Introduction to Oncology

This set of flashcards covers essential vocabulary and concepts related to oncology, including definitions of terms, treatment modalities, and cancer characteristics.

Oncology

A branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Malignant

Cancerous cells that grow in an uncontrolled manner and can invade nearby tissues.

Benign

Non-cancerous tumors that may grow larger but do not spread to other parts of the body.

Metastasis

The process where cancer cells break away from the primary tumor and form new tumors in other organs or tissues.

Hematologic cancers

Cancers of the blood cells, including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

Solid tumor cancers

Cancers of any of the other body organs or tissues.

Proto-oncogenes

Genes involved in normal cell growth that can mutate to become oncogenes, leading to cancer growth.

Tumor suppressor genes

Genes that control cell growth and division; mutations can lead to cancer.

Driver mutation

Changes in DNA sequences that cause normal cells to become cancerous.

Clinical performance status

A measure used to evaluate how well a patient can perform ordinary tasks.

FDA Approved Therapies

Medications that have been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for cancer treatment.

Palliative chemotherapy

Chemotherapy aimed at relieving symptoms without expecting to significantly reduce cancer.

Adjuvant chemotherapy

Chemotherapy given after surgery to destroy remaining microscopic cancer cells.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Chemotherapy given before surgery to shrink tumors.

Intravenous (IV)

A method of delivering medication directly into the bloodstream through a vein.

Subcutaneous

Administration method where medication is injected into the tissue layer between the skin and the muscle.

Intrathecal

A method of delivering medication directly into the cerebrospinal fluid via a spinal injection.

Chemotherapy cycles

Periods of treatment followed by rest periods to allow the patient's body to recover.

Cytotoxic agents

Classes of drugs that selectively kill or damage dividing cells, often used in chemotherapy.

Immunotherapy

Treatment that uses the body's immune system to fight cancer.

Radiation therapy

The use of high-energy particles or waves to destroy or damage cancer cells.

Risk factors for cancer

Variables that increase the likelihood of developing cancer, such as age, genetics, and lifestyle.

Screening tests

Medical tests performed on individuals to detect disease before symptoms are present.

TNM System

A classification system used for staging cancer based on Tumor size, lymph Node involvement, and Metastasis.

Prognostic biomarkers

Biological markers that indicate the likelihood of a clinical outcome in cancer patients.

Targeted therapy

Cancer treatment that targets specific molecules involved in cancer growth and progression.

Health-related quality of life

A measure of a patient's overall well-being and daily functioning related to health.

Biologics

Medications that are made from living organisms and used to treat cancer.

5-FU

Fluorouracil, a chemotherapy drug used to treat various types of cancer.

Efficacy measures

Metrics used to evaluate the effectiveness of cancer treatments.