Glossary of Medical Terms

The underarm or armpit.

Pertaining to the armpit area, including the lymph nodes that are located there.

Surgery to remove lymph nodes found in the armpit region. Also called axillary lymph node dissection.

A lymph node in the armpit region that drains lymph from the breast and nearby areas.

Surgery to remove lymph nodes found in the armpit region. Also called axillary dissection.

A drug used to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (the most common type of kidney cancer). It is used in patients who have not gotten better with other anticancer drugs. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Axitinib blocks the action of proteins called growth factor receptors and may prevent the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow. It is a type of tyrosine kinase inhibitor and a type of antiangiogenesis agent. Also called Inlyta.

A medical system from India that has been used for thousands of years. The goal is to cleanse the body and to restore balance to the body, mind, and spirit. It uses diet, herbal medicines, exercise, meditation, breathing, physical therapy, and other methods. It is a type of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapy. Also called Ayurvedic medicine.

A medical system from India that has been used for thousands of years. The goal is to cleanse the body and to restore balance to the body, mind, and spirit. It uses diet, herbal medicines, exercise, meditation, breathing, physical therapy, and other methods. It is a type of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapy. Also called Ayurveda.

A drug used to treat gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) that cannot be removed by surgery or has spread to other parts of the body. It is used in adults whose cancer has certain mutations (changes) in a gene called PDGFRA. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Ayvakit blocks certain proteins made by the mutated PDGFRA gene, which may help keep cancer cells from growing. It is a type of tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Also called avapritinib.

A drug used under the brand names Onureg to treat adults with certain types of acute myeloid leukemia and Vidaza to treat myelodysplastic syndromes. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Azacitidine stops cells from making DNA and may kill cancer cells. It is a type of antimetabolite.