Hi, my name is Alisson. I have been studying in Radiation Oncology for 2 years in Ahuntsic College. This glossary can be helpful for the students studying radiation oncology because the words I chose are terms frequently used. By learning this definitions, it will be easier understanding your study of field.
Alopecia
noun
The partial or complete absence of hair from areas of the body where it normally grows.
Example: The girl has alopecia because of chemotherapy.
fr: alopécie
brachytherapy
noun
Brachytherapy is a procedure that involves placing radioactive material inside your body.
Example: The brachytherapy involves inserting small metal rods that remain in the prostate for a couple of days while radiation is delivered into the prostate on an inpatient basis.
fr: curiethérapie
cancer
noun
Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body.
Example: She was diagnosed with breast cancer.
fr: cancer
chemotherapy
noun
Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.
Example: Cancer cells mutate at a furious rate, and they can evolve the means to resist most chemotherapy drugs.
fr: chimiothérapie
curative
adjective
Relating to or used in the cure of diseases : tending to cure.
Example: The patient is receiving a curative treatment for his bladder cancer.
fr: curatif
dose
noun
An amount of ionizing radiation received or absorbed at one time or over a specified period.
Example: The technologist gave the patient his dose of the day for his treatment.
fr: dose
dosimetry
noun
The determination and measurement of the amount or dosage of radiation absorbed by a substance or living organism.
Example: The dosimetry shows how much of dose we have to give to the tumor.
fr: dosimétrie
gray (gy)
noun
The SI unit of the absorbed dose of ionizing radiation, corresponding to one joule per kilogram.
Example: The doctor asked us to give the patient a dose of 30 gy.
fr: gray
immunotherapy
noun
A form of cancer treatment that uses the power of the body’s own immune system to prevent, control, and eliminate cancer.
fr: Immunothérapie
irradiation
noun
The application of radiation (such as X-rays or gamma rays) for therapeutic purposes.
Example: Studies suggest the majority of patients wish to save their breast, and therefore breast conserving surgery and irradiation should be offered whenever possible.
fr: irradiation
lymphoma
noun
Cancer of the lymph nodes.
Example: She fought a brave battle against lymphoma.
fr: lymphome
malignant
adjective
Tending to infiltrate, metastasize, and terminate fatally.
Example: This is highly malignant form of cancer.
fr: maligne
oedema
noun
Effusion of serous fluid into the interstices of cells in tissue spaces or into body cavities.
Example: He has to get treated to reduce the oedema in his brain.
fr: oedème
palliative
adjective
Relieving pain without dealing with the cause of the condition.
Example: He has so much pain but the cancer it's so big that the only treatment is palliative.
fr: palliatif
radiotherapy
noun
The treatment of disease with ionizing radiation.
Example: Most breast tumors develop oestrogen resistance though, making endocrine treatment useless and therefore relying on the more traditional methods, such as radiotherapy and possibly surgery.
fr: radiothérapie
relapse
noun
A recurrence of symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement.
Example: After 5 years of being cancer free, she got a relapse.
fr: rechute
resection
noun
The process of cutting out tissue or part of an organ.
Example: The patient underwent resection of the tumor.
fr: résection
scan
noun
An image formed by scanning something: such as an image of a bodily part produced (as by computer) by combining ultrasonic or radiographic data obtained from several angles or sections
Example: The pictures of the scan shows a mass on the left breast.
fr: scan
TBI (total body irradiation)
acronym
A type of radiation therapy that is given to the entire body.
Example: He has to go under a TBI for his cancer.
fr: TBI
tumor
noun
A swelling of a part of the body, generally without inflammation, caused by an abnormal growth of tissue, whether benign or malignant.
Example: The scan showed a small tumor in her abdomen.
