Oncology and Hematologic Cancers Study Guide

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering basic oncology terminology, risk factors, symptoms, treatments, and specific hematologic cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

Benign

Neoplasms characterized by well-differentiated cells clustered together in a single mass that do not cause cell death, are slow-growing, and remain contained.

Malignant

Neoplasms with poorly differentiated cells that grow through infiltration, invasion, and penetration of surrounding tissues, often spreading to other sites.

Metastasis

The detachment of cells from a primary tumor and their spread to other locations through the blood and lymphatic system to form secondary tumors.

Solid tumor

A cancer confined to a specific tissue or organ, such as lung cancer.

Hematologic cancers

Cancers that involve the blood, such as leukemia.

Adenoma

A benign tumor derived from glandular epithelial tissue.

Oncogenes

Cancer-associated genes that are characterized by gene over activity.

Tumor suppressor genes

Cancer-associated genes that are characterized by gene under activity.

Carcinogenesis

The process by which chemical, physical, or biologic agents cause irreversible changes to normal cell DNA, turning them into cancer cells.

Cachexia

A cancer symptom involving loss of weight in both fat and skeletal muscle that does not respond to nutritional support and involves altered metabolism.

Anorexia

A condition characterized by reduced food intake and altered taste.

Leukemia

A cancer of blood cells originating in the bone marrow defined by the over proliferation of leukocytes.

Lymphoma

A cancer starting in the lymphatic system caused by the over proliferation of lymphocytes.

Multiple Myeloma

A plasma cell cancer where malignant cells penetrate the bone marrow and form tumors in the skeleton.

Neutropenia

Also known as agranulocytosis, this condition is a decrease in the most abundant white blood cell ($WBC$), resulting in a high risk for infection.

Blast Stage

The immature stage of blood cells in leukemia where cells cannot mature and divide rapidly, draining bone marrow resources.

Biotherapy

Also called immunotherapy, it involves altering the natural immune response to improve cancer control using biologic response modifiers like cytokines and interferons.

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)

A type of leukemia characterized specifically by infection and bleeding.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)

A type of leukemia that primarily affects children.

Hodgkin Lymphoma

One of the most curable forms of cancer, potentially linked to the Epstein Barr Virus, genetics, or environmental factors.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

The more common type of lymphoma, associated with advanced age, chromosomal translocations, infections, and $AIDS$.

Neutropenic precautions

Measures taken to protect a patient with low white blood cell counts from potential infection.

Palliative treatments

Medical interventions focused on providing relief from symptoms and pain rather than seeking a cure.

Oncogenic Viruses

Viruses that enter a host and use the host DNA to replicate, such as $HPB$ and Hepatitis B.