Typically therapy administered after surgical removal of the cancer to reduce the risk of cancer returning in the future.

The process of planning for future medical care in case an individual becomes unable to make their own medical decisions.

A legal document that indicates a patient’s wishes regarding their medical treatment in circumstances in which they are no longer able to express informed consent.

The process of planning for future medical care in case an individual becomes unable to make their own medical decisions.

Any chronic, progressive physical or mental condition that, in the absence of life-sustaining therapy or curative treatment, can lead to death.

A condition in which there is a shortage of red blood cells in the body, leading to fatigue and other symptoms.

A protein made by the immune system to fight infection.

A drug that helps prevent the clotting (coagulation) of blood.

A tumor that is not cancerous and does not spread to nearby tissues or other parts of the body.

Support and services provided to individuals after the death of a loved one.

Treatment that uses the patient’s immune system to fight cancer or to lessen the side effects caused by some cancer treatments.

A procedure to remove a piece of tissue or a sample of cells from the body so that it can be analyzed in a laboratory.

The process of transferring blood or blood products into one’s circulation intravenously.

A material placed on the skin to increase the skin dose of radiation or to even out the dose delivered to the tumor.

The soft, sponge-like tissue inside bones that produces blood cells.

A procedure in which a sample of liquid bone marrow is removed and tested.

A procedure in which a small core sample of spongy bone marrow is removed and examined under a microscope.

An additional dose of radiation given to the tumor site.

A form of radiation therapy where a source of radiation is put inside or very near to the area needing treatment.

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues.

The process by which normal cells are transformed into cancer cells.

A type of cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.

Anyone who provides care for another person in need, such as a child, aging parent, or patient.

A collaborative process that assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates the options and services required to meet a patient’s health needs.

A type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.

The process by which blood forms clots.

Care that helps or soothes a person who is dying. The goals are to prevent or relieve suffering as much as possible and to improve quality of life while respecting the dying person’s wishes.

The disappearance of all signs of cancer in response to treatment; does not always mean the cancer has been cured.

A type of radiation therapy that shapes the radiation beams to match the shape of the tumor.

A type of care provided in the home for patients in a crisis situation during a period of pain or other medical symptoms that require continuous nursing availability.

The ability of healthcare providers to recognize the unique cultural and linguistic needs of a patient, and to adapt to meet them.

Care that treats or cures the disease.

The study of cells using a microscope.

A reduction in the number of blood cells.

The return of cancer in a part of the body far from where it originally started.

A medical order written by a doctor instructing healthcare providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if a patient’s breathing stops or if the patient’s heart stops beating.

A legal document that designates someone to make medical decisions on an individual’s behalf if they are unable.

Abnormal cells that are not cancer but could become cancer over time.

Swelling caused by the buildup of fluid.

Support and medical care given during the time surrounding death.

A procedure that uses a thin, flexible tube with a light and a lens to view organs or tissues inside the body.

A blood test that can reveal inflammatory activity in your body.

An increase in the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream.

The process by which red blood cells are produced.

A surgical procedure in which an entire lump or suspicious area is removed for diagnosis.

A type of radiation therapy that delivers radiation from outside the body.

An approach to healthcare that recognizes a patient functions within, and depends on, a family unit – whatever form that family takes. It also recognizes that family members also have a share in the patient’s illness burden, and have a valuable role to play in supporting and sustaining the patient.

A protein in the blood that is important for blood clotting.

A special type of radiation therapy planning scan that accounts for tumor motion induced by respirations.

The division of the total dose of radiation into smaller doses delivered over a number of days.

A technique in radiation therapy where the delivery of radiation is synchronized with the patient’s breathing.

Treatment that alters or replaces a person’s genes to help fight or prevent disease.

Discussions between patients, their families, and healthcare providers to establish and align treatment plans with the patient’s values and preferences.

A description of a tumor based on how abnormal the cancer cells and tissue look under a microscope and how quickly the tumor is likely to grow and spread.

A condition that can occur after a bone marrow transplant, where the donated bone marrow attacks the recipient’s body.

A type of white blood cell that has small granules containing proteins.

The unit of measurement for a dose of radiation.

Services and support provided to individuals who are experiencing grief due to death or other loss.

High-dose-rate brachytherapy, a type of brachytherapy where the radiation source is left in place for a short period of time.

The proportion of the blood that consists of red blood cells, expressed as a percentage.

A doctor who specializes in treating blood disorders.

The study of blood, blood-forming organs, and blood diseases.

The process of creating new blood cells in the body.

The presence of blood in the urine.

A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

The breakdown of red blood cells.

An in inherited disorder in which blood doesn’t clot normally.

Excessive or uncontrolled bleeding.

The process that prevents and stops bleeding, or hemorrhage.

Health care services provided in a patient’s home to promote, maintain, or restore health or lessen the effects of illness and disability.

Treatment that adds, blocks, or removes hormones to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells that need hormones to grow.

Specialized care designed to provide support to people in the final phase of a terminal illness.

A group of professionals and volunteers that provide hospice services, including doctors, nurses, social workers, spiritual advisors, and more.

The use of imaging during radiation therapy to improve the precision and accuracy of treatment delivery.

A type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer.

Cancer that has not spread beyond the layer of cells where it began.

Hospice care that is provided in a hospital or other facility for patients who need more intensive care.

An advanced form of EBRT that modulates the radiation intensity to more precisely target the tumor while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.

Radiation therapy delivered during surgery.

Cancer that has spread beyond the layer of tissue in which it developed and is growing into surrounding, healthy tissues.

