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Glossary

Showing 621-630 out of 1184 Terms

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  • Immunosuppressive therapy

    (IH-myoo-noh-suh-PREH-siv THAYR-uh-pee)

    Treatment that lowers the activity of the body’s immune system. This reduces its ability to fight infections and other diseases, such as cancer. Immunosuppressive therapy may be used to keep a person from rejecting a bone marrow or organ transplant. It may also be used to treat conditions in which the immune system is overactive, such as autoimmune diseases and allergies. Some types of immunosuppressive therapy may increase a person’s risk of cancer by lowering the body’s ability to kill cancer cells.

  • Immunotherapy

    IH-myoo-noh-THAYR-uh-pee

    A type of therapy that uses substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection, and other diseases. Some types of immunotherapy only target certain cells of the immune system. Others affect the immune system in a general way. Types of immunotherapy include cytokines, vaccines, bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), and some monoclonal antibodies.

  • Immunotoxins

    (IH-myoo-noh-TOK-sins)

    An immune substance, such as a monoclonal antibody, cytokine, or immunoglobulin, chemically linked to a toxic substance. The immune substance binds to specific proteins or receptors found on some cancer cells. This allows the linked toxic substance to enter the cancer cells and kill them without harming nearby healthy cells.

  • Impairment

    A loss of part or all of a physical or mental ability, such as the ability to see, walk, or learn.

  • Implant

    (IM-plant)

    A substance or object that is put in the body as a prosthesis, or for treatment or diagnosis.

  • Implantable port

    A venous access device that implants a system for delivery of fluids, medicines, or blood directly into a vein. The entire device is surgically implanted under the skin and can be used for an extended period of time.

  • In vitro fertilization

    (in VEE-troh FER-tih-lih-ZAY-shun)

    A procedure in which eggs are removed from a woman’s ovary and combined with sperm outside the body to form embryos. The embryos are grown in the laboratory for several days and then either placed in a woman’s uterus or cryopreserved (frozen) for future use. Also called IVF.

  • In-network provider

    A provider network is a list of the doctors, other health care providers, and hospitals that a plan has contracted with to provide medical care to its members. These providers are called “network providers” or “in-network providers.” A provider that hasn’t contracted with the plan is called an “out-of-network provider.”

  • Incision

    (in-SIH-zhun)

    A cut made in the body to perform surgery.

  • Incisional biopsy

    in-SIH-zhuh-nul BY-op-see

    A surgical procedure in which a portion of a lump or suspicious area is removed for diagnosis. The tissue is then examined under a microscope to check for signs of disease.