Glossary
Abdominoperineal resection– a type of surgery used to remove cancer in the lower part of the rectum, close to the outer connection to the anus. The surgeon removes the rectum and creates a colostomy.
Adenocarcinoma – a type of malignant tumor, found in most colorectal cancers, that is composed of glands or gland-like structures that line the inside of the colon and rectum.
Adenoma – a benign tumor that forms glands or gland-like structures
Anal canal – the final portion of the digestive tract where fecal matter is stored before evacuation.
Ascending colon – part of the colon which forms the right side of the large intestine
Biopsy – the removal of a sample of tissue to see whether cancer cells are present.
Bowel – the intestine
CEA – also referred to as carcinoembryonic antigen. It is a tumor marker that can be detected by blood testing and can be elevated in tumors of the colon and rectum.
Cecum – the area next to the appendix which forms the first part of the large intestine
Chemotherapy – a form of therapy that that uses medications to control and destroy cancer cells. It can be given intravenously (into the vein) or by pill form.
Colon – the part of the digestive tract which forms the large intestine. It continues the process of absorbing water and mineral nutrients from food.
Colonoscopy – a procedure which involves looking into the large intestine, anus and rectum for any evidence of tumors.
Colostomy – an opening from the colon onto the skin of the abdomen (stomach) formed by a surgeon for getting rid of the body waste (fecal mater or stool). Fecal matter comes through this opening and is collected in a colostomy bag.
Crohn’s Disease – a type of inflammatory bowel disease that can affect the entire digestive tract. It can cause diarrhea and malnutrition. It is associated with a small, yet increased risk of colon cancer.
CT Scan (Computed Tomography) – a type of x-ray that can detect cancer cells inside the body.
Digestive system – the system processes the food we eat to obtain energy and rids the body of solid waste matter.
Feces – solid waste matter; bowel movement or stool.
Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) – a hereditary condition that is a risk factor for colorectal cancer. People with this syndrome typically develop hundreds of polyps in the colon or rectum at an early age. Usually one or more of these polyps becomes cancerous if preventive surgery is not done.
Gastroenterologist – a type of doctor involved with detecting and managing diseases of the digestive tract.
Hereditary – a trait which is passed from parent to child or from one family member to another.
Ileostomy – an opening that has been constructed by bringing the end of the small intestine (the ileum) out onto the surface of the skin. Intestinal waste passes out of the ileostomy and is collected in an external bag stuck to the skin.
Inflammatory bowel disease – a disorder that causes inflammation of various parts of the digestive system, which can lead to severe diarrhea and malabsorption and internal bleeding within the digestive tract
Lymph nodes – small bean-shaped structures that filter bacteria, foreign particles, and even cancer cells from lymph fluid. They can enlarge in cases of infection or cancer.
Metastasis – a condition in which the tumor has spread beyond the organ or site where it originally formed
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) – a special x-ray that can detect changes internally in the body; it may be used to evaluate for cancer cells that cannot be felt or seen.
Neoadjuvant therapy – a type of therapy administered before the cancer is completely removed by surgery.
Oncologist – a type of doctor trained in the specialty of cancer care
Pathologist – a doctor who specializes in diagnosis and classification of diseases by laboratory tests (examination of tissues and cells under a microscope). The pathologist determines whether a tumor is benign or cancerous, and, if cancerous, the cell type and grade.
PET scan (Positron Emission Tomography) – a special x-ray which produces three-dimensional images of the body
Polyps – small mounds of benign (non-cancerous) tissue found in the colon or rectum that can be identified on a colonoscopy.
Radiation treatment – the use of x-rays to treat cancer. It is another form of local therapy and the effects of this treatment are limited to the area of the body where the treatment is delivered.
Rectum – the lowest part of the large intestine, just above the anus
Staging – a process used to determine/establish the extent of tumor spread.
Submucosa – the