Oncological Care Terminology

Oncological Care Terminology

Use this glossary to explain common terms patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals may hear when discussing cancer, testing, treatment options, side effects, supportive care, and survivorship.

Oncological care includes prevention, screening, diagnosis, staging, treatment, symptom management, rehabilitation, survivorship, and palliative care. The care plan depends on the type and stage of cancer, tumor characteristics, biomarker results, overall health, treatment history, goals, preferences, and available services. Cancer care may involve several healthcare professionals working together across different settings.

Core concepts and oncology providers

• Oncology: The medical specialty focused on cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, symptom management, and follow-up care.
• Cancer: A group of diseases in which abnormal cells grow without normal control and may invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body.
• Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue that may be benign or malignant.
• Benign tumor: A tumor that is not cancer and does not invade nearby tissues or spread to distant parts of the body, although it may still cause health problems depending on its size and location.
• Malignant tumor: A cancerous tumor that can invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body.
• Oncology team: The healthcare professionals involved in a person’s cancer care. The team may include medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists, nurses, pharmacists, pathologists, radiologists, social workers, therapists, dietitians, and other specialists.
• Medical oncologist: A physician who treats cancer with medicines such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or hormone therapy.
• Surgical oncologist: A surgeon who specializes in using surgery to diagnose, remove, or manage cancer.
• Radiation oncologist: A physician who specializes in using radiation therapy to treat cancer or relieve symptoms caused by cancer.
• Hematologist-oncologist: A physician who specializes in blood disorders and cancers of the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system.
• Multidisciplinary team: A group of healthcare professionals from different specialties who collaborate to evaluate cancer and coordinate treatment recommendations.
• Cancer care plan: A written or shared plan describing the diagnosis, treatment goals, therapies, monitoring, side effects, supportive services, and follow-up schedule.
• Shared decision-making: A process in which the person receiving care and the healthcare team discuss options, benefits, risks, uncertainties, and personal preferences before making a decision.
• Informed consent: The process of learning about a proposed test or treatment, including its purpose, benefits, risks, alternatives, and the option not to proceed, before agreeing to it.
• Clinical trial: A research study that evaluates a medical intervention, screening method, diagnostic approach, or supportive-care strategy in people.

Risk, prevention, and early detection

• Cancer risk factor: Something that may increase the chance of developing cancer, such as tobacco use, certain infections, inherited gene changes, environmental exposures, or family history.
• Family history: Information about cancer and other health conditions among biological relatives that may help identify an inherited risk.
• Hereditary cancer: Cancer caused in part by an inherited gene change that may be passed through a family.
• Genetic counseling: Professional guidance that helps a person understand inherited cancer risk, genetic testing options, possible results, and medical or family implications.
• Genetic testing: Testing a blood, saliva, or other sample for inherited gene changes that may affect cancer risk or treatment decisions.
• Cancer prevention: Actions that may reduce the chance of developing cancer, such as avoiding tobacco, receiving recommended vaccines, limiting harmful exposures, and following screening guidance.
• Cancer screening: Checking for certain cancers or precancerous changes in people who do not have symptoms.
• Early detection: Finding cancer at an earlier stage, before it has spread extensively, through screening, evaluation of symptoms, or another assessment.
• Precancerous: Describing abnormal cells or tissue that are not cancer but may have the potential to become cancer.
• Carcinoma in situ: Abnormal cells that are confined to the place where they first developed and have not invaded nearby tissue. It is also called stage 0 for some cancers.

