Cancer

Cancer

Common Medical Terminology

Advance directives: A written document completed by patients to specify their medical preferences in situations where they are unable to communicate due to a medical condition.

AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, a typically fatal disease caused by a virus that compromises the body's immune system, leading to recurrent infections and secondary diseases affecting multiple bodily systems.

Ambulatory Care: Medical care provided on an outpatient basis, encompassing primary care, same-day surgery, and outpatient diagnostic services.

Ancillary: Additional services related to healthcare, such as laboratory work, X-rays, and anesthesia.

CT or CAT Scan: Computerized axial tomography, an advanced radiological diagnostic method producing computerized images of the body.

Hospice: A licensed facility or program offering supportive care for terminally ill individuals.

Colonoscopy: Examination of the entire colon using a fiber-optic tube inserted through the anus and rectum.

Community Care: Medical care provided for individuals who cannot afford it.

Coronary artery disease: Condition resulting from the narrowing and hardening of coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart, potentially leading to angina, heart attacks, or death.

Dementia: Decline in mental capacity characterized by hallucinations and memory loss, particularly of recent events or familiar people.

Endoscope: Flexible fiber-optic tube utilized for examining the upper or lower gastrointestinal tract.

Endoscopy: Examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.

General Practitioner (GP): Physician working in a local surgery or health center, offering medical advice and treatment to registered patients.

Homeopathy: Therapeutic approach involving the administration of minute amounts of substances to treat symptoms similar to those caused by larger doses of the same substances.

Hysteroscopy: Visual examination of the uterus.

ICU: Intensive Care Unit, where critically ill patients receive specialized care in hospitals.

Infection, Nosocomial: Infection acquired during hospitalization, not present or developing at the time of admission but becoming clinically apparent after discharge.

Intermediate Care Facility: Facility providing medical care less extensive than hospitals or skilled nursing facilities but more than room and board.

IV: Intravenous, referring to treatment administered through a vein.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): High-tech diagnostic procedure utilizing magnetic and radio frequency fields to create cross-sectional images of the body.

Managed Care: Healthcare delivery system influencing service utilization and costs, often involving capitated payment and limited provider options.

Midwife, Certified Nurse: Registered nurse with post-graduate education in prenatal care and childbirth assistance.

Mortality: Rate of death within a population.

Morbidity: Incidence of illness and accidents in a defined group.

Neonatal: Period from birth through the first 28 days of life.

Nurse Practitioner (NP): Registered nurse with graduate-level education in a nursing specialty.

Osteopathic: Medical school emphasizing manipulative therapies alongside conventional diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

Optician/Optometrist: Healthcare professionals specialized in testing eyes and prescribing corrective lenses.

OTC: Over-the-counter drugs available without a prescription.

Pharmacists: Healthcare professionals preparing and dispensing medications.

Physician Assistant: Licensed healthcare professional practicing medicine under physician supervision.

Preventive Care: Comprehensive healthcare emphasizing prevention, early detection, and treatment of conditions.

Primary Care: Basic healthcare including diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Tertiary Care: Highly specialized medical care provided in advanced medical centers or research institutions for complex medical issues.

Triage: Process of prioritizing patients based on the urgency and nature of their conditions.

Ultrasound: Imaging technique utilizing high-frequency sound waves for diagnostic purposes.