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Glossary

Showing 241-250 out of 1199 Terms

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  • Collagen

    (KAH-luh-jen)

    A fibrous protein found in cartilage and other connective tissue.

  • Colon

    (KOH-lun)

    The longest part of the large intestine, which is a tube-like organ connected to the small intestine at one end and the anus at the other. The colon removes water and some nutrients and electrolytes from partially digested food. The remaining material, solid waste called stool, moves through the colon to the rectum and leaves the body through the anus.

  • Colonoscopy

    (KOH-luh-NOS-koh-pee)

    Examination of the inside of the colon using a colonoscope, inserted into the rectum. A colonoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also have a tool to remove tissue to be checked under a microscope for signs of disease.

  • Colony stimulating factors

    A substance that stimulates the production of blood cells. Colony-stimulating factors include granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and promegapoietin.

  • Colorectal

    (KOH-loh-REK-tul)

    Having to do with the colon or the rectum.

  • Colorectal cancer

    (KOH-loh-REK-tul KAN-ser)

    Cancer that develops in the colon (the longest part of the large intestine) and/or the rectum (the last several inches of the large intestine before the anus).

  • Combination Chemotherapy

    (KOM-bih-NAY-shun KEE-moh-THAYR-uh-pee)

    Treatment using more than one anticancer drug.

  • Combination therapy

    (KOM-bih-NAY-shun THAYR-uh-pee)

    Therapy that combines more than one method of treatment. Also called multimodality therapy and multimodality treatment.

  • Comfort care

    (KUM-furt kayr)

    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.

  • Complementary And Alternative Medicine

    (KOM-pleh-MEN-tuh-ree... all-TER-nuh-tiv MEH-dih-sin)

    Forms of treatment that are used in addition to (complementary) or instead of (alternative) standard treatments. These practices generally are not considered standard medical approaches. Standard treatments go through a long and careful research process to prove they are safe and effective, but less is known about most types of complementary and alternative medicine. Complementary and alternative medicine may include dietary supplements, megadose vitamins, herbal preparations, special teas, acupuncture, massage therapy, magnet therapy, spiritual healing, and meditation. Also called CAM.