Welcome to a community no one ever wants to be in and a new language no one ever wants to have to speak. It's scary. I get it. And I'm sorry you're here, but let's make sure you know how to communicate with the people who will be your biggest support system.
This is a (non-exhuastive!) list of some terms which you may need to know.
actinic keratosis-
This is a precancerous condition presenting with patches of scaly skin.
adjuvant treatment
Adjuvant treatments are treatments in addition to your main treatment to either eliminate cancer or to keep it from returning. For example, PARP inhibitors are adjuvant treatments. This differs from neoadjuvant treatment.
androgen-
These hormones maintain male sex organs.
androstanolone-
This hormone is identical to the naturally occurring male hormone, dihydrotestosterone or DHT. It is sold under the several brand names, including Andractim. DHT is necessary for the formation of male sex organs and cannot convert to estrogen. However, high levels of this hormone can make prostate cancer more difficult to treat.
angiogenesis-
Angiogenesis is a process of blood vessel growth. Cancer has the ability to send out signals for new blood vessels to grow to feed it. This is even further exacerbated by the hypoxic environment of tumors.
antibody-
These proteins are produced by our body's immune systems to fight antigens.
anticancer-
Anything which acts to prevent or treat cancer, such as foods and exercise, is an anticancer agent.
anticarcinogen-
These substances counter act the effects of cancer causing substances.
antiemetic-
These medicines are used to treat nausea and vomiting.
antigen-
These are foreign substances which our body attempts to create antibodies to fight.
antioxidants-
Antioxidants are naturally occurring substances which protect our cells from being damaged by free radicals.
anus-
Don't giggle. Okay, go ahead and giggle. The anus is the final stage of the digestive tract, where poop moves from the rectum outside of the body.
age-specific rate-
This is just what it sounds: a rate for a specific age group.
apoptosis-
This is programmed cell death or cancer cell suicide. (We want this!) This occurs naturally when there are damaged cells.
atypical cell-
An atypical cell has damaged DNA and has the potential to develop into cancer.
autophagy-
Autophagy is a cell mechanism which involves the removal and recycling of damaged or unnecessary cell components.
benign-
Benign means "friendly," so benign tumors are not harmful and do not spread into other tissues.
biologic therapy-
These therapies are derived from living sources and can include things such as immunotherapies or gene therapy.
biomarker-
see tumor marker.
biopsy-
A biopsy is a procedure in which a small sample of tissue is taken to be examined under a microscope to search for cancerous cells.
brachytherapy-
This is also known as implant or internal radiation therapy. A small amount of radioactive material is placed either within or very near a tumor to emit radiation to a targeted area.
mutanome-
The mutanome includes all somatic mutations within a cancerous tumor.
optimal debulking-
This term is used a lot in ovarian cancer circles. It is a surgery in which all visible cancer is removed.
...More to come.
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