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Glossary

Showing 951-960 out of 1154 Terms

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  • Quality of life

    KWAH-lih-tee ... life

    The overall enjoyment of life. Many clinical trials assess the effects of cancer and its treatment on the quality of life. These studies measure aspects of an individual’s sense of well-being and ability to carry out activities of daily living.

  • RSV

    A virus that causes respiratory infections with cold-like symptoms. Also called respiratory syncytial virus.

  • Radiation

    RAY-dee-AY-shun

    Energy released in the form of particle or electromagnetic waves. Common sources of radiation include radon gas, cosmic rays from outer space, medical x-rays, and energy given off by a radioisotope (unstable form of a chemical element that releases radiation as it breaks down and becomes more stable). Radiation can damage cells. It is used to diagnose and treat some types of cancer.

  • Radiation Enteritis

    (RAY-dee-AY-shun EN-teh-RY-tis)

    Inflammation of the small intestine caused by radiation therapy to the abdomen, pelvis, or rectum. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and cramping, frequent bowel movements, watery or bloody diarrhea, fatty stools, and weight loss. Some of these symptoms may continue for a long time.

  • Radiation oncologist

    (RAY-dee-AY-shun on-KAH-loh-jist)

    A doctor who specializes in using radiation to treat cancer.

  • Radiation recall

    An inflammatory reaction that can occur when certain anticancer drugs are given after radiation therapy. It usually affects the part of the body that received radiation, especially the skin. It can also affect the lungs, mouth, larynx, esophagus, other parts of the digestive tract, muscles, and the brain.

  • Radiation therapy

    RAY-dee-AY-shun THAYR-uh-pee

    The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy).

  • Radioactive

    (RAY-dee-oh-AK-tiv)

    Giving off radiation.

  • Radiologist

    (RAY-dee-AH-loh-jist)

    A doctor who has special training in creating and interpreting pictures of areas inside the body. The pictures are made with x-rays, sound waves, or other types of energy.

  • Radiosurgery

    (RAY-dee-oh-SER-juh-ree)

    A type of external radiation therapy that uses special equipment to position the patient and precisely give a single large dose of radiation to a tumor. It is used to treat brain tumors and other brain disorders that cannot be treated by regular surgery. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Also called radiation surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, and stereotaxic radiosurgery.