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Glossary

Cancer - Glossary Entry

Synonym(s)

  • malignant neoplasms
  • malignant tumoral disease
  • unclassified tumour, malignant

Definition(s)

Cancerous; a growth with a tendency to invade and destroy nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.

Definition from: Unified Medical Language SystemThis link leads to a site outside Genetics Home Reference. (Physician Data Query)   at the National Library of Medicine

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the bloodstream. Lymphoma is cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system.

Definition from:  National Cancer Institute dictionaryThis link leads to a site outside Genetics Home Reference.

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Published: October 8, 2004
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