Adjuvant – Something that aids or assists. An adjuvant therapy helps make a primary therapy more effective. If the primary treatment is chemotherapy, radiation may be added as an adjuvant therapy.

Alveoli – Tiny air sacs in the lungs where the blood releases carbon dioxide and absorbs oxygen through extremely thin membranes.

Asbestosis – A lung disease caused by asbestos fibers. The fibers damage the lung tissues, causing progressive scarring and a reduction in breathing function.

Aspiration – Removing fluid and or cells from an area within the body using a needle. Also refers to accidentally inhaling something into the lungs.

Benign - A tumor that does not spread to other parts of the body (non-cancerous). Opposite of “malignant.”

Benign Cystic Mesothelioma - A non-cancerous tumor of the peritoneum that is easily cured by surgical removal, though the tumor may recur years later in a small percentage of cases.

Benign Fibrous Mesothelioma - A non-cancerous tumor of the pleura that is easily cured by surgical removal, though the tumor may recur years later in a small percentage of cases.

Biopsy – A tissue sample or sample of cells taken from the body that is examined under a microscope to identify the types of cells present.

Biphasic -  A type of cancer that exhibits both epithelial and sarcomatous cancer cells.

Brachytherapy – A form of radiation therapy in which radioactive material is placed in the body inside or near the target (usually a tumor).

Brigham System - A method developed specifically for pleural mesothelioma to describe how far the cancer has spread.

Bronchoscope – A flexible, lighted tube a doctor inserts through the mouth into the bronchial tubes to examine air passages.

Bronchoscopy – (bron-KOS-koh-pee) A medical procedure in which a doctor looks inside the breathing passages using a lighted tube (a bronchoscope).

Butchart System - A method developed specifically for pleural mesothelioma to describe how far the cancer has spread.

Cancer – A type of disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that often spreads to other parts of the body.

Catheter – A flexible tube inserted into the body to introduce or withdraw fluids.

Chemotherapy – A method of treating a disease using drugs or other chemical compounds.

Clinical Trial – A research study for determining the safety and effectiveness of a medical treatment by testing it on large groups of people.

Complementary Medicine – A healing art that is not embraced by mainstream Western medicine which is intended to complement standard medical treatment. Aromatherapy is an example.

CT or CAT Scan – Abbreviation for Computerized Tomography or Computerized Axial Tomography scan. A CT scan is a diagnostic test using multiple x-ray images in which a computer combines the images to create a three–dimensional view of internal organs and tissues.

Decortication - Removal of an organ’s outer layer or membrane. Decortication is used to treat some types of lung disease.

Diaphragm – A muscle separating the chest cavity and the abdominal cavity. The diaphragm’s rhythmic contracting and relaxing causes breathing.

Effusion – Fluid that has escaped from its normal structures in the body and collects in an undesirable location. (See Pleural Effusion.)

Epithelial - Describes a type of cancer cell that is slower to grow and spread than sarcomatous cells.

Extrapleural Pneumonectomy – (ex-truh-PLOO-rul noo-moh-NEK-tuh-mee) A surgical treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma in which the surgeon removes the diseased lung, part of the membrane surrounding the lungs, part of the membrane surrounding the heart, and part of the diaphragm.

Gene Therapy – A treatment for disease involving replacing the DNA in cells in the body with normal or genetically altered DNA.

Hyperthermic Intraoperative Chemotherapy - A form of cancer treatment in which the surgeon applies heated cancer-fighting drugs directly to internal tissues during tumor-removal surgery.

IMRT - Abbreviation for Intensely Modulated Radiation Therapy. This form of radiation treatment simultaneously directs multiple low-intensity beams at a cancer tumor from different directions, concentrating the radiation energy on the tumor and reducing damage to adjacent tissues.

Infusion Pump - A battery-powered pump that can be implanted under the skin of the abdomen to deliver pain-relieving drugs through a tube connected to the base of the spine.

Laparoscope – (LAP-uh-ruh-scope) A lighted tube a doctor uses to see inside the abdomen.

Laparoscopy – (lap-uh-ROSS-koh-pee) A medical procedure in which a doctor looks inside the abdomen using a lighted tube (laparoscope) inserted through an incision.

Malignant – A type of tumor that invades adjacent tissue and can spread to other parts of the body (cancerous). Opposite of “benign.”

Mediastinoscopy – (mee-dee-as-tin-AHS-koh-pee) A medical procedure in which a doctor inserts a lighted tube through an incision in the chest to view the organs and lymph nodes in the area between the lungs.

