Glossary of Lung Cancer Terms
Power of attorney
A written document often used when someone wants another adult to make decisions on their behalf.
Prognosis
A prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disease.
Progressive disease
The tumor continues to grow in spite of treatment.
Radiofrequency ablation
Uses thermal (heat) energy to kill cells.
Second-line therapy
Treatment that follows if the first is not successful.
Sleeve resection
Surgery to remove a lung tumor in a lobe of the lung and a part of the main bronchus (airway). The ends of the bronchus are rejoined attaching any remaining lobes to the bronchus. This surgery is done to save part of the lung. Also called sleeve lobectomy.
Small Cell Lung Cancer
About 10 to 15 percent of all lung cancers are small cell lung cancer (SCLC), named for the small cells that make up these cancers. SCLC often starts in the bronchi near the center of the chest, and it tends to spread widely through the body early in the course of the disease.
Sputum cytology
A sample of mucus you cough up from the lungs (called sputum or phlegm) is examined under a microscope to see if cancer cells are present.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
A form of non-small cell lung cancer usually found in the center of the lung next to an air tube (bronchus).
Stable disease
The tumor's size did not change much.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)/ Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR)
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), also known as Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) uses a very high dose of radiation delivered very accurately to tumors in the lung or other organs while limiting the dose to the surrounding organs.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Uses a very high dose of radiation delivered very accurately to lung cancer tumors that have spread to the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).
Thoracentesis
This test is done to check whether fluid around the lungs is caused by cancer or by some other medical problem. A needle is placed between the ribs to drain the fluid. The fluid is checked for cancer cells.
Thoracoscopy
A small cut is made in the chest. The surgeon then uses a thin, lighted tube connected to a video camera and screen to look at the space between the lungs and the chest wall. The surgeon can see small tumors on the lung or lining of the chest wall and can take out pieces of tissue to be looked at under the microscope. Thoracoscopy can also be used as part of the treatment to remove part of a lung in some early-stage lung cancers.
Thoracotomy
An incision is made across the back and side of the chest. The ribs are spread apart so the surgeon can access the lung. Learn more about thoractomy.
Tumor
A tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue.
Vaccine therapy
Tumor cells are used to develop a vaccine and then injected into the patient. The vaccine aims to make the immune system recognize the tumor as foreign and attack the cancer cells.
Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)
A new type of surgery that allows surgeons to make very small incisions to view the inside of the chest cavity and remove cancer.
Wedge resection
Surgery to remove a small portion of the lung along with healthy tissue that surrounds the lung.
X-ray
An X-ray produces pictures of the structures inside your body—particularly your bones.
