Switch to हिंदी

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

हिंदी
  • Health A-Z
  • Diabetes
  • Diseases
    • Type 1 Diabetes
    • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Cancer
    • Heart Attack
    • Pneumonia
    • Diseases A-Z
  • Diet & Fitness
    • Weight Management
    • Exercise & Body Building
    • Diet & Recipes
    • Yoga
  • Coronavirus
  • News
  • Pregnancy
    • Conceiving
    • Infertility
    • Labour & Delivery
    • Pregnancy week-by-week
    • Breastfeeding
    • Baby Names
  • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Hair
    • Grooming
  • Photos
  • Videos
Home / Diseases & Conditions / Know your cancer terms – A and B

Know your cancer terms – A and B

By: Dr Anitha Anchan   | | Updated: August 27, 2014 12:40 pm
Tags: Adenoma  Adjuvant therapy  Anaesthesia  Angiogenesis  Angiogenesis inhibitor  Antineoplastic  B lymphocytes  Benign tumour  Biopsy  Blood cells  Bone marrow  Bone marrow transplant  Bone scan  Bone survey  Brachytherapy  Brain scan  Breast self-exam  Carcinoma  Erythrocytes  Excisional biopsy  Incisional biopsy  Invasive cancer  Leukocytes  Lymphocytes  Monoclonal antibodies  Needle aspiration biopsy  Neutrophils  Platelets  Red blood cells  Thrombocytes  White blood cells  

Also Read - Vitamin B12 deficiency: Know the symptoms and how to address them

Adjuvant therapy: To lower the risk of cancer coming back (relapse), sometimes additional treatment is given after the main treatment. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy and may include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy or biological therapy. For e.g. in some cancers chemotherapy is given to shrink the tumour to minimise the destruction and increase effectiveness of surgery or radiotherapy. Also Read - Here are the 5 most common blood disorders you should know about



Adenoma: A benign tumour of gland-like cells of the tissue that covers organs, glands, and other structures within the body. Adenoma may be seen in organs like colon, thyroid, prostate, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, etc. They may compress other structures or may produce excess amounts of hormones leading to serious health problems. With time they may also progress to become malignant. Also Read - Protein found in body may lead to the development of new cancer drug: Study

Angiogenesis inhibitor: Angiogenesis means formation of new blood vessels. Angiogenesis inhibitors are substances that prevent the formation of blood vessels. In cancer therapy, they are used to prevent the growth or spread of tumour by preventing new blood vessels formation. They do not completely eradicate the cancer. They are also used to treat age-related macular degeneration. Several angiogenesis inhibitors are produced by the body. Some are administered as drugs while others come from diet. Treatment with angiogenesis inhibitors can cause side effects like bleeding problem, clots in the arteries, protein in the urine, hypertension, etc.

Antineoplastic: Neoplasms are growths that may become cancer. Antineoplastic drugs are chemotherapy agents that prevent, inhibit or kill the development of a cancer cells. They inhibit the synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and prevent the proliferation of cells. These drugs cause more damage to dividing cells than to resting cells. There are two types of antineoplastic drugs – Cycle-specific drugs (e.g. alkylating agents)) are more effective in killing cells at specific points of the cell’s multiplying cycle, and cycle non-specific drugs (e.g. Antimetabolites) are effective at any point in the cell cycle.

Antioxidant: ‘Free radicals’ are formed in our body when we get exposed to environmental factors such as pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke and pesticides. Once formed, they can cause damage to our body. Antioxidants are those compounds found in nature that can prevent the damage caused due to free radicals. Various pigments such as phytoestrogen, caretenoid, carotenoids and non-flavonoids found commonly in fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants.  

B lymphocytes: B lymphocytes (bursa-derived cells) are primarily responsible for immunity relating to antibodies (humoral immunity). B cells produce large quantities of antibodies in response to antigen from disease-producing agents (bacteria, viruses, etc.) and neutralize them. Specialized protein on the B cell’s outer surface (B cell receptor) allows it to bind to a specific antigen. During an immune reaction B cells produce plasma cells which are specialized in producing antibody, and B memory cells which ‘remember’ specific pathogens and start a strong and rapid response to them during subsequent infections. Memory cells give our body immunity against the invader.

Benign tumour: Benign is the opposite of malignant. A growth that is not cancerous, non-malignant. It indicates a mild and non-progressive tumour that does not invade surrounding tissues. It does not metastasise (spread) to other parts of the body. The tumour is surrounded by an outer fibrous sheath. Some benign tumours, like teratoma, may become malignant.

Biological therapy: Also called biotherapy, biological response modifier (BRM) therapy and immunotherapy. It aims at improving or restoring the ability of the immune system to fight cancer and other diseases. It may also be used to reduce certain side effects caused by some cancer therapies. Monoclonal antibodies, growth factors, and vaccines are used in biological therapy. These agents may also directly act on the tumour cells.

