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Glossary

Showing 451-460 out of 1156 Terms

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  • Fever

    An increase in body temperature above normal (98.6 degrees F), usually caused by disease.

  • First-line therapy

    (... THAYR-uh-pee)

    The first treatment given for a disease. It is often part of a standard set of treatments, such as surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation. When used by itself, first-line therapy is the one accepted as the best treatment. If it doesn’t cure the disease or it causes severe side effects, other treatment may be added or used instead. Also called induction therapy, primary therapy, and primary treatment.

  • Five-year survival rate

    (... ser-VY-vul ...)

    The percentage of people in a study or treatment group who are alive five years after they were diagnosed with or started treatment for a disease, such as cancer. The disease may or may not have come back.

  • Flow cytometry

    (floh sy-TAH-meh-tree)

    A laboratory method that measures the number of cells, the percentage of live cells, and certain characteristics of cells, such as size and shape, in a sample of blood, bone marrow, or other tissue. The presence of tumor markers, such as antigens, on the surface of the cells are also measured. The cells are stained with a light-sensitive dye, placed in a fluid, and then passed one at a time through a beam of light. The measurements are based on how the stained cells react to the beam of light. Flow cytometry is used in basic research and to help diagnose and manage certain diseases, including cancer.

  • Fluoroscopy

    (floor-OS-koh-pee)

    An x-ray procedure that makes it possible to see internal organs in motion.

  • Flush

    To expose or chase from a place of concealment.

  • Focal

    (FOH-kul)

    In terms of cancer, limited to a specific area.

  • Foley

    A catheter with an inflatable balloon tip for retention in the bladder.

  • Follicle

    (FAH-lih-kul)

    A sac or pouch-like cavity formed by a group of cells. In the ovaries, one follicle contains one egg. In the skin, one follicle contains one hair.

  • Follicle-stimulating hormone

    (FAH-lih-kul-STIM-yoo-LAY-ting HOR-mone)

    A hormone made in the pituitary gland. In females, it acts on the ovaries to make the follicles and eggs grow. In males, it acts on the testes to make sperm. Also called follitropin and FSH.