Anemia caused by a lack of iron in the body.

Lines on a radiation therapy plan that show areas receiving the same dose of radiation.

A surgical procedure to look at the organs inside the abdomen to check for signs of disease.

Low-dose-rate brachytherapy, a type of brachytherapy where the radiation source is left in place for an extended period of time.

Cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system.

An increased number of white blood cells in the blood.

Any medical treatment, procedure, or medication that can potentially extend a person’s life.

A machine that creates high-energy radiation to treat cancer.

A legal document that outlines what medical treatments an individual would or would not like to receive if they can’t communicate their wishes.

The return of cancer to its original location.

Surgery to remove a tumor (lump) and a small amount of normal tissue around it.

Enlargement of lymph nodes.

Swelling (usually in the arms or legs) due to a build-up of lymph fluid.

A type of white blood cell that is part of the immune system.

A type of cancer that begins in cells of the lymph system (part of the immune system).

Cancerous; a tumor with cells that can invade and destroy nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.

A tumor that is cancerous and capable of spreading.

Surgery to remove all or part of the breast.

The spread of cancer from the primary site (place where it started) to other places in the body.

A type of white blood cell that becomes a macrophage when it enters tissues.

A change in a gene’s DNA sequence.

Conditions caused by poorly formed or dysfunctional blood cells.

Cancer that occurs in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell, it can affect the bone marrow, kidneys and bones.

Treatment given before the main treatment to shrink a tumor.

An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should.

A condition in which there is a low number of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) in the blood.

A doctor who specializes in treating cancer.

Hospice care that is provided to patients in their own homes.

The process of identifying and evaluating pain, its location, intensity, and duration.

The process of providing medical care that alleviates or reduces pain.

Care given to improve the quality of life of patients who have a serious or life-threatening disease, such as cancer.

Chemotherapy used to relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, or extend life for patients with incurable cancer.

A tool used to assess and score a patient’s functional status and determine their level of palliative care needs.

The use of sedative medications to relieve extreme suffering by making the patient unaware and unconscious while dying.

A decrease in the number of red and white blood cells, as well as platelets.

A test where cells are scraped from the cervix and looked at under a microscope to see if there are any abnormal (or precancerous) cells.

A decrease in the size of a tumor, or in the extent of cancer in the body, in response to treatment.

A blood test that looks at how long it takes for blood to clot.

A doctor who identifies diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope.

A type of care that recognizes the patient’s preferences, values, and needs, and respects the patient and their family’s values and choices.

The liquid part of blood, in which blood cells are suspended.

Small blood cells that help form blood clots to stop bleeding.

A type of blood cancer that causes the bone marrow to make too many red blood cells.

A test that measures how long it takes blood to clot.

A type of radiation therapy that uses positively charged particles called protons rather than x-rays to treat cancer.

An individual’s overall appreciation of life, which can be negatively affected by illness, disability, or treatment.

Skin irritation caused by radiation therapy. This commonly looks like a sunburn.

The amount of radiation administered during treatment.

The area exposed to radiation during treatment.

Radiation oncologists treat cancer using radiation therapy.

A medical specialty that uses high-energy rays, charged particles, or radioactive elements to treat cancer.

A specialized physicist who helps plan radiation treatments, ensures the radiation machines deliver the correct dose, and makes sure patients are treated safely.

A medical professional who administers radiation treatment.

The use of high-energy rays (such as X-rays) or particles to kill or shrink cancer cells.

Cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

A decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer.

Short-term relief for primary caregivers. It can be arranged for just an afternoon or for several days or weeks.

A test that measures how fast red blood cells are being made by the bone marrow and released into the blood.

A type of cancer that begins in the bones and in the soft tissues of the body.

A genetic disorder that causes abnormal hemoglobin, resulting in some red blood cells assuming an abnormal sickle shape.

A planning session before radiation therapy to determine the exact area to be treated.

Assistance provided by chaplains, pastoral counselors, or other spiritual guides in addressing the spiritual or religious needs of patients and their families.

The extent of a cancer in the body, including whether the disease has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

Cells in the bone marrow that have the ability to develop into different types of blood cells.

A type of radiation therapy that delivers a high dose of radiation directly to the tumor in a single session.

The evaluation of a patient’s symptoms to determine their cause and severity.

The cumulative impact of symptoms on a patient’s overall wellbeing.

Management of the symptoms of a disease or condition.

The practice of preventing or treating as early as possible the symptoms of a disease, side effects caused by treatment of a disease, and psychological, social, and spiritual problems related to a disease or its treatment.

A type of cancer treatment that targets the changes in cancer cells that help them grow, divide, and spread.

A disease or condition that is likely to result in death.

A blood disorder involving less than normal amounts of an oxygen-carrying protein.

A condition in which there is an abnormally low number of platelets in the blood.

The formation or presence of a blood clot in a blood vessel.

A system used to describe the extent and spread of cancer, using three parameters: T (size of the primary tumor), N (number of nearby lymph nodes that have cancer), and M (whether the cancer has metastasized).

Radiation therapy delivered to the entire body, often as preparation for a stem cell transplant.

The coordination and continuity of healthcare during a movement from one healthcare setting to another (e.g. from home to a nursing facility), or from one mode of care to another (e.g. from active cancer treatment to hospice care).

The detailed plan for a patient’s radiation therapy, including the dose and schedule.

The area surrounding the tumor that may also be at risk for cancer cells.

Services provided by volunteers to support patients and families in hospice and palliative care settings, often consisting of household chores and therapeutic companionship.

Cells that help fight infection and disease.

A type of radiation used for imaging and treatment.