Below is a list of mesothelioma-related terms. This mesothelioma glossary provides simple definitions of expressions and vocabulary used by physicians and specialists at various mesothelioma treatment centers.

Adjuvant therapy

Cancer treatment administered after primary treatment to improve a patient's prognosis. May include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, biological therapy, or radiation therapy.

Alternative medicine

Practices which replace standard therapies in treating illnesses or health conditions. Includes acupuncture, herbal preparations, massage, spiritual healing, meditation, and dietary supplements.

Anemia

A condition in which the number of red blood cells and/or hemoglobin in the blood is less than normal, causing a decrease in oxygen.

Asbestos

Term used to describe a group of commercially available mineral fibers including anthophyllite, chrysotile, actinolite, amosite, crocidolite, and tremolite. Asbestos is known for its ability to cause serious illness when inhaled, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Asbestosis

A serious health condition caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers, characterized by scarring of the lungs.

Biological therapy

Treatment intended to enhance the ability of the body's natural immune system to fight cancer and other diseases. Also used to reduce side effects during some cancer treatments. Alternative names: immunotherapy, biotherapy

Biopsy

The removal of cells, fluid, or tissue samples to be examined by a pathologist in the diagnosis of different cancers.

Breakthrough pain

Acute periods of pain that come on rapidly despite the use of pain medication. May occur spontaneously or during a specific physical activity.

Carcinogen

Any substance that has been found to cause cancer, such as asbestos.

CAT scan

A medical procedure that examines cross-section views of x-ray images and/or three-dimensional images of the body's internal structures. Used to identify abnormal structures in the body or guide the placement of instruments or treatments during a procedure.

Chemotherapy

Medical treatment using potent pharmalogical agents that destroy cancer cells.

Chronic pain

Mild to severe pain that continues and/or progresses over an extended period of time.

Clinical trials

Research studies conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of medications or medical devices by studying their effects on large groups of people, usually volunteers.

Combination chemotherapy

A cancer treatment approach that uses more than one drug.

Epithelium

The external layer of cells that covers all surfaces of the body such as the skin and mucous membranes exposed to the outside of the body.

Hospice

A program that provides specialized, end-of-life care for individuals who are terminally ill. May take place at home, at a hospital or at a designated hospice facility.

Gene therapy

Form of experimental cancer treatment that involves altering a gene.

Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)

A three-dimensional form of radiation therapy that uses computerized images to match the delivery of radiation to a tumor's exact measurements.

Laparoscopy

A form of surgery in which a thin, tube-like instrument called a laparoscope is inserted into the abdominal wall through a small incision. Allows structures and organs within the abdomen to be viewed and/or removed and examined for signs of disease.

Latency period

The time that elapses between the exposure to a carcinogenic substance, such as asbestos, and the development of a related illness, such as malignant mesothelioma.

Lymph node

A mass of tissue surrounded by connective tissue, located along lymphatic vessels. Lymph nodes filter lymphatic fluid (lymph) and store white blood cells (lymphocytes).

Malignant

Cancerous.

Mesothelioma

A tumor affecting the lining of the chest cavity or abdomen. Can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Malignant mesothelioma is known to be caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers.

Metastasis

Term used to describe the spread of cancer from one part of the body to another.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A medical procedure in which high-frequency radio waves are used to create detailed images of internal body structures. Used to detect diseased or abnormal tissue or organs.

Opioids

A category of narcotic pain relievers that includes morphine, codeine, Duragesic, and Dilaudid, often prescribed to treat the pain associated with mesothelioma.

Oncology

A discipline focused on studying, diagnosing, and treating all types of cancer, such as mesothelioma.

Oncologist

A physician specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Palliative care

Health care intended to relieve discomfort and improve quality of life rather than provide a cure. It often becomes the focus of treatment when a disease is incurable or a patient does not want to pursue a cure.

Peritoneum

The membrane that makes up the lining of the abdominal cavity and covers the organs located within the abdomen.

Peritoneal mesothelioma

A form of mesothelioma that affects the peritoneum.

Prognosis

The expected course of a disease; the chance of recovery or survival.

Pleura

The thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and forms the lining of the interior wall of the chest cavity.

Pleural cavity

The space enclosed by the pleura.

Pleural mesothelioma

A form of mesothelioma that affects the pleura.

Prognosis

Term used to describe the expected outcome of an illness or a patient's chance for recovery.

Radiation therapy

A cancer treatment involving high-energy radiation from x-rays and other sources which help shrink tumors and destroy cancer cells. Radiation may be delivered by an external machine or by way of radioactive materials placed inside the body.

Recurrence

The return of cancer to the same site as the original tumor following the disappearance or removal of the tumor. Also describes the return of cancer to another location in the body.

Remission

A reduction or disappearance of the physical symptoms of cancer, despite the fact that the cancer may still exist in the body. Remission may be partial or complete.

Stage

Term used to identify the progression of cancer in the body. Staging takes into account whether or not the cancer has spread (metastasis) as well as the size of the tumor.