Biomarker: Also called molecular marker or signature molecule, it is a biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues. It is a sign of a condition or disease. It may be used to see the body’s response to a treatment for a disease or condition. They can be used to detect cancer and its prognosis. It makes possible to predict patient’s response to cancer drugs and thus help in individualized drug development plans in cancer patients. Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is one of the most well-known cancer biomarkers. Men with prostate cancer may have elevated levels of PSA.

Biopsy: Biopsy is a procedure wherein cells or tissues from an organ or other parts of the body are removed for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. It is done to diagnose or evaluate prognosis of a disease. In majority of cancers, a definitive diagnosis is done using a biopsy. It can also determine the type of cancer and define whether a lesion is benign or malignant. Different types of biopsy procedures are: Incisional biopsy – only a sample of tissue is removed; Excisional biopsy – an entire lump or suspicious lesion area is removed; Needle aspiration biopsy – a needle is used to remove a sample of tissue or fluid. In core needle biopsy a needle with a special tip is used. When a thin needle is used, the procedure is called a fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

Blood cells: There are three types of blood cell. Red Blood Cells (RBCs or erythrocytes) are the most abundant cells in blood. They contain haemoglobin, an iron-containing protein, which is responsible for oxygen transportation around the body. White Blood Cells (WBCs or Leukocytes) form part of the body’s immune system and help defend the body against infection. They are characterized as granulocytes or agranulocytes. There are three types of granulocytes – Neutrophils, Eosinophil and Basophils and two types of agranulocytes – Monocytes and Lymphocytes. Platelets (Thrombocytes) are cells that help the blood to clot (thicken) when you cut yourself.

Bone marrow: It is the soft, fatty tissue found inside the bones. It is made up of fat and blood cell producing stem cells in a network of blood vessels and connective tissue fibres. The stem cells produce white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. There are two types of bone marrow – Red marrow which consists mainly of blood forming tissue, and Yellow marrow medulla which is mainly made up of fat cells.

Bone marrow transplant: Bone marrow transplant is done to restore stem cells that have been destroyed by high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. It is also used to treat certain cancers like multiple myeloma, leukaemia, lymphoma, neuroblastoma, etc. Under general anaesthesia the stem cells are harvested from a large bone of the donor, usually the pelvis bone, through a large needle. There are three different types of bone marrow transplants: Autologous – your own bone marrow is used for transplant; Allogenic – bone marrow from a donor; Syngeneic – bone marrow from your identical twin sibling.

Bone scan: Bone scan (nuclear scintigraphy) is generally done to evaluate various bone related ailments like infections, fracture, bone tumours, cancer that has spread to the bones, etc.  A radioactive substance, called a tracer, is injected into the blood which then travels into the bones. A special camera that scans the body detects the radiation from the tracer. In a normal bone scan the radioactive material is evenly distributed throughout the body. Areas with an increased accumulation of the radioactive material show up as ‘hot spots’ (e.g. tumour, arthritis) in the pictures. Problems like a lack of blood supply to the bone cause less uptake of radioactive materials and cause ‘cold spots’ in the picture.

Bone survey: A bone survey (skeletal survey) is a series of X-rays performed to assess all the major bones of the body. It includes X-rays of the skull, spine, pelvis, ribs and long bones (humerus and femur). It is most commonly used in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma, a cancer in which grow of plasma cells in bone marrow is uncontrolled and invasive.

Brachytherapy: Brachytherapy is a form of radiotherapy where a radioactive seeds (radioisotopes) are placed directly at to the area of cancer. They are designed to deliver high doses of radiation to tumours while minimizing the doses delivered to nearby healthy tissue. Radioisotopes are enclosed in a protective capsule which prevents them from dissolving in body fluids but allows the radiation from them to escape and kill the cancer tissue. Brachytherapy helps preserve greater amount of tissues, organs and limbs. It is commonly used for cervical, breast, prostate and skin cancer.

Brain scan: Neuroimaging or brain scan is a diagnostic procedure. Brain scans image the structure, or function of the brain. They are used for diagnosing brain tumors. A radioisotope which accumulates in abnormal brain tissue is used to localise and identify tumours. Tumors show up as differently colored masses in the image. Common techniques of brain scan include Computed tomography (CT), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Positron emission tomography (PET), etc.

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Breast cancer: Breast cancer is a cancer originating in the tissues of the breast. Two main types of breast cancer are: ductal carcinoma that originates in the ducts (tubes that carry milk from the breast to the nipple) and lobular carcinoma that originates in the milk producing lobules of the breast. Rarely, breast cancer can start in other areas of the breast. Invasive breast cancer spread from duct or lobule to other tissues in the breast. Non-invasive breast cancer does not invade other breast tissues. Though majority of breast cancer cases occur in women, it can occur in males too. The most common symptom is a lump or mass in the breast. There may be discharge from the nipples, rash around nipples or skin dimpling. No time for fitness, bad food, increased tobacco and alcohol consumption and lifestyle changes like late marriage are some of the biggest factors for breast cancer.