Diagnosis and pathology

• Cancer diagnosis: Identifying whether cancer is present and determining its type, location, and other characteristics.
• Medical history and physical examination: Reviewing symptoms, health history, family history, medications, and risk factors and examining the body to guide further testing.
• Biopsy: A procedure that removes a sample of abnormal tissue or cells so a pathologist can examine it for cancer.
• Needle biopsy: Using a needle to remove tissue or fluid for examination. Examples include fine-needle aspiration and core needle biopsy.
• Fine-needle aspiration (FNA): Using a thin needle to remove cells or fluid for examination under a microscope.
• Core needle biopsy: Using a larger needle to remove a small cylinder of tissue for examination.
• Excisional biopsy: Removing an entire abnormal area, often with some surrounding normal tissue, for examination.
• Incisional biopsy: Removing only part of an abnormal area for examination.
• Endoscopic biopsy: Removing tissue through an endoscope inserted into a natural body opening, such as the mouth or anus.
• Pathology: The examination of cells, tissues, or organs to identify disease and describe its characteristics.
• Pathologist: A physician who examines tissue, cells, blood, or other samples to help diagnose disease and characterize cancer.
• Pathology report: A report describing findings from a biopsy or surgical specimen, including the cancer type and characteristics that may guide treatment.
• Histology: The study of tissues and the way cells are arranged within them.
• Cytology: The study of individual cells or groups of cells, often collected from body fluids, brushings, or needle samples.
• Immunohistochemistry (IHC): A laboratory test that uses antibodies to identify specific proteins or markers in tissue.
• Molecular testing: Laboratory testing that looks for genetic or molecular changes in cancer cells to help classify the cancer or guide treatment.
• Biomarker testing: Testing cancer cells or a blood sample for genes, proteins, or other markers that may help select treatment or predict how cancer may respond.
• Tumor marker: A substance made by cancer cells or other cells in response to cancer that may be measured in blood, urine, tissue, or other body fluids.
• Liquid biopsy: A test performed on a blood sample to look for cancer cells or pieces of tumor DNA released into the bloodstream.
• Complete blood count (CBC): A blood test that measures red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, and related blood-cell information.
• Blood chemistry test: A blood test that measures substances such as electrolytes, sugars, proteins, and enzymes to provide information about organ function and health.

Imaging and diagnostic procedures

• Imaging: Creating pictures of areas inside the body to identify, locate, measure, or monitor a tumor or other abnormality.
• X-ray: An imaging test that uses a small amount of radiation to create pictures of the inside of the body.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan: An imaging test that uses X-rays and computer processing to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An imaging test that uses a powerful magnet and radio waves to create detailed images of organs and tissues.
• Ultrasound: An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of internal organs, tissues, blood vessels, or masses.
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan: An imaging test that uses a radioactive tracer to create pictures of areas where cells are taking up the tracer, which may help identify active cancer.
• Bone scan: A nuclear imaging test used to look for abnormal areas or damage in bones, including cancer that has spread to the bones.
• Contrast material: A substance given by mouth, injection, or another route during some imaging tests to make certain tissues or structures easier to see.
• Endoscopy: A procedure that uses a thin, lighted tube to view the inside of a body passage or organ and, when needed, collect tissue samples or perform treatment.
• Colonoscopy: An endoscopic examination of the colon and rectum.
• Bronchoscopy: An endoscopic examination of the trachea, bronchi, and lungs.
• Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: A procedure that collects bone marrow fluid, tissue, or both to evaluate blood disorders and cancers.

Staging, grading, and cancer status

• Cancer stage: The extent of cancer, including the size of the primary tumor and whether it has spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant parts of the body.
• Clinical stage: The stage estimated from physical examinations, imaging, laboratory tests, biopsies, and other information collected before treatment.
• Pathologic stage: The stage determined from tissue removed during surgery and the results of pathology testing, when surgery is performed.
• TNM staging system: A staging system in which T describes the primary tumor, N describes nearby lymph nodes, and M describes whether the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body.
• Primary tumor: The original tumor where the cancer first developed.
• Regional lymph nodes: Nearby lymph nodes that may be evaluated for cancer spread.
• Metastasis: Cancer that has spread from the primary tumor to another part of the body.
• Metastatic cancer: Cancer that has spread from its original location to a distant part of the body.
• Localized cancer: Cancer that is limited to the place where it started, with no sign of spread.
• Regional cancer: Cancer that has spread to nearby tissues, organs, or lymph nodes.
• Distant cancer: Cancer that has spread to distant parts of the body.
• Stage 0: Abnormal cells that have not invaded nearby tissue. This may also be called carcinoma in situ.
• Stage I, II, or III: Cancer that is present, with the number generally reflecting increasing size, local extension, or spread to nearby lymph nodes. The details vary by cancer type.
• Stage IV: Cancer that has spread to distant parts of the body for cancers that use this stage classification.
• Cancer grade: A description of how abnormal cancer cells look under a microscope and how closely they resemble normal cells.
• Differentiation: The degree to which cancer cells resemble the normal cells from which they developed.
• Risk group: A category based on cancer characteristics and other factors that may help estimate prognosis or guide treatment.
• Treatment response: How cancer changes after treatment, such as shrinking, remaining stable, or continuing to grow.
• Complete response: The disappearance of all signs of cancer on available examinations. It does not always mean the cancer can never return.
• Partial response: A decrease in the amount or extent of cancer after treatment, without complete disappearance.
• Stable disease: Cancer that has not significantly increased or decreased after treatment.
• Progressive disease: Cancer that has grown, spread, or otherwise worsened during or after treatment.
• Remission: A period when signs and symptoms of cancer are reduced or absent. Remission may be complete or partial.
• Recurrence: Cancer that returns after a period when it could not be detected or was considered controlled.
• Relapse: Cancer that returns or becomes active again after a period of improvement or remission.
• Refractory cancer: Cancer that does not respond to treatment or continues to progress despite treatment.
• Prognosis: The expected course or outcome of a disease. A prognosis is an estimate, not a guaranteed prediction.

