NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms (2024)

FAQs

What is the NCI definition of cancer? ›

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the federal government's principal agency for cancer research and training. Established under the National Cancer Institute Act of 1937, NCI is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one of 11 agencies that make up the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

As defined by the National Cancer Institute, cancer that occurs in fewer than 15 out of 100,000 people each year.

Terms related to cancer types

Neoplasm – this is the medical term for cancer and means "new growth". Benign neoplasm, or benign tumors - a cancer that is not likely to spread, and is contained within one region of the body. Invasive or metastatic tumor - a tumor that has spread from one area of the body to another.

Malignant. We call a tumor that can spread to other parts of the body a malignant tumor. A malignant tumor is cancer.

Three designations are recognized: Comprehensive Cancer Centers, Clinical Cancer Centers, and Basic Laboratory Cancer Centers.

As of today, the set of hallmarks includes the following ten traits: (1) evasion of growth suppressors (2); avoidance of immune destruction; (3) replicative immortality; (4) promotion of inflammation by tumor; (5) activation of invasion and metastasis; (6) induction or accession to vasculature; (7) genome instability ...

Cancer is caused by changes to DNA. Most cancer-causing DNA changes occur in sections of DNA called genes. These changes are also called genetic changes. A DNA change can cause genes involved in normal cell growth to become oncogenes.

There are also many very rare cancers with names that most people do not know. The diagram below shows where in the body rare cancers develop. About 1 in 5 rare cancers affect the blood and lymphatic system. These include leukaemia and some types of lymphoma.

If the dead cells are located at external or luminal surfaces, they will slough from the skin or will shed into the lumen and then be excreted out of the body as a component of feces, urine, milk, sweat, phlegm, saliva, etc (Fig.

What is the old name for cancer? ›

The origin of the word cancer is credited to the Greek physician Hippocrates (460-370 BC), who is considered the “Father of Medicine.” Hippocrates used the terms carcinos and carcinoma to describe non-ulcer forming and ulcer-forming tumors.

In situ. In place. Refers to cancer that has not spread to nearby tissue, also called non-invasive cancer.

Leukemia. Leukemia starts in the bone marrow where blood cells are made. A person with leukemia has many abnormal blood cells in the bone marrow and blood. This type of cancer does not form a solid tumour.

The American Cancer Society uses the term cancer survivor to refer to anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer no matter where they are in the course of their disease.

"Difficult roads can lead to beautiful destinations." "There's always hope beyond what you see." "It's possible not just to survive, but to thrive and to live a healthy, wonderful life again." "Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it."

The PREVENT program is a peer-reviewed agent development program designed to support preclinical development of innovative interventions and biomarkers for cancer prevention and interception towards clinical trials.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) conducts and supports research, training, health information distribution, and other programs related to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer, rehabilitation from cancer, and the continuing care of cancer patients and the families of cancer patients.

Fatigue from chemotherapy (chemo fatigue).

Chemotherapy destroys healthy cells while treating cancer cells, causing you to feel fatigued. Some people feel the most tired after each chemotherapy treatment, whereas others may have worse fatigue halfway through their course of treatment.