Cancer Treatment Terms

The following videos were conceived and developed by a team at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University and Grady Memorial Hospital. The videos were not created by CancerQuest, but are presented here with the permission of the WCI and Grady teams.

Cancer, and cancer treatment can be very confusing and scary. The videos below are intended to explain cancer-related terms that cancer patients should know.

General Information

What is cancer?
What are cancer 'stages'?
What is a biopsyA medical procedure in which a sample of tissue is removed for examination. Biopsies can range from a small sample drawn into a needle to samples taken during more invasive surgery. ?

Cancer Treatments (RadiationIn cancer biology: A cancer treatment in which high energy beams are used to kill cancer cells. Radiation can also cause genetic damage that can lead to cancer. As an example, skin cancer is believed to be greatly increased by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Therapy and ChemotherapyTreatment of cancer patients with anticancer drugs. Commonly called 'chemo'. These drugs work by attacking cell growth or division. Often these agents are used in combination to take advantage of their different modes of attack on cell division.)

What is radiation therapy?
What is chemotherapy?
What is curative cancer treatment?
What is maintenance chemotherapy?
What is palliative cancer treatment?

The Immune System and ImmunotherapyA treatment for a disease (including cancer) that involves the modulation of the immune system. Treatments include the administration of cytokines (proteins produced by cells of the immune system) and vaccinations.