Glossary of Lung Cancer

Into a world of unfamiliar words and terms for tests, conditions and medicines and treatments, a diagnosis of lung cancer – or even the possibility of it – can fall. In order to help you make good decisions about treatment options and choices, knowing the words that your health care provider is using can help.

When discussing lung cancer with your treatment providers, following are definitions of many of the terms that you’ll encounter.

Adenocarcinoma (ADD-in-oh-kar-sin-OH-muh) — a type of small cell lung cancer

Adjuvant Therapy (ADD-joo-vent THAIR-uh-pee) — to help cure a disease, treatment given after the main treatment. For instance, chemotherapy given after surgery to kill off any remaining cancer cells is adjuvant therapy.

Antiangiogenis Therapy (AN-tee-an-jee-oh-JEN-uh-sis THAIR-uh-pee) — a treatment that obstructs new blood vessels from forming in tumors, in this manner limiting tumor growth.

Asbestos (ess-BEST-iss) — a natural material made from a mineral. For nearly a century, Asbestos was widely used. The tiny fibers of asbestos can become trapped in the lungs, causing lung cancer many decades later.

Biological Therapy (bye-uh-LAH-juh-kul THAIR-uh-pee) — to increase the body’s immune response to cancer, the treatment given. Also called immunotherapy

Biopsy (BY-ah-psee) — To remove cells or tissues from the body for testing and examination under a microscope.

Bronchi (BRAHNK-eye) — The large airways that connect the windpipe to the lungs.

Bronchial Carcinoma (BRAHN-kee-yul kar-sin-OH-muh) — The large airways that connect the lungs to the windpipe, cancer that grows in the bronchi.

Bronchoscopy (brahn-KAH-skuh-pee) — To look inside the windpipe, the bronchi or the lungs using a lighted tube. The tube is inserted through the patient’s nose or throat and is frequently used to help doctors find cancerous sites.

CAT scan — Computerized axial tomography. Also called a CT scan. From different angles of the inside of the body, a set of detailed pictures taken. In order to help doctors pinpoint the location of the tumor, the pictures are combined to provide a three-dimensional cross section.

Cervical mediastinoscopy (SUR-vuh-kul MEE-dee-eh-stye-NAH-skuh-pee) — A surgical procedure that allows doctors to inspect the center of the chest. It can help doctors determine the stage of lung cancer and determine if it has spread to the lymph nodes. In order to see the inside of the chest the doctor inserts a special instrument through a small incision made in the neck.

Chemoprevention (KEE-moh-preh-VEN-shin) — Using drugs, vitamins and other means to try to prevent or slow the progress of cancer. It may be used to prevent the reappearance of cancer after treatment.

Chemotherapy (KEE-moh-THAIR-up-ee) — To treat cancer using drugs.

Chest X-ray — An X-ray of the inside of the chest is frequently the first step in diagnosing lung cancer and determining the location of a tumor or lesion.

Clinical trial — A kind of research study where patients volunteer to test new ways of screening for, preventing, finding, or treating a disease. In cases of lung cancer that are not otherwise treatable Clinical trials may supply the best chance of survival or treatment, or offer options that are not available through traditional cancer treatments.

A diagnosis of lung cancer – or even the possibility of it – can plunge someone into a world of unfamiliar words and terms for tests, conditions, medicines and treatments. Knowing the words that your health care provider is using can help you make good decisions about treatment options and choices. When discussing lung cancer with your treatment providers below are definitions of many of the terms that you’ll come across.

Dysphagia (dis-FAY-jee-yuh) — Trouble swallowing.

Dyspnea (DISP-nee-yuh) — breathing shortness.

EGFR inhibitors — Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors. A class of anti-cancer drugs that block cancer cells from reproducing and growing.

Emphysema (em-fuh-ZEE-muh) — A disease that affects the tiny air sacs in the lungs.

Extensive stage SCLC — the latter stage of small cell lung cancer. Extensive SCLC is cancer that has spread beyond the lungs and into other parts of the body.

First line therapy – the first course of treatment used against a disease.

Gene therapy – A treatment that changes the structure of the genes. It may be used to help the body fight cancer, or to alter cancer cells to make them more susceptible to treatment

Large cell cancer – A type of cancer where the cells are large and abnormal.

Larynx – the voice box. It is often affected in cases of lung cancer.

Limited stage SCLC — Early stage small cell lung cancer. Limited stage SCLC is cancer that is still confined to the lung where it started. It offers the best chance for treatment.

Lobe – a part of an organ, particularly a lung.

Lobectomy – surgery to remove a lobe of an organ. In lung cancer, if the cancer is limited to a single lobe of one lung, to remove the cancer a lobectomy may be performed.

Lymph nodes – Small glands located throughout the body. Lymph glands filter fluid called lymph that contains white blood cells. They’re a very important part of the body’s immune system. One aspect of determining the stage of a cancer is to find out whether the lymph nodes have been invaded by cancerous cells.

Mediastinum (mee-dee-uh-STYE-nim) — The area between the lungs where the heart, esophagus, bronchi and windpipe are located.

