Glossary of Medical Terms

A substance being studied in the treatment of cancer. It decreases the flow of blood to tumors and may kill cancer cells. Combretastatin A4 phosphate comes from the African bush willow. It is a type of tubulin-binding agent and a type of vascular targeting agent.

A type of ductal carcinoma in situ (very early-stage breast cancer).

A drug used to treat progressive medullary thyroid cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Cometriq blocks certain proteins, which may help keep cancer cells from growing. It may also prevent the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow. Cometriq contains the active ingredient cabozantinib-s-malate. It is a type of tyrosine kinase inhibitor and a type of angiogenesis inhibitor.

Care given to improve the quality of life of patients who have a serious or life-threatening disease. The goal of comfort care is to prevent or treat as early as possible the symptoms of a disease, side effects caused by treatment of a disease, and psychological, social, and spiritual problems related to a disease or its treatment. Also called palliative care, supportive care, and symptom management.

A tube that carries bile from the liver and the gallbladder through the pancreas and into the duodenum (the upper part of the small intestine). It is formed where the ducts from the liver and gallbladder are joined. It is part of the biliary duct system.

A tube that carries bile from the liver. It starts where the right and left hepatic (liver) ducts join outside the liver. It ends where the cystic duct from the gall bladder joins it to form the common bile duct. It is part of the biliary duct system.

A group of disorders where there are problems in communicating, either through difficulties in receiving language or in speech. Generally these disorders stem from a general medical condition such as a brain injury or stroke, or a developmental problem in children. Examples are: Expressive Language Disorder, Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder, Phonological Disorder, Stuttering and Communication Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.

In medicine, a group of non-scientist volunteers that serves as a link between a community and clinical trial researchers. A Community Advisory Board may review and monitor clinical trials and help teach the community about the trials. Also called CAB.

Protection from an infectious disease as a result of living in a community where a large number of people are vaccinated against that disease. When enough people are vaccinated against a disease, it is harder for the disease to spread. Community immunity helps protect those who have not been vaccinated, including newborns, pregnant women, and people with certain illnesses who cannot receive vaccines. Also called herd immunity.

The condition of having two or more diseases at the same time.