Cachexia: Loss of body weight and muscle mass and weakness that may occur in cancer patients as well as other illnesses.
Calorie: A measurement of the energy content of food. The body uses calories as fuel to perform it’s function, ie breathing, blood circulation and physical activity. During illness the body needs extra calories.
CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine): Forms of treatment that are used in addition or instead of standard treatments. These practices are not considered standard medical approaches. CAM includes dietary supplements, mega dose (high amts) of vitamins, herbal preparations, teas, acupuncture, message therapy, magnet therapy, meditation and spiritual healing.
Cancer Vaccine: A vaccine designed to prevent or treat cancer.
Capillary Leak Syndrome: A condition in which fluid and proteins leak out of tiny blood vessels into surrounding tissue. This can be life threatening, resulting in dangerously low blood pressure and may lead to multiple organ failure and shock.
Carbohydrate: A sugar molecule, it can be simple (glucose) or complex (starches).
Carcinogen: Any substance that causes cancer.
Carcinogenesis: The process in which normal cells become cancer cells.
Cat Scan or CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography): This is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body taken from different angles. These pictures are created by a computer that is linked to an x-ray machine.
Cauterization: The destruction of tissue with a hot instrument, an electrical current. (Usually used in control of bleeding blood vessels during surgery or can be used to kill tumors).
Cell Proliferation: An increase in the number of cells as a result of cell growth and division.
Cell to Cell Signaling: The transfer of information from one cell to another (seen often in regards to cancer).
Centimeter: A measure of length in the metric system, tumors are talked about in terms of centimeters (cm) most often. There are 2.5 centimeters in an inch.
Central Nervous System: Defined as the brain and spinal cord.
Complete Response: No cancer can be detected after treatment. Note that tumors too small to see may still be present and may cause a later relapse.
Contrast: Contrast agent or contrast medium. Any internally administered substance that has a different opacity from soft tissue on radiography or computed tomography. Most contrast used is non-ionic which is easier on the kidney.
Cryoablation: Treatment performed with an instrument that freezes and destroys abnormal tissues.
Cyst: An accumulation of fluid or a semisolid material within a sac (common in many organs including the kidney). |
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