NK Cell (Natural Killer Cell): A type of white blood cell that contains granules with enzymes that can kill tumor cells or microbial cells. Also called a Large Granular Lymphocyte.
Necrosis: Refers to the death of living tissue.
Needle Biopsy: The removal of tissue or fluid with a needle for examination under a microscope. Also called Fine-Needle Aspiration
NED: Standard oncology jargon for No Evidence of Disease - no sign of cancer any where. This is not standard oncology jargon!
Neoplasm: An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancerous), or malignant (cancerous). Also called Tumor.
Nephrectomy: Surgery to remove a kidney or part of a kidney. In a partial nephrectomy, part of one kidney or a tumor is removed, but not an entire kidney. In a simple nephrectomy just the kidney is removed. In a radical nephrectomy, an entire kidney, nearby adrenal gland and lymph nodes, and other surrounding tissue are removed. In a bilateral nephrectomy, both kidneys are removed.
Nephrotoxic: Poisonous or damaging to the kidney.
Nexavar: A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called raf kinase inhibitors. It was previously called BAY 43-9006 and Sorafenib.
NPO: A Latin abbreviation for “nothing by mouth".
NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug): A drug that decreases fever, swelling, pain, and redness. (Hard on the kidney).
Nuclear Grade: An evaluation of the size and shape of the nucleus in tumor cells and the percentage of tumor cells that are in the process of dividing or growing. Cancers with low nuclear grade grow and spread less quickly than cancers with high nuclear grade. |
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