Glossary

Age-Adjusted Mortality Rate:

Age is the most important characteristic governing mortality. Before the mortality experience of two or more populations can be compared, the difference in the age distributions of the population must be removed. This is accomplished through the use of an age-adjusted rate.

Basal Cell Carcinoma:

The most common form of skin cancer which, when detected and treated early, will usually result in a complete cure.

Biopsy:

The removal and examination, usually microscopic, of tissue from the living body, in order to establish a precise diagnosis.

Cancer:

A class of more than 100 diseases, all of which are characterized by malignant uncontrolled cell growth that, left untreated, will prove fatal. All cancers have the capacity to metastasize, or form secondary tumors at other sites. See Carcinoma.

Carcinogenesis:

The production of cancer.

Carcinoma:

A malignant tumor of epithelial origin; refer to cancer.

Carcinoma In-Situ:

An early stage in development, when the cancer is still confined to one layer of tissue. Cancers diagnosed at this stage are highly curable.

Chemotherapy:

The treatment of diseases such as cancer by drug therapy.

Colposcopy:

Visual examination of the tissues of the cervix and vagina by inserting a magnifying instrument called a colposcope.

Demography:

The study of populations, especially with reference to population size, density, fertility, mortality, growth, age distribution, migration, and vital statistics, and the interaction of all these with social and economic conditions.

Detection:

The discovery of a physical abnormality in a person who might or might not show symptoms of disease. Detection can result from self-examination or special screening and/or diagnostic tests administered by health care professionals.

Distant:

A neoplasm that has spread to parts of the body remote from the primary tumor either by direct extension or by discontinuous metastasis.

Dysplasia:

The abnormal pathological development of cells, indicating possible malignancy.

Epidemiology:

The study of the distribution and causes of disease occurrence in a population.

Five-Year Survival:

A term commonly used as the statistical basis for successful treatment. A patient with cancer is generally considered cured after five or more years without recurrence of the disease.

Global Budgets:

Proposed limits to all health care spending.

Health Care Professionals:

Practitioners of disease prevention, detection, treatment and rehabilitation. These include physicians, nurses, dentists, dietitians, health educators, social workers and therapists, among others.

High-Risk Group:

When the chance for developing cancer is greater for an individual or a group of people than it is for the general population, that individual or group is thought to be high-risk. People may be considered to be high-risk for many factors or combinations of factors, including a family history of a disease, personal habits, or exposure to products which can cause cancer in the environment or workplace.

Incidence:

The number of occurrences of a given disease within a population. Cancer incidence is the number of new cases of cancer diagnosed in one year. Data on the incidence of cancer in Texas are maintained by the Texas Cancer Registry at the Texas Department of Health.

Incidence Rate:

Calculated by dividing the number of new cases of a particular cancer during a given period of time by the number of people known to be at risk.

In situ:

In place; localized and confined to one area. Carcinoma in situ is an early stage of the development of a cancer, when it is still confined to one layer of tissue. Many cancers diagnosed at this stage have a high cure rate.

Local:

An invasive neoplasm confined entirely to the organ of origin.

Malignancy:

The tendency of certain diseases to become progressively worse. A malignancy is often resistant to treatment and can result in death.

Mammography:

A screening and diagnostic technique that uses low-dose x-rays to find tumors in the breast.

Managed Competition:

Centralized management of the distribution of goods and services from various providers. It is often considered to be synonymous with a market-based approach because it allows consumers to choose from among competing health plans. In the context of national health care reform, it would include a defined package of basic benefits with supplemental options.

Metastasis:

The spread of cancer cells to new areas of the body.

Morbidity:

Any departure, subjective or objective, from a state of physiological or psychological well-being. In this sense, sickness, illness, and a morbid condition are synonymous.

Mortality Rate:

Calculated by dividing the number of people who have died of a particular cancer during a given period of time by the total population at risk.

Neoplasm:

A new growth of tissue serving no physiological function; see tumor.

Neuroblastoma:

A malignant tumor formed of embryonic ganglion cells.

Oncology:

A science dealing with the physical, chemical, and biologic properties and features of cancer, including causes and the disease process.

Oncologist:

A physician who, after extensive training, specializes in cancer treatment.

Pap Test:

A simple microscopic examination of cells. The Pap test can detect cancer of the cervix at an early, highly curable stage.

Prevalence:

The number of persons in a population with a given disease at a given time.

Prevention:

Primary prevention is the reduction or control of causative factors of potential health problems. This includes reducing or eliminating various risk factors such as quitting smoking to reduce the risk of lung cancer and wearing sunscreen to reduce the chances of developing skin cancer and environmental measures such as reducing exposure to toxic or carcinogenic substances. This category also includes health-service interventions, such as vaccinations or such preventive "therapy" tools as fluoridated water supplies or dental sealants.

Secondary prevention is the early detection and treatment of health problems, such as using mammography to detect breast cancer and Pap tests to detect cervical cancer, along with the resulting diagnosis and initial treatment.

Tertiary prevention involves providing appropriate supportive and rehabilitative services to minimize morbidity and maximize the quality of life, such as the rehabilitation of injuries and the prevention of secondary complications.

Radiation Therapy:

Cancer treatments which utilize high-energy waves or particles of radiation.

Regional:

A neoplasm that has extended beyond the limits of the organ of origin directly into surrounding organs or tissues; into regional lymph nodes; or both direct extension and regional lymph node involvement.

Rehabilitation:

Programs which help patients adjust to health problems or disablement and return to a full productive life. Rehabilitation may involve physical restoration, such as the use of prostheses, or emotional help such as counseling or providing emotional support.

Remission:

A state or period during which the symptoms of cancer are not present.

Risk Assessment:

The evaluation of an individual's personal and family history, often by using questionnaires to estimate the degree to which that person is at risk for developing certain types of cancer. For example, assessing an individualıs risk of developing cancer can provide information on ways to lower personal risk and can make the person aware of early warning signs and the type and frequency of screening programs to follow.

Risk Factors:

Anything that has been identified as increasing an individual's chance of getting a disease.

Tumor:

An abnormal mass of tissue that is not inflammatory, arises from cells of pre-existent tissues, and serves no useful purpose. See Neoplasm.

Screening:

Tests that sort out apparently well persons who probably have a disease from those who probably do not. If positive, they would be referred to a physician for diagnosis.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma:

A common form of skin cancer which, when detected and treated early, will result in complete cure.

Stage:

A distinct phase in the course of a disease. Stages of cancer are typically defined by the degree of containment or spread of the tumor: in situ, localized, regional or distant spread.

Definitions which appear in this glossary are from the following sources:

American Cancer Society, 1983. Cancer Word Book. Reprint, 1990.

Greenspan EZ, 1990. The Breast Cancer Epidemic in the United States: How 15,000 More Lives Can be Saved Each Year: A Medical Oncologistıs Perspective. The Chemotherapy Foundation.

Karp S. et. al. Cancer in Colorado Women 1979 to 1985: Prevention, Incidence, Survival and Mortality. A Cooperative Publication of the American Cancer Society, Colorado Division and the Colorado Department of Health, Colorado Central Cancer Registry.

Last JM., 1983. A Dictionary of Epidemiology. Oxford University Press.

Merriam Webster Inc., 1986. Webster's Medical Desk Dictionary.

United States Department of Health and Human Services, 1991. Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for the Nation. Washington: Public Health Service.

WB Saunders Company, 1988. Dorlands Illustrated Medical Dictionary.