Cancer, Immune System, and Skin Disorders

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms related to cancer types, cancer treatments, immune system disorders, and skin conditions such as shingles based on the lecture notes.

Tumor

A new growth of abnormal cells that develops when cell division and growth are out of control.

Benign tumors

Tumors that do not spread to other body parts, can grow to a large size but rarely threaten life, and usually do not grow back when removed.

Malignant tumors

Commonly known as cancer; these tumors invade and destroy nearby tissue, can spread to other body parts, may be life threatening, and sometimes grow back after removal.

Metastasis

The spread of cancer to other body parts; cancer cells break off the tumor and travel to other body parts to grow new tumors.

Alopecia

Hair loss, which is a side effect of chemotherapy depending on the drug used.

Radiation therapy (radiotherapy)

Treatment that destroys certain tumors, shrinks a tumor before surgery, destroys cancer cells that remain after surgery, or controls tumor growth to prevent or relieve pain.

Chemotherapy

Treatment involving drugs that kill cells; used to shrink a tumor before surgery, kill cells that break off the tumor, and relieve symptoms caused by the cancer.

Hormone therapy

A therapy that prevents cancer cells from getting or using hormones needed for their growth, often through drugs or the removal of organs or glands that produce certain hormones.

Biological therapy (immunotherapy)

A treatment that helps the immune system fight the cancer and protects the body from the side effects of cancer treatments.

Stem cell

A cell from which new cell types develop (such as blood cells, brain cells, and bone cells) having certain functions.

Complementary and alternative code (CAM)

Therapies used along with or instead of standard cancer treatments.

Immune system

A system that protects the body from microbes, cancer cells, and other harmful substances and defends against threats inside and outside the body.

Autoimmune disorders

Disorders occurring from problems with the immune response where the immune system attacks the body’s own normal cells, tissues, or organs.

Graves’ disease

The most common form of hyperthyroidism, which is a type of autoimmune disorder.

Lupus

An inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects the blood cells, joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, or brain.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

A condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which attacks the immune system.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

The virus that causes AIDS and is spread through body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk.

Kaposi’s sarcoma

A type of cancer that a person with AIDS is at risk for developing.

Shingles (herpes zoster)

A skin disorder caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, which lies dormant in nerve tissue and can become active years later, especially in persons over $50$ years of age.