Cancervive diary
The Big Cterminology - d
- Debulking
- Denial
- Diagnosis
- Diaphragm
- Differentiation
- Disease Progression
- Diuretics
- DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)
- Dose Intensity
- Drug Resistance
- Durable Remission
- Dysgeusia
- Dysphagia
Debulking
Reducing the size of a tumor often through surgery but possibly through
radiation therapy.
Denial
A process of automatically blocking awareness of painful realities, thoughts,
or feelings in order to protect oneself from emotional distress.
Diagnosis
Identification of a disease in a person's body.
Diaphragm
The thin muscle below the lungs and heart that separates the chest from
the abdomen.
Differentiation
(diff-er-en-she-A-shun)
The term used to describe cells maturing and developing for a particular
task. For lymphomas, differentiation generally refers to white blood cells.
In general, the less differentiated a cancer cell, the younger and more
aggressive it is.
Disease
Progression
The term used if the disease worsens despite treatment (also called treatment
failure).
Diuretics
Drugs that help the body get rid of excess water and salt.
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic
acid)
The genetic material present in our cells which is responsible for passing
on vital information on cell growth, diversion and function. The part of
the cell that contains and controls all genetic information.
Dose Intensity
A term used to describe giving the highest possible doses of drug possible
over a specific period of time with acceptable side effects. This approach
has been shown t be very effective in curing some cancers, including some
aggressive lymphoma.
Drug
Resistance
The failure of (cancer) cells to respond to drugs (chemotherapy).
Durable
Remission
When a complete response lasts for years - in most cases, the longer the
remission the better the long-term outcome and possibility of cure.
Dysgeusia
When familiar foods taste differently.
Dysphagia
Difficulty in swallowing.