Cancer treatment and procedures

• Cancer treatment: Medical, surgical, radiation-based, or supportive care used to remove, destroy, control, or relieve the effects of cancer.
• Treatment intent: The primary goal of treatment, such as cure, long-term control, reducing the risk of recurrence, shrinking a tumor before surgery, or relieving symptoms.
• Surgery: An operation used to diagnose, remove, stage, reconstruct after, or manage cancer.
• Resection: Surgical removal of part or all of a tumor or organ.
• Excision: Removal of a tumor, lesion, or other area of abnormal tissue.
• Lymph node biopsy: Removing one or more lymph nodes to check for cancer cells.
• Lymph node dissection: Removing a group of lymph nodes to examine or treat cancer that may have spread to them.
• Chemotherapy: Treatment with medicines that kill cancer cells or stop them from growing and dividing.
• Radiation therapy: Treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells, shrink tumors, or relieve symptoms.
• Immunotherapy: Treatment that helps the immune system recognize or fight cancer.
• Targeted therapy: Treatment that acts on specific changes in cancer cells that help them grow, divide, or spread.
• Hormone therapy: Treatment that blocks or lowers hormones that some cancers need to grow.
• Stem cell transplant: A procedure that restores blood-forming stem cells after high-dose treatment has damaged or destroyed them.
• Ablation: A procedure that destroys or removes abnormal tissue using methods such as heat, cold, chemicals, or other energy.
• Cryotherapy: Treatment that uses extreme cold to destroy abnormal tissue.
• Embolization: Blocking blood flow to a tumor or other area with a substance delivered through a blood vessel.
• Infusion: Delivering medication, fluid, blood products, or another treatment slowly into a vein or another part of the body.
• Port: A small implanted device connected to a catheter that provides repeated access to a large vein for medication, fluids, blood products, or blood samples.
• Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC): A long, flexible catheter inserted into a vein and advanced toward a large central vein for ongoing treatment.
• Intrathecal therapy: Delivering medication into the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
• Neoadjuvant therapy: Treatment given before the main treatment, such as surgery, to shrink a tumor or reduce the extent of disease.
• Adjuvant therapy: Additional treatment given after the primary treatment to reduce the risk that cancer will return.
• Combination therapy: Using two or more cancer treatments together or in sequence.
• Maintenance therapy: Treatment given after an initial response to help keep cancer controlled or reduce the chance of progression.
• Clinical trial treatment: An intervention provided as part of a research study to evaluate its safety, effectiveness, or use in a particular cancer.