Mesothelioma (mez-uh-thee-lee-YOH-muh) — A tumor in the lining of the lungs. Mesothelioma is linked almost exclusively to asbestos exposure.

Metastasis (muh-TASS-tuh-sis) —the process by which cancer spreads to other parts of the body

Metastasized – beyond its original site, cancer that has spread. Once cancer has metastasized, it is in the later stages and difficult to control or treat.

MRI — Magnetic resonance imaging. To locate and view tumors MRIs may be used.

Neoadjuvant Therapy (NEE-oh-ADD-joo-vent THAIR-uh-pee) — Prior to the primary or main treatment, the treatment given. For instance, giving a course of medicine to sensitize cancer cells to radiation is neoadjuvant therapy to the radiation therapy, which is the main treatment.

Nutritionist (noo-TRISH –uhn-ist) – a medical professional who studies nutrition and diet. To help reduce side effects of cancer treatment, and prevent recurrence of cancer after treatment, a nutritionist can help develop a healthy diet, and recommend particular foods and supplement

Oat cell cancer – For small cell lung cancer another name. It’s a descriptive name used because the small cells look like grains of oat.

Oncologist (ahn-KAH-luh-jist) — A specialist in cancer.

A diagnosis of lung cancer – or even the possibility of it – can fall someone into a world of unfamiliar words and terms for tests, conditions, medicines and treatments. Knowing the words that your health care provider is using can help you make good decisions about treatment options and choices. Below are definitions of many of the terms that you’ll encounter when discussing lung cancer with your treatment providers.

Peripheral Neuropathy (puh-RIF-uh-rul noo-RAH-puh-thee) — A side effect of some anti-cancer drugs. Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.

PET scan —Positron Emission Tomography Scan. In order to find cancer in the body or to determine how active the cancer is, an imaging technique that may be used.

Phlegm (flem) — Thick mucus from the airways of the body.

Pleura (PLOO-ruh) — The thin lining that covers the lungs and the inside of the chest wall that cushions the lungs. Mesothelioma is cancer of the pleura.

Pleural Effusion (PLOO-rul eh-FYOO-zhin) — When extra fluid collects between the lining of the lung and the lining of the inside wall of the chest. A doctor may collect the pleural fluid and examine it for the presence of cancerous cells.

Pneumonectomy (noo-muh-NEK-tuh-mee) — removal of a lung. Pneumonectomy is one of the surgeries that may be used to remove a cancer from the body

Primary Cancer — The first or original cancer.

Prognosis (prahg-NOH-sis) — The course a disease is likely to follow and its projected outcome

Pulmonologist (pull-min-AH-luh-jist) — In studying and treating diseases of the lungs a specialized doctor.

Quercetin (KWUR-suh-tin) – A flavonoid found in apples, green tea and a number of other foods. In at least one study, people who had diets high in quercetin had a 58% lower chance of developing lung cancer than those with lower quercetin intakes. A nutritionist may suggest quercetin supplements or adding more foods containing quercetin to the diet to help prevent recurrence of cancer

Radiation Therapy (ray-dee-AY-shin THAIR-a-pee) — Cancer treatment that kills cancer cells by exposing them to radiation.

Radiation Oncologist (RAY-dee-YAY-shun ahn-KAH-luh-jist) — To treat cancer patients with radiation, a doctor who has with special training.

Radon (RAY-dahn) — An odorless, colorless gas known to increase risk of lung cancer. The EPA estimates that up to 15% of all homes have dangerous levels of radon

Recurrence — Cancer that returns after a period of time when there was no cancer.

Resection — Surgery to remove tissue, an organ, or part of an organ. To treat early stage lung cancer, a lung resection is one form of surgery used.

Selenium (suh-LEN-ee-um) – A mineral that is required in small amounts by the body. To study the effects of selenium supplements on preventing recurrence of cancer, the National Cancer Institute is in third stage of clinical trials. Based on the early results from the trials some doctors and nutritionists recommend adding selenium to the diet of patients who’ve undergone treatment for lung cancer.

Small Cell Lung Cancer — A type of lung cancer made up of small, round cells. SCLC is rarer than non-small cell lung cancer, spreads more rapidly and is harder to treat.

Sputum (SPYOO-tim) — Mucus brought up from the lungs when you cough

Sputum Cytology (SPEW-tim sie-TAH-luh-jee) — In order to see if lung cancer contains any cancerous cells, a screening test for lung cancer in which doctors study the sputum.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SQUAY-mus SEL kar-sin-OH-muh) — A type of non-small cell lung cancer that begins in the squamous cells of the lungs.

Stage — How far the cancer has advanced. Treatment options and prognoses are based on the stage of the diagnosed cancer

Thoracic Surgeon – a surgeon who specializes in treating diseases of the lungs, chest and heart

TNM — A system for describing stages of cancer. T describes the size of the tumor and whether it has grown into nearby tissues. N describes any lymph nodes involved. M describes metastasis.

Trachea (TRAY-kee-yuh) — The airway connecting the larynx to the lungs; windpipe.