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Glossary

Showing 261-270 out of 1156 Terms

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  • Consolidation therapy

    (kun-SAH-lih-DAY-shun THAYR-uh-pee)

    Treatment that is given after cancer has disappeared following the initial therapy. Consolidation therapy is used to kill any cancer cells that may be left in the body. It may include radiation therapy, a stem cell transplant, or treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

  • Constipation

    (KON-stih-PAY-shun)

    A condition in which stool becomes hard, dry, and difficult to pass, and bowel movements don’t happen very often. Other symptoms may include painful bowel movements, and feeling bloated, uncomfortable, and sluggish.

  • Consultation

    The formal process of getting the opinion of a specialist.

  • Contagious

    Communicable through human contact.

  • Continuous Infusion

    (kon-TIN-yoo-us in-FYOO-zhun)

    The administration of a fluid into a blood vessel, usually over a prolonged period of time.

  • Contraception

    (KON-truh-SEP-shun)

    The use of drugs, devices, or surgery to prevent pregnancy. There are many different types of contraception. These include barrier methods to keep sperm from fertilizing the egg, hormone methods, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and surgery to close the fallopian tubes in women or close off the two tubes that carry sperm out of the testicles in men. Also called birth control.

  • Contracture

    (kun-TRAK-cher)

    A permanent tightening of the muscles, tendons, skin, and nearby tissues that causes the joints to shorten and become very stiff. This prevents normal movement of a joint or other body part. Contractures may be caused by injury, scarring, and nerve damage, or by not using the muscles. It may also occur at some point in time after a stem cell transplant that caused chronic graft-versus-host disease.

  • Contraindication

    (KON-truh-IN-dih-KAY-shun)

    A symptom or medical condition that makes a particular treatment or procedure inadvisable because a person is likely to have a bad reaction. For example, having a bleeding disorder is a contraindication for taking aspirin because treatment with aspirin may cause excess bleeding.

  • Contralateral

    (KON-truh-LA-teh-rul)

    Having to do with the opposite side of the body.

  • Contrast material

    (KON-trast muh-TEER-ee-ul)

    A dye or other substance that helps show abnormal areas inside the body. It is given by injection into a vein, by enema, or by mouth. Contrast material may be used with x-rays, CT scans, MRI, or other imaging tests.