Cancer:

a general term for a large group of diseases (more than 100), all characterized by uncontrolled growth, invasion, and spread of abnormal cells to other parts of the body.

Carcinogen:

any substance that initiates or promotes the development of cancer. For example, asbestos is a carcinogen.

Carcinoma:

a form of cancer that develops in tissues covering the lining organs of the body, such as the skin, the uterus, the lung, or the breast. Adenocarcinoma affects glandular tissue. Squamous cell carcinoma affects epithethial tissue.

Carcinoma in situ:

an early stage in development, when the cancer is still confined to one layer of tissue. In situ carcinomas are highly curable.

CAT scans:

see computerized tomography scans.

Chemotherapy:

systemic treatment of cancer with medicines administered orally or by injection. Treatment with anticancer drugs disrupts the cancer cells’ ability to grow and multiply.

Clinical trial:

the scientific evaluation of the means to prevent, detect, diagnose, or treat disease in humans. Clinical trials are conducted after experiments in animals have shown evidence of potential effectiveness and preliminary studies in humans suggest usefulness. Clinical trials are used to evaluate promising new treatment. Each study is designed to answer scientific questions and to find better ways of treating patients.

Computerized tomography scans (CT scans):

specialized x-ray studies that give cross-sectional views of the body; sometimes called CAT scans.

Cystitis:

an inflammation of the bladder.