Mediastinum – (mee-dee-AS-tin-um) The area between the lungs where the heart, esophagus, trachea, bronchial tubes and lymph nodes are located.

Mesothelium – (mess-oh-THEE-lee-um) A membrane which forms a sac to enclose bodily organs. (See Pleura, Peritoneum, Pericardium, and Tunica Vaginalis.)

Mesothelioma – (mess-oh-thee-lee-OH-muh) A cancerous or non-cancerous (malignant or benign) tumor originating in the membrane that surrounds the lungs, heart, or abdominal organs.

Metastasis - (muh-TAS-tuh-sis) The process by which cancer cells spread from the original tumor site to other places in the body. When cancer spreads by this process, it metastasizes. A malignant tumor is considered metastatic because it has the tendency to spread.

MRI – Abbreviation for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. MRI is a diagnostic procedure using a large circular magnet and radio waves to map signals generated by atoms in the body. The signals are combined by a computer to create detailed images of internal organs and tissues.

Multimodal Treatment - A cancer treatment strategy that combines surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

Oncologist – (on-KALL-uh-jist) A doctor specializing in treating cancer.

Oncology – The study of cancer.

Palliative Treatment – (PAL-ee-uh-tiv) Treatment that relieves pain or other disease symptoms but is not intended to cure the disease.

Paracentesis – A medical procedure in which a doctor uses a needle to remove fluid from a body cavity.

Pathologist – A doctor who studies cells and tissues under a microscope to identify diseases.

Pathology – The study of changes in body tissues and organs caused by disease.

Pericardial Mesothelioma – (pair-uh-CAR-dee-ul) A cancer that originates in the membrane surrounding the heart (the pericardium.)

Pericardiocentesis – (pair-uh-card-dee-oh-sin-TEE-sis) A medical procedure in which a doctor uses a needle to remove fluid from the sac surrounding the heart (the pericardium).

Pericardium – (pair-uh-CAR-dee-um) The membrane that forms a sac surrounding the heart.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma – (pair-uh-to-NEE-ul) A cancer that originates in the membrane surrounding the abdominal organs (the peritoneum.)

Peritoneocentesis - (pair-uh-tuh-nee-oh-sin-TEE-sis) A medical procedure in which a doctor uses a needle to remove fluid from the sac surrounding the abdominal organs (the peritoneum).

Peritoneoscope – (pair-uh-tuh-NEE-uh-scope) A lighted tube a doctor uses to see inside the abdomen.

Peritoneoscopy – (pair-uh-tuh-nee-OSS-koh-pee) A medical procedure in which a doctor looks inside the abdomen using a lighted tube (peritoneoscope) inserted through an incision.

Peritoneum – (pair-uh-tuh-NEE-um) The membrane that forms a sac surrounding the abdominal organs.

PET Scan – Abbreviation for Positron Emission Topography scan. A PET scan is a diagnostic procedure using short-lived radioactive compounds injected or ingested into the body to make bodily functions or processes visible.

Pleura – (PLOO-ruh) The membrane that forms a sac surrounding the lungs.

Pleural Effusion – An abnormal collection of fluid in the space between the two layers of the pleura.

Pleural Mesothelioma - A cancer that originates in the membrane surrounding the lungs (the pleura).

Pleurectomy – (ploo-REK-tuh-mee) A surgical procedure to remove the pleura.

Pleurodesis – (ploo-roh-DEE-sis) A medical procedure that causes the two layers of the pleura to adhere to one another, eliminating the space where fluid can collect. This eliminates the possibility for pleural effusion to recur.

Pneumonectomy – (noo-moh-NEK-tuh-mee) Surgical procedure in which a lung is removed.

Sarcomatous - Describes a type of cancer cell that tends to grow and spread rapidly.

Testicular Mesothelioma - A cancer that originates in the membrane surrounding the testicles (the tunica vaginalis).

Thoracentesis – (thore-uh-sin-TEE-sis) A medical procedure in which a doctor uses a needle to remove fluid from the sac surrounding the lungs (the pleura).

Thoracoscope – (thore-ACK-uh-scope) A lighted tube a doctor uses to see inside the chest

Thoracoscopy – (thore-uh-COSS-coh-pee) A medical procedure in which a doctor looks inside the chest using a lighted tube (thoracoscope) inserted through an incision.

TNM System – A method developed specifically for pleural mesothelioma to describe how far the cancer has spread.

Tunica Vaginalis - The internal membrane that forms a sac surrounding the testicles. It is an extension of the peritoneum.

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