-
Analgesic
(A-nul-JEE-zik)
A drug that reduces pain. Analgesics include aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen.
-
Anaphylactic shock
(A-nuh-fih-LAK-tik shok)
A severe and sometimes life-threatening immune system reaction to an antigen that a person has been previously exposed to. The reaction may include itchy skin, edema, collapsed blood vessels, fainting, difficulty in breathing, and death.
-
Androgen
AN-droh-jen
A type of hormone that promotes the development and maintenance of male sex characteristics.
-
Anemia
Low red blood cell count which can cause you to feel fatigued and have shortness of breath. Anemia can be caused by a variety of conditions and diseases.
-
Anesthesia
General or local medicine provided to permit the performance of surgery or other painful procedures.
-
Anesthesiologist
(A-nes-THEE-zee-AH-loh-jist)
A doctor who specializes in giving medicines or other agents that prevent or relieve pain, especially during surgery.
-
Anesthetic
(A-nes-THEH-tik)
A drug or other substance that causes a loss of feeling or awareness. Local anesthetics cause a loss of feeling in one small area of the body. Regional anesthetics cause a loss of feeling in a part of the body, such as an arm or leg. General anesthetics cause a loss of feeling and a complete loss of awareness that feels like a very deep sleep.
-
Aneurysm
An aneurysm is a bulge or "ballooning" in the wall of an artery. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to other parts of the body. If an aneurysm grows large, it can burst and cause dangerous bleeding or even death.
Most aneurysms occur in the aorta, the main artery that runs from the heart through the chest and abdomen. Aneurysms also can happen in arteries in the brain, heart and other parts of the body. If an aneurysm in the brain bursts, it causes a stroke.
-
Angiofibroma
(AN-jee-oh-fy-BROH-muh)
A benign (not cancer) tumor that is made up of blood vessels and fibrous (connective) tissue. Angiofibromas usually appear as small, red bumps on the face, especially on the nose and cheeks. They are common in patients with tuberous sclerosis (a genetic disorder that causes skin lesions, seizures, and mental problems). Angiofibromas are a type of vascular tumor.
-
Anorexia
(a-nuh-REK-see-uh)
Loss of appetite, which may be caused by either the cancer itself or treatments such as chemotherapy.
