Glossary of Medical Terms

A device that has the shape of a cigarette, cigar, or pen and does not contain tobacco. It uses a battery and contains a solution of nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals, some of which may be harmful. When e-cigarettes are used, the nicotine solution turns into a mist that can be inhaled into the lungs. The amount of nicotine in individual e-cigarettes can vary. It is not yet known whether e-cigarettes are safe or if they can be used to help smokers quit smoking. Also called electronic cigarette.

A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called sulfonamides.

A drug used to treat breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and has already been treated with an anthracycline and a taxane (types of anticancer drugs). It is also used to treat liposarcoma (a type of soft tissue sarcoma) that cannot be removed by surgery or has spread to other parts of the body. It is used in patients whose cancer has already been treated with an anthracycline. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. E7389 blocks cell growth by stopping cell division and may kill cancer cells. It is a type of antitubulin agent. Also called eribulin mesylate and Halaven.

A type of acupuncture in which thin needles are inserted at specific points on the outer ear to control pain and other symptoms. It is thought that the outer ear contains a “map” of the whole body and that specific points on this map match up with certain parts of the body. Also called auricular acupuncture.

A condition in which the ovaries stop working and menstrual periods stop before age 40. This can cause fertility problems and symptoms of menopause. There are two types of early menopause, primary and secondary. Primary early menopause means that the ovaries do not function normally. This may be because they have been removed by surgery, or it may be caused by some cancer treatments and certain diseases or genetic conditions. In secondary early menopause, the ovaries are normal but there is a problem getting hormone signals to them from the brain. This is usually caused by diseases of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. Some women with early menopause sometimes have menstrual periods and may be able to have children. Also called ovarian failure, ovarian insufficiency, and premature menopause.

Breast cancer that has not spread beyond the breast or the axillary lymph nodes. This includes ductal carcinoma in situ and stage I, stage IIA, stage IIB, and stage IIIA breast cancers.

A term used to describe cancer that is early in its growth, and may not have spread to other parts of the body. What is called early stage may differ between cancer types.

A type of evergreen tree with hard fragrant wood that is a member of the cypress family. The oil from the wood is used in soaps, shampoos, bath salts, perfumes, aromatherapy, and to keep insects away. The scientific name is Juniperus virginiana. Also called cedarwood and red cedar.

A systematic approach to medicine in which doctors and other health care professionals use the best available scientific evidence from clinical research to help make decisions about the care of individual patients. A physician’s clinical experience and the patient’s values and preferences are also important in the process of using the evidence to make decisions. The use of EBM may help plan the best treatment and improve quality of care and patient outcomes. Also called evidence-based medicine.

A rare, inherited disorder in which many clusters of blisters form all over the body, especially on the face, hands, feet, arms, legs, and trunk. Blisters may also form in the inner lining of the mouth and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract and the upper respiratory tract. Other signs and symptoms include scarring, changes in skin color, nail problems, and thickening of the skin on the palms of the hands and bottoms of the feet. The signs and symptoms usually appear at birth and tend to get better over time. However, infants with a severe form of the disease die within the first year of life. People with EBS-DM have a high risk of developing basal cell skin cancer by age 55 years. EBS-DM is caused by mutations (changes) in the KRT5 or KRT14 genes. Also called epidermolysis bullosa simplex, Dowling-Meara.