Oncology Glossary

noun a region in an organ or tissue which has suffered damage through injury or disease, such as a wound, ulcer, or abscess

• The doctor identified a small lesion on the patient's skin during the examination.
• The doctor found a little spot on your skin, could be a lesion.
• Yo, did you see that weird bump on his arm? Looks like a lesion or something.
• The emotional trauma left a deep lesion in her heart that took years to heal.

noun a new and abnormal growth of tissue in the body, especially one that is caused by cancer

• The pathologist identified a neoplasm in the patient's lung tissue.
• The doctor found a growth in the patient's lung, it might be a neoplasm.
• The doc said there's some funky new growth in there, could be a neoplasm.
• Her toxic behavior was like a neoplasm, slowly spreading and causing harm.

noun a suffix meaning the study of a particular subject or branch of knowledge

• The study of marine life is known as marine biology.
• I'm thinking of majoring in psychology, the study of human behavior.
• She's really into astrology, the study of celestial bodies' positions.
• His approach to problem-solving is like a mix of art and science, a sort of 'problem-solving ology'.

noun a deterioration in someone's state of health after a temporary improvement

verb to suffer a relapse

• The patient experienced a relapse in their condition and had to be readmitted to the hospital.
• After months of staying sober, he had a relapse and started drinking again.
• She was doing so well with her diet until she had a relapse and ate a whole pizza.
• Just when it seemed like they were making progress, the team suffered a relapse in their performance.

adjective relating to or resembling a cyst, a closed sac having a distinct membrane and developing abnormally in a body cavity or structure

• The patient was diagnosed with a cystic mass in their abdomen.
• My friend has been dealing with cystic acne for years.
• I can't believe how big that cystic pimple is!
• The cystic nature of their relationship made it difficult to mend.

noun a type of tumor that contains different types of tissues, such as hair, muscle, and bone

• A teratoma is a type of tumor that can contain different types of tissues such as hair, teeth, and bone.
• I heard that teratomas are really weird tumors that can have all sorts of random stuff in them.
• Teratomas are like those tumors that are like a crazy mix of different things, like a tumor salad or something.
• The project turned out to be a teratoma of ideas, with random elements coming together in a confusing mess.

noun a general state of ill health involving marked weight loss and muscle loss

• Cachexia is a complex metabolic syndrome associated with underlying illness such as cancer or AIDS.
• My grandmother's cachexia has made it difficult for her to maintain her weight.
• I heard that extreme dieting can lead to cachexia if not done properly.
• The company's financial cachexia was evident in their dwindling profits and lack of investment.

noun Achrestic anemia - a medical condition characterized by a deficiency in red blood cells, often caused by a lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid.

• Achrestic anemia is a rare blood disorder characterized by the inability of the bone marrow to produce red blood cells.
• My friend was diagnosed with achrestic anemia, which means his body doesn't make enough red blood cells.
• Having achrestic anemia is like having a lazy bone marrow that doesn't feel like making enough red blood cells.
• Dealing with achrestic anemia can feel like constantly running on empty, like a car with a faulty fuel tank.

noun a type of tumor that is usually non-cancerous and forms in the glands of the body

• The patient was diagnosed with a benign adenoma in their colon.
• The doctor found a little growth called an adenoma in your gut.
• Hey, did you hear about Joe's adenoma scare? It turned out to be nothing serious.
• Like an adenoma, negativity can slowly grow and cause harm if not addressed.

noun a benign tumor that arises in or resembles glandular tissue

• Adenomas are benign tumors that develop in glandular tissues.
• My doctor said the adenomas found in my colon are not cancerous.
• I heard adenomas are like the harmless bumps you get on your skin.
• In the garden of health, adenomas are like the weeds that need to be removed before they cause harm.