Glossary of Medical Terms
The following is a list of some medical terms that may not be familiar.
active surveillance / watchful waiting: when a prostate cancer is simply watched by the doctor using regular digital rectal examinations and PSA blood tests.
androgen (AN-dro-jen): any hormone that produces male physical characteristics (facial hair, deep voice). The main androgen hormone is testosterone.
antiandrogen: class of drugs that blocks the activity of an androgen.
anus (A-nus): the opening at the lower end of the rectum through which solid body waste is eliminated.
benign (buh-NINE): a term for a tumor that does not normally threaten a persons life; a tumor that is not cancerous and does not spread to other parts of the body. Benign means noncancerous
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): (be-nine pro-stat-ik hi-per-pla-zhe): a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate.
bilateral extracapsular extension (bi-lat-er-el ek-stre-kap-se-ler ik-sten-shen): the tumor has spread outside the prostate capsule on both sides.
biopsy (bi-op-se): a small sample of tissue that is taken and examined for the presence of cancer.
bladder (blad-er): the hollow organ that stores urine (see urinary bladder):
brachytherapy (bra-kee-THER-uh-pee): A minimally invasive treatment option; sometimes called seed implants that involves the implantation of small radioactive seeds into the prostate.
cancer (can-sir): a tumor with abnormal cells that grow and divide without control. Cancer cells can spread through the blood and lymph to other parts of the body and pose a serious threat to a persons life.
capsule (kap-sel): a layer of cells covering an organ such as the prostate.
castration (kas-trat-shen): removal of the testes; surgical castration is also called orchiectomy; medical castration is done with LHRH analogs.
cell (sel): the basic structural and functional units of the body.
chemotherapy (kee-mo-THER-a-pee): treatment with powerful drugs that attack cancer cells but may also harm certain types of healthy cells.
clinical trials: studies conducted on patients with cancer or other diseases, usually to evaluate a new or investigational treatment. Each study is designed to answer specific questions and to find better ways to treat patients.
cryosurgery (kri-o-sur-je-re): see cryotherapy.
cryotherapy (kri-o-ther-a-pe): repeated freezing and thawing of the tumor cells which result in cell death.
digital rectal examination (DRE): an examination performed by a physician in which a gloved, lubricated finger is inserted into the rectum to feel the prostate.
DRE: see digital rectal exam.
duct (dukt): a tube-like structure that carries secretions.
ejaculation (i-jak-ye-la-shen): to eject sperm and seminal fluid from the penis.
erection (e-RECK-shun): enlargement of the penis due to increased blood flow; this most often occurs during sexual stimulation.
estrogen (ES-tro-jen): a female sex hormone.
external beam radiation therapy: radiation therapy that uses rays from a machine directed at parts of the body.
gleason grading system: the most commonly used prostate cancer grading system. It involves assigning numbers (called a Gleason grade): to cancerous prostate tissue, ranging from 1 through 5, based on how much the arrangement of the cancer cells mimics the way normal prostate cells form glands. Two grades are assigned to the most common patterns of cells that appear; these two grades (they can be the same or different): are then added together to determine the Gleason score (a number from 1 to 10).
high-dose rate brachytherapy: brachytherapy in which the seeds contain more radioactive material than traditional brachytherapy, and the seeds are placed only temporarily.
hormonal therapy: in prostate cancer, treatment that interferes with the production or activity of male hormones that promote prostate tumor growth.
impotence (IM-po-tens): inability to have an erection.
intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): a form of external beam radiation therapy that uses computed tomography to create a 3-D picture of the prostate and surrounding organs so radiation rays can be delivered only to the prostate gland. IMRT precisely delivers many thin radiation beams to the prostate gland. It allows for a high dose of radiation to be administered to the prostate while minimizing effects on nearby organs.
interstitial radiation therapy (in-ter-stish-el): treatment with high-energy radiation from tiny radioactive seeds inserted into the prostate; see brachytherapy.
