Glossary

  • Benign Tumor: A non-cancerous tumor
  • Biopsy: A medical procedure in which a sample of tissue is removed and examined under a microscope to determine if cancer cells are present
  • Brachytherapy: A type of internal radiation therapy in which radioactive seeds are implanted inside or next to a tumor
  • Cancer: Any of more than 100 diseases marked by abnormal growth of cells that invade or destroy healthy tissues
  • Chemotherapy: Using certain drugs to treat cancer
  • Conformal Radiation Therapy: Using advanced forms of radiation guided by a computer to mold or sculpt around a tumor and sparing adjacent normal tissue
  • Dosimetrist: A specially trained clinician who plans and calculates the proper dose of radiation for a particular treatment
  • Electron Beam: A stream of high energy particles used to treat cancer
  • External Radiation: Radiation therapy delivered from a machine outside the body to target high energy particles at cancer cells
  • Image Guided Radiation Technology (IGRT): A tumor targeting process powered by CT scans or other diagnostic tools to precisely pinpoint the location of a tumor within the body so that killing radiation is delivered directly to the tumor and spares healthy surrounding tissue
  • Immobilization Device: A device used to ensure that the patient remains in an exact position for every treatment, helping to ensure that radiation is delivered precisely
  • Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT): A type of external beam radiation therapy in which the radiation beams target the tumor from several angles to conform to its size, shape and position
  • Linear Accelerator (LINAC): A common type of machine used to generate and deliver external radiation to treat cancer
  • Medical Oncologist: A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer using chemotherapy and other drugs to treat patients
  • Metastases: The spread of cancer cells to other areas of the body through the lymph system
  • Oncology: The branch of medicine specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer
  • Radiation Oncologist: A doctor who specializes in the treatment of cancer with radiation therapy
  • Radiation Physicist: A clinician trained to ensure that radiation equipment delivers the correct radiation to the tumor site
  • Radiation Therapist: A clinician trained to operate the linear accelerator and other equipment that delivers radiation therapy
  • Radiation Therapy: The use of high energy electron beams that penetrate the body to kill cancer cells or cure disease
  • Simulation: The process of planning radiation treatment dose, location, etc for a particular patient
  • Treatment Plan: A prescription written by a radiation oncologist describing radiation treatment for a particular patient
  • Tumor: An abnormal growth or lump – can be benign or cancerous
  • RapidArc™ Volumetric Arc Therapy (VMAT): A highly advanced type of external beam radiation which delivers precise, conformal radiation much faster than other systems with less scattering of radiation into healthy tissue