones. Lymphoma affects the lymphatic system.

Features

• Tumors are abnormal growths in the body that can be either malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous.)

Tests

• A biopsy is the removal of a sample of tissue to check for cancer. A PET scan involves creating an image of the body after injection of a radioactive substance. PET scans are used to determine the aggressiveness of a tumor or to see how well cancer is responding to treatment.

Outcome

• Localized cancer has not spread beyond the organ where it started; metastasized cancer has spread to another location in the body. Prognosis is the outlook of chances of survival based on a prediction of the course of disease. Terminal means the cancer is no longer considered curable.

Secondary Conditions

• Lymphedema is a complication in which excess fluid collects in the arms or legs. Cachexia is a profound state of malnutrition that is common in advanced cancers. Dysphagia is a condition in which a person has difficulty swallowing or eating.