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Glossary

Showing 731-740 out of 1156 Terms

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  • Malnutrition

    (mal-noo-TRIH-shun)

    A condition caused by not getting enough calories or the right amount of key nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, that are needed for health. Malnutrition may occur when there is a lack of nutrients in the diet or when the body cannot absorb nutrients from food. Cancer and cancer treatment may cause malnutrition.

  • Mammogram

    (MA-muh-gram)

    An x-ray of the breast.

  • Manual healing

    (MAN-yoo-ul HEE-ling)

    A type of therapy in which the therapist moves or manipulates one or more parts of the patient’s body. It may be used to treat pain, stress, anxiety, and depression, and for general well-being. Examples include chiropractic treatments, physical therapy, and massage therapy. Also called manipulative and body-based practice and physical touch methods.

  • Marker

    (MAR-ker)

    A diagnostic indication that disease may develop.

  • Markers

    (MAR-kers)

    Diagnostic indications that disease may develop.

  • Mass

    (mas)

    In medicine, a lump in the body. It may be caused by the abnormal growth of cells, a cyst, hormonal changes, or an immune reaction. A mass may be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).

  • Mast cell

    (mast sel)

    A type of white blood cell.

  • Mean survival

    (meen ser-VY-vul)

    The average length of time from either the date of diagnosis or the start of treatment for a disease, such as cancer, that patients diagnosed with the disease are still alive. In a clinical trial, measuring mean survival is one way to see how well a new treatment works.

  • Measurable disease

    (MEH-zur-uh-bul dih-ZEEZ)

    A tumor that can be accurately measured in size. This information can be used to judge response to treatment.

  • Median survival

    (MEE-dee-un ser-VY-vul)

    The length of time from either the date of diagnosis or the start of treatment for a disease, such as cancer, that half of the patients in a group of patients diagnosed with the disease are still alive. In a clinical trial, measuring the median survival is one way to see how well a new treatment works. Also called median overall survival.