Glossary

Benign - A term used to describe a tumor that is not malignant. Benign tumors can often be removed with surgery and usually do not recur.

Biopsy - The removal and examination of a sample of tissue from a living body for diagnostic purposes.

Chemotherapy - Anticancer drugs are used to destroy cancer cells and often are the only method capable of treating widespread disease. Chemotherapy may destroy cancer cells that have spread, or metastasized, to parts of the body far from where the tumor started.

Chest x-ray - Provides an image of the lungs or other parts of the chest that will show many types of abnormal changes.

CT Scan (computed tomography) - A type of x-ray that uses a computer rather than film and creates more detailed images than an x-ray does.

Immunotherapy (biotherapy) - Stimulates the body’s immune system to recognize, attack, and destroy cancer cells.

Laparoscopy - A way to examine a tumor through a small incision in the abdominal cavity using a tube attached to a small video camera. A tissue sample may be taken at the same time.

Laparotomy - An incision in the abdominal cavity to take a tissue sample and, if possible, to remove most or all of the visible tumor.

Lymph nodes - Small, bean-shaped structures that are an important part of the body’s immune system. Lymph nodes contain cells that help your body fight infection as well as cancer.

Malignant - Cancer that invades the tissue around it and/or spreads to other parts of the body.

Mediastinoscopy - A very small incision is made just above the sternum (breast bone), and a tube is inserted just behind the breast bone to examine the lymph nodes.

Mesothelioma - A rare form of cancer that arises in the mesothelium (thin layers of tissue that surround organs and body cavities, such as the lungs or abdomen). Mesothelioma is referred to by different names, depending on what part of the body it is found in:

peritoneal mesothelioma—mesothelioma in the abdomen
pleural mesothelioma—mesothelioma on the lungs
pericardial mesothelioma—mesothelioma on the heart

Mesothelium -Thin layers of tissue that surround organs and body cavities, such as the lungs or abdomen.

Metastasis - The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another.

MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging) - Uses magnetism, radio waves and a computer to create an image of the lungs or other body parts. A MRI scan does not use x-ray radiation.

Radiation therapy - Uses x-rays to destroy cancer cells or damage them so much that they cannot multiply. Used alone or in combination with therapies such as surgery and chemotherapy.

Stage (staging) - The extent to which a cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

Surgical removal - An operation to remove the tumor.

Thoracoscopy - A way to examine a tumor through a small incision in the chest area using a tube attached to a video camera. A tissue sample may be taken at the same time.

Thoracotomy - An incision in the chest to take a tissue sample and, if possible, to remove most or all of the visible tumor.

Tumor - An abnormal growth of tissue. Tumors may be either benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous)