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CA 125 (Cancer Antigen 125)
CA 125 is a protein made by certain cells in the body which include those of the uterus, uterine tubes, cervix, abdomen, and
chest ( pleura and lungs ). Elevated CA 125 can be caused by many conditions such as peritonitis, pleuritis, menstruation, pregnancy, endometriosis, liver disease, benign ovarian growths, and by cancers of the uterine tubes, endometrium, lung, breast, and gastrointestinal tract.

Cachexia
A profound and marked state of constitutional disorder, general ill health and malnutrition.

Calcium
A silver-white bivalent metallic element of the alkaline-earth group occurring only in combination.

Cancer
Cancer is a group of more than 100 different diseases. Benign tumours are not cancer; malignant tumours are cancer. Most cancers are named for the type of cell or the organ in which they begin. When cancer spreads (metastasizes), the new tumour has the same name as the original (primary) tumour

Cancer Control
Cancer Control is the conduct of research and the translation of knowledge from research into strategies and actions to prevent cancer and to increase survival and quality of life for those touched by cancer. A simplified definition of "cancer control" is: Any activity that reduces the morbidity (sickness, disease) or mortality (death) from cancer.

Cancer Prevention
Cancer prevention research involves the development and evaluation of strategies for reducing cancer incidence. Such strategies could be aimed at preventing the initiation of the neoplastic process or at avoiding the progression to malignancy of already initiated cells. These efforts, which may be multidisciplinary and multifactorial, can involve a broad range of studies at the molecular, cellular, organismal and population levels.

Carbohydrate
Any of various neutral compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (as sugars, starches, and celluloses) most of which are formed by green plants and which constitute a major class of animal foods.

Carcinoid tumor
A small tumor (benign or malignant) arising from the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract; usually associated with excessive secretion of serotonin.

Carcinogenesis
Process that leads to formation of cancer from normal cells or tissues.

Carcinogens
Carcinogens are agents that can cause cancer.

Carcinoma
Carcinoma is a cancer found in body tissues that cover or line surfaces of organs, glands, or body structures.

Casefinding
Casefinding is a system for locating every patient -- inpatient or outpatient, public or private -- who is diagnosed and/or treated with a reportable malignancy.

• Identifying source documents
• Determine reporting methods (active, passive, or a combination)
• Linking the identified cases
• Monitoring completeness of casefindin

Catecholamine
Any of various amines (as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) that function as hormones or neurotransmitters or both.

Cautery
The application of a caustic substance, a hot instrument, an electric current, or other agent to destroy tissue.

CEA (Carcino-Embryonic Antigen)
CEA is a protein produced in the fetus but not in normal adult life. Produced by some carcinomas, particularly of the colon, it is an insensitive marker of malignancy. CEA is an oncofetal antigen that is used as a tumor marker.

Cebaceous
Of, relating to, or being fatty material.

Celiac disease
A disorder in children and adults; inability to tolerate wheat protein (gluten); symptoms include foul-smelling diarrhea and emaciation; often accompanied by lactose intolerance.

Centriole
A cylinder-shaped organelle composed of microtubules and found in the nucleus of a cell. During nuclear division it forms the spindle, which ensures that the duplicated chromosomes are equally divided between the daughter cells.

Cephalic
Of or relating to the head.

Chediak-Higashi Syndrome
A generalized cellular disorder which affects all granule-containing cells resulting in recurrent infections and ocular, neurological, and skin manifestations.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with drugs that can destroy cancer cells. These drugs often are called "anticancer" drugs. Anticancer drugs destroy cancer cells by stopping them from growing or multiplying. Healthy cells can also be harmed, especially those that divide quickly. Harm to healthy cells is what causes side effects. These cells usually repair themselves after chemotherapy.

Cholecystokinin
A hormone secreted especially by the duodenal mucosa that regulates the emptying of the gallbladder and secretion of enzymes by the pancreas and that has been found in the brain.

Choriocarcinoma
The choriocarcinoma is a non-seminomatous testicular germ cell tumor characterized by the presence of large cells which express human chorionic gonadotropin. This tumor metastasizes hematogenously early in its development.