LHRH analog: see luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog.
luteinizing hormone (LH): (LOO-tee-ih-ni-zing): this hormone is secreted by the pituitary gland. LH stimulates the secretion of sex hormones in both men and women.
luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH): this hormone is secreted by a part of the brain. LHRH stimulates the secretion of luteinizing hormone by the pituitary gland.
luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog (LHRH analog): class of drugs used as hormonal therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer. These drugs prevent the production of testosterone from the testes.
lymph (limf): a nearly clear fluid collected from tissues around the body and returned to the blood by the lymphatic system. Lymph drains waste from cells.
lymphadenectomy (limf-aden-ec-tomy): surgical removal of lymph nodes.
lymph nodes: small bean-shaped structures scattered along the vessels of the lymphatic system. The lymph nodes filter out or remove waste, bacteria, and cancer cells that may travel through the lymphatic system.
malignant (mah-LIG-nant): a term for a tumor that can threaten a persons life; a tumor that is cancerous. Malignant means cancerous.
metastasis (meh-TASS-tuh-sis): the spread of cancer from its primary site to nearby or distant areas through the blood and/or lymph.
nonsteroidal antiandrogen (non-sti-roid-l): antiandrogens that do not have a steroid component. These are the only types of antiandrogens that are available in the U.S.
oncologist (on-KAHL-o-jist): a doctor who specializes in treating cancer.
orchiectomy (or-kee-EK-toe-mee): the surgical removal of the testes, the major source of male hormones.
palliative therapy (pa-LEE-a-tive there-a-pee): therapy that is intended to provide relief of symptoms but is not intended to cure a disease or extend life.
pathologist (pah-THAL-o-jist): a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis of disease by studying cells and tissues with a microscope.
perineum (per-e-ne-em): the area between the scrotum and the anus.
pituitary gland (pih-TOO-ih-tair-ee): a gland located at the base of the brain. It produces a variety of hormones that stimulate the testes (and other glands): to release hormones.
prognosis (prog-NO-suhs): A prediction made as to the potential outcome of a disease.
prostatectomy (prahs-tuh-TEK-tuh-mee): the surgical removal of the prostate gland.
prostate-specific antigen (PSA): (an-ti-jen): a blood substance that often increases in cases of prostate cancer and other prostate diseases.
prostatitis (pros-te-ti-tis): inflammation of the prostate.
PSA: see prostate-specific antigen.
PSAD: see PSA density.
radiation therapy (ray-dee-AY-shun): treatment with high-energy rays such as those from X rays or other sources of radiation.
radical perineal prostatectomy: surgical procedure in which the prostate is removed through an incision in the perineum.
radical prostatectomy: surgical removal of the prostate and nearby areas like the seminal vesicles.
radical retropubic prostatectomy: surgical procedure in which the prostate is removed through an incision in the lower abdomen.
rectum (rek-tem): the last 5 or 6 inches of the intestine leading to the outside of the body.
scrotum (SKRO-tum): the external sac, or pouch, containing the testicles.
semen (se-men): the fluid that is ejaculated during sexual climax; it contains the sperm and fluids from other glands, including the prostate.
seminal vesicles (SEM-en-ull VES-i-kels): pouches located above the prostate that store semen.
sperm (spurm): mature male sex cell.
stage: a term used to describe the size and extent of the spread of cancer.
testes (tes-tis): two egg-shaped glands within the scrotum that produce sperm and secrete male hormones.
testicles (TES-ti-kuls): the term testicles is used to describe the testes and its system of ducts that are within the scrotum.
testosterone (tes-TOS-ter-own): a male sex hormone produced primarily by the testes. Testosterone stimulates a man’s sexual activity and the growth of other sex organs, including the prostate.
tissue (tish-oo): a group of cells organized to perform a specialized function.
transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS): (trans-RECK-tul ul-tra-son-OG-raff-ee): using sound waves produced by a device inserted into the rectum to produce a picture of the prostate.
transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP): (trans-yu-REETH-ral): the use of a special instrument inserted through the urethra to remove noncancerous prostate tissue. Also called TUR or TURP.
TRUS: see transrectal ultrasonography.
tumor (TOO-mer): an excessive growth of cells resulting from uncontrolled and disorderly cell replacement. Tumors may be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign): .
TURP:see transurethral resection of the prostate.
urethra (yu-REETH-rah): the tube running through the penis to the outside of the body. It carries urine from the bladder and semen from the sex glands.
urinary bladder (yoor-e-ner-e): The hollow organ that stores urine (see bladder):.
urinary incontinence (in-KON-ti-nens): loss of urinary control.
urologist (yer-AHL-o-jist): a doctor who specializes in diseases of the male sex organs and in diseases of the urinary organs in both men and women.