Side effects and supportive care

• Side effect: An unwanted effect of cancer or cancer treatment. Side effects vary among individuals and may be temporary or long lasting.
• Supportive care: Care that helps prevent or manage symptoms, treatment side effects, emotional concerns, practical needs, and other effects of cancer.
• Symptom management: Assessing, preventing, and treating symptoms such as pain, nausea, fatigue, breathlessness, constipation, or sleep problems.
• Pain management: Using medication, procedures, rehabilitation, psychological support, and other approaches to reduce cancer-related or treatment-related pain.
• Antiemetic: A medication used to prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting.
• Fatigue: Persistent tiredness or lack of energy that may be related to cancer, treatment, anemia, sleep disruption, or other factors.
• Mucositis: Inflammation and sores in the lining of the mouth, throat, or digestive tract that may occur after certain cancer treatments.
• Neuropathy: Nerve damage that may cause numbness, tingling, burning, pain, or weakness.
• Alopecia: Hair loss that may occur as a result of cancer treatment.
• Neutropenia: A lower-than-normal number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that helps fight infection.
• Febrile neutropenia: A fever occurring when a person has a low neutrophil count. It requires urgent medical evaluation.
• Anemia: A lower-than-normal number of red blood cells or amount of hemoglobin, which may cause fatigue, weakness, or shortness of breath.
• Thrombocytopenia: A lower-than-normal number of platelets, which may increase the risk of bleeding or bruising.
• Infection risk: The increased chance of infection when cancer or its treatment weakens the immune system or reduces white blood cells.
• Lymphedema: Swelling caused by a buildup of lymph fluid, often in an arm or leg after lymph nodes or lymph vessels are affected.
• Fertility preservation: Steps taken before treatment to protect the possibility of having biological children in the future.
• Oncology rehabilitation: Physical, occupational, speech, nutritional, or other therapy to help a person recover function and manage the effects of cancer or treatment.
• Psycho-oncology: Mental health and psychosocial care addressing the emotional, behavioral, social, and practical effects of cancer.
• Nutrition support: Assessment and guidance to help manage nutrition, hydration, weight changes, treatment effects, and eating-related concerns.
• Palliative care: Specialized care that helps prevent or relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. It may be provided with cancer-directed treatment or without it.
• Hospice care: Care focused primarily on comfort, quality of life, and support when a person is nearing the end of life and treatment intended to cure or control the disease is no longer the primary goal.

Care planning, communication, and survivorship

• Goals of care: The outcomes and priorities that matter most to a person, such as controlling cancer, maintaining independence, spending time at home, or focusing on comfort.
• Advance care planning: An ongoing process of discussing values, learning about healthcare choices, naming a decision-maker, and documenting preferences for future care.
• Advance directive: A legal document that records a person’s healthcare wishes if they later cannot make or communicate decisions.
• Healthcare proxy: A person chosen or legally authorized to make healthcare decisions for someone who cannot make or communicate decisions.
• Code status: A medical plan documenting which emergency treatments should be used if a person’s heart stops or they cannot breathe.
• Do not resuscitate (DNR) order: A medical order not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation if a person’s heart stops or they stop breathing. It does not automatically mean that other treatment or comfort care will stop.
• Do not intubate (DNI) order: A medical order not to place an endotracheal breathing tube. Other treatments may still be considered depending on the care plan.
• Caregiver support: Education, counseling, practical assistance, and care coordination for family members or other caregivers.
• Survivorship: The period from the time of cancer diagnosis through the rest of a person’s life. A cancer survivor may be living with cancer or may have completed treatment.
• Survivorship care plan: A plan that summarizes cancer treatment, possible late effects, recommended follow-up, health promotion, and care coordination.
• Surveillance: Regular examinations, tests, or imaging used to monitor for recurrence, progression, treatment effects, or a new cancer.
• Follow-up care: Ongoing medical, emotional, rehabilitative, and preventive care after diagnosis or treatment.
• Late effect: A health problem caused by cancer or its treatment that appears months or years after treatment.
• Care transition: The coordinated movement from one healthcare setting, provider, or phase of treatment to another.
• Second opinion: An evaluation by another healthcare professional to review a diagnosis, test results, prognosis, or treatment options.
• Referral: A recommendation or arrangement for evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, or support from another healthcare professional or service.
• Return precautions: Specific warning signs that mean a person should contact the healthcare team or seek urgent medical care.

Cancer terminology and treatment recommendations vary by cancer type, stage, biomarker results, clinical guidance, location, and individual goals. A healthcare professional can explain what a specific term means in the context of a person’s diagnosis, test results, treatment plan, and follow-up care.