Chorion (adj. chorionic)
The highly vascular outer embryonic membrane of reptiles, birds, and mammals that in placental mammals is associated with the allantois in the formation of the placenta.

Chromatin
A complex of nucleic acid and basic proteins (as histone) in eukaryotic cells that is usually dispersed in the interphase nucleus and condensed into chromosomes in mitosis and meiosis.

Chromosome
One of the linear or sometimes circular DNA-containing bodies of viruses, prokaryotic organisms, and the cell nucleus of eukaryotic organisms that contain most or all of the genes of the individual.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a malignant cancer of the bone marrow that causes rapid growth of the blood forming cells (known as myeloid precursors) in the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and body tissues.

Chyme
The semifluid mass of partly digested food expelled by the stomach into the duodenum.

Cilium (pl. cilia)
A minute short hairlike process often forming part of a fringe; especially : one on a cell that is capable of lashing movement and serves especially in free unicellular organisms to produce locomotion or in higher forms a current of fluid.

Classification Scheme
A logical system for the arrangement of knowledge. A fully developed classification scheme specifies categories of knowledge and provides the means to relate the categories to each other and to specify in the classification number all or the most important of the aspects and facets of a subject.

Colposcope
A magnifying and photographic device used as an aid in the diagnostic examination of the vaginal and cervical epithelia.

Confidential
Spoken or written in secret and intended to be kept secret. In the cancer registry, all identifiable data is considered to be confidential.

Conization
Surgery to remove a cone-shaped piece of tissue from the cervix and cervical canal. Conization may be used to diagnose or treat a cervical condition. Also called cone biopsy.

Connective Tissue
The supporting or framework tissue of the body, formed of fibrous and ground substance with more or less numerous cells of various kinds; it is derived from the mesenchyme, and this in turn from the mesoderm; the varieties of connective tissue are: areolar or loose; adipose; dense, regular or irregular, white fibrous; elastic; mucous; and lymphoid tissue; cartilage; and bone; the blood and lymph may be regarded as connective tissues the ground substance of which is a liquid.

Core Biopsy
Similar to needle biopsy, but a larger needle is used because actual tissue is removed, rather than a tiny sampling of cells. A sample of the tumoris removed, but not the whole tumor. The types of core biopsies include ultrasound-guided core biopsy and stereotactic biopsy.

Corpus Callosum
The great band of commissural fibers uniting the cerebral hemispheres of higher mammals including humans.

Corpus luteum
The zona granulosa and theca cells remaining in the ovary after ovulation and some surrounding capillaries and connective tissue evolve into the corpus luteum.

Cortex
The outer or superficial part of an organ or bodily structure (as the kidney, adrenal gland, or a hair); especially : the outer layer of gray matter of the cerebrum and cerebellum.

Cranium
The bones of the skull which contain the brain, the brain case.

Crohn disease
Crohn disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); it is the general name for diseases that cause inflammation in the intestines.

Crohn disease causes inflammation in the small intestine. Crohn's disease usually occurs in the lower part of the small intestine, called the ileum, but it can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus.

Cryosurgery
A surgical technique that utilises freezing tissue to remove unwanted portions.

CT
A standard medical abbreviation for Computerized Tomography.

Culdoscopy
The introduction of a viewing tube through the end of the vagina into the cul-de-sac. The cul-de-sac is also called the rectouterine pouch, an extension of the peritoneal cavity between the rectum and back wall of the uterus.

Cutaneous
Pertaining to the skin, dermal, dermic.

CXR
A standard medical abbreviation for Chest X-Ray.

Cystic
Relating to a cyst -- any closed cavity or sac that is lined by epithelium often contains liquid or semi-solid material.

Cytogenetics
The study of chromosomes, the visible carriers of DNA, the hereditary material. Cytogenetics is a fusion science due to joining of cytology (the study of cells) with genetics (the study of inherited variation).

Cytology
Cytology is the study of cells and how they function.

Cytoplasm
The protoplasm of a cell exclusive of that of the nucleus, it consists of a continuous aqueous solution and the organelles and inclusions suspended in it and is the site of most of the chemical activities of the cell.

Cytotoxic
Any substance which has the properties to harm or destroy cells.