A -
Mesothelioma Cancer Glossary
A
| B
| C |
D | E
| F |
G | H
Abdominal Mesothelioma
Another designation for peritoneal mesothelioma, which is a cancer
of the abdominal lining or Peritoneum of the lungs.
Acute Pain
Acute pain lasts a very short amount of time, but can be very severe
and comes as a surprise.
Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma is also known as non-small cell lung cancer and forms
in cell glands in parts of the body that produce mucous. Adenocarcinoma
forms column-shaped cells or cubes that are malignant tumors and
reside along the outer edges of the lungs and under the membrane
lining of the bronchi.
Adjuvant therapy
Adjuvant therapy is the process of giving chemotherapy drugs after
a patient undergoes radiation therapy or surgery to prevent malignant
tumors from reforming in the lungs.
Airborne Asbestos
Airborne asbestos is when asbestos fibers come loose from their
main masses and can float in the air, and can then be inhaled or
swallowed. Once they start floating in the air, they become known
as airborne asbestos.
Abnormal
Abnormal is the opposite of normal, it is something that is outside
the normal range and different from the average.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the process of using small needles to puncture the
skin at parts of the body that are in pain to relieve them from
pain or cure diseases. It is a procedure developed by the Chinese
and popular all over the world today.
Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma is a malignant tumor found in the epithelium. The
epithelium is the secreting surface of the glands and provides covering
of the internal and external organs of the body as well as the lining
of vessels, body cavities and other organs.
AJCC Staging System
This is a cancer staging system developed by the American Joint
Committee on Cancer (AJCC). It was developed in an attempt to standardize
the classification of cancer as well as gathering statistics and
facts about a particular cancer being studied. This system also
helps medical professionals choose a path of treatment for their
cancer patients.
Alimta
Alimta is a chemotherapy drug to help alleviate pain for pleural
mesothelioma lung cancer patients. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer
of the pleura or linings of the chest cavities.
Alopecia
Alopecia is a side effect of using chemotherapy drugs that results
in loss of hair.
Alveolar Epithelial Cells
Alveolar Epithelial cells are cells that reside in the epithelium
which provides a covering for internal & external organs of
the body including lining of the vessels, body cavities and other
organs.
Alveolar Sacs
Alveolar Sacs help coordinate the exchange of gases in respiration
and are made up of small blocks of cavities found in the lungs.
Alveoli
Alveolis are little structures found inside the lungs that are responsible
for pulmonary gas exchanges. They pose a danger to the lungs because
asbestos fibers can easily get clogged up in these structures that
can lead to asbestos scarring and inflammation.
Amosite
Amosite is a mineral made up of long thin fibers used in the production
of asbestos.
Amphibole
Amphibole is a block of complex asbestos minerals that contain similar
crystalline structures that contain other simple minerals such as
sodium, calcium, aluminium, etc.
Anemia
Anemia is a low count of red blood cells in the body. It is a condition
when a person is blood deficient and lacks red blood cells or hemoglobin
in the body.
Anesthetic
An anesthetic is a substance capable of causing anesthesia which
is the controlled feeling of unconsciousness in human body. When
doctors need to operate on a certain part of a body, they can inject
the patient with an anesthetic drug so that the patient does not
feel any pain.
Angiogenesis
This is the practice of growing new blood vessels & red blood
cells in the body and scientists are working hard to see if they
can automate the process in human body.
Angiostatin
Angiostatin is a protein that naturally occurs in the human body
and prevents growth of blood vessels. Scientists are researching
to see if this protein is any valuable to fighting cancer.
Anxiety
A state of mind that is at unease or very anxious. Many cancer patients
feel anxious about the outcomes of their cancer treatments or symptoms,
thus causing stress or pain.
Asbestiform
Asbestiform refers to any material that contains asbestos fibers
of a certain tensile strength.
Asbestos
Asbestos is the name of several minerals that naturally occur in
the environment as bundles of fibers and are separated into thin
durable threads. Asbestos fibers are resistant to chemicals, fire
& heat and cannot conduct electricity. This is why they are
used in many different industries.
Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM)
Any industrial or domestic product found to contain asbestos.
Asbestos Fibers
Asbestos fibers are blocks of minerals found in asbestos containing
products, that when inhaled into the lungs can cause inflammation
or scarring. If these asbestos fibers are disturbed, they can dissipitate
into the air and become airborne.
|
