Glossary
Benign: Not cancerous; does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body.CT scan- A test using computers and X-rays to create images of various parts of the body.
DNA: The abbreviation for "deoxyribonucleic acid," the primary carrier of genetic information found in the chromosomes of almost all organisms.
Dioxin: They are a group of poly-halogenated organic compounds that are significant environmental pollutants.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): A painless method using magnetic fields for taking pictures of internal organs.
Malignant: A cancerous growth that may destroy nearby normal tissue and spread to other parts of the body.
Metastasis: Transfer of disease from one organ or part of the body to another, the causative agent having been conveyed by the blood or lymph.
Mutations: Any change in the DNA of a cell. Mutations may be caused by mistakes during cell division, or they may be caused by exposure to DNA-damaging agents in the environment. Mutations can be harmful, beneficial, or have no effect.
Oncogene: Genes present in normal cells that, upon exposure to cancer-inducing factors may lead to development of tumors.
Phenoxyacetic herbicides: Phenoxy herbicides are a family of chemicals related to the growth hormone indoleacetic acid (IAA) to induce rapid, uncontrolled growth in plants but later on banned as they contain dioxins.
Retroperitoneal: Having to do with the area outside or behind the peritoneum (the tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers most of the organs in the abdomen).
Sarcoma: A cancer of the bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels or other connective or supportive tissue.
Tumor suppressor gene: Genes in the body that can suppress or block the development of cancer.
Vinyl chloride: A substance used in manufacturing plastics. Exposure to vinyl chloride may increase the risk of liver, brain, and lung cancers; lymphoma; and leukemia.