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

Breast self-exam: Self-examination of breast involves feeling the breast for lumps or other abnormalities and noting any changes in their appearance while standing and lying in different positions and while looking at your breasts in a mirror. Earlier breast self-exam was endorsed heavily as a means of finding cancer at an early stage. But now, many experts are of the opinion that its harm could outweigh its benefits because it has been found to be ineffective in preventing death and it could cause harm through unnecessary biopsies and surgery. The WHO does not recommend the use of breast self-examinations.

Also read: Chemotherapy, carcinoma, complete remission and other such cancer terms explained

For more articles on cancer, visit our cancer section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.

Published : March 25, 2013 7:25 am | Updated:August 27, 2014 12:40 pm
Read Disclaimer

Chemotherapy, carcinoma, complete remission and other such cancer terms explained

Chemotherapy, carcinoma, complete remission and other such cancer terms explained

World Tuberculosis Day 2014: Tuberculosis - causes, symptoms and diagnosis

World Tuberculosis Day 2014: Tuberculosis - causes, symptoms and diagnosis

Please Wait. Article Loading ....

Coronavirus Updates

Coronavirus Updates

Stay Informed, Be Safe

  • Don’t expect to get rid of coronavirus by 2021: WHO warns of continued Covid-19 transmission
  • Planning for a trip? In-flight spread of coronavirus possible during long-haul travel, says study
  • Recovered from Covid-19? Your immune system may fight coronavirus variants
  • To vaccinate or not? Medical expert clears the air around Covid-19 vaccines
  • Coronavirus vaccine: This nasal spray can block the virus for upto 2 days

Health Calculators

BMI Calculator
bmi Calculator
Ideal Body Weight
ideal body weight
Daily Calorie Intake
Daily calorie intake
Calories Burned
calories burned

Related Stories

Rishi Kapoor loses his life to bone marrow cancer: Know all about this condition

Rishi Kapoor loses his life to bone marrow cancer: Know all about this condition

Vitamin B12 deficiency: Know the symptoms and how to address them

Vitamin B12 deficiency: Know the symptoms and how to address them

Dieting and exercising together can affect your bone health: Study

Dieting and exercising together can affect your bone health: Study

Dengue fever: These fruits can help you boost your blood platelet count

Dengue fever: These fruits can help you boost your blood platelet count

Virtual biopsy device to help detect skin tumours

Virtual biopsy device to help detect skin tumours

Health News in Hindi

कोरोनावायरस, बैक्टीरिया से होगा बचाव, जब आजमाएंगे ये वर्षों पुराने दादी मां के 4 घरेलू नुस्खे, इम्यूनिटी भी होगी मजबूत

Holding Urine: पेशाब को रोककर रखने की आदत इन 5 गंभीर समस्याओं को दे सकती है जन्म

Diabetes Diet: डायबिटीज रोगियों के लिए 4 सुपरफूड्स, कंट्रोल करेंगे तेजी से ब्लड शुगर लेवल

Inflammatory Bowel Disease: इंफ्लेमेटरी बाउल डिजीज का लक्षण है पतली दस्त होना, बड़ी आंत में बन जाता है घाव

कोवैक्सीन हो या फिर कोविशील्ड! वैक्सीन लगवाने से पहले ये टिप्स कम करेंगे साइड-इफेक्ट का खतरा

Read All

Recent Posts

  • Don’t expect to get rid of coronavirus by 2021: WHO warns of continued Covid-19 transmission
  • Planning for a trip? In-flight spread of coronavirus possible during long-haul travel, says study
  • Beware! Air pollution can lead to irreversible blindness. Here’s how to stay safe
  • Lung cancer: Warning signs and symptoms you should never ignore
  • Beware! Obesity can lead to severe brain pressure disorder

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com
+91 – 22 – 6697 1234
Landline Phone number 91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

Useful Links

  • Weight Loss
  • Keto Diet Tips
  • Skin Care Tips
  • Intermittent Fasting
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Ashwagandha
  • Cancer
  • Pneumonia
  • Diarrhoea
  • Dengue
  • Typhoid
  • Tuberculosis
  • Chickenpox
  • Chikungunya
  • Depression
  • Hepatitis
  • Diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Swine Flu
  • Baby Names
  • Cough and cold
  • Heart Attack
  • Breast Cancer
  • Ebola Virus
  • Dengue
  • Malaria
  • International Yoga Day
  • Hypotension
  • Heart Failure
  • Asthma
  • Brain Tumour
  • Celebrity Fitness
  • Goitre
  • HIV/AIDS

We respect your privacy

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Author Profiles

Copyright © 2021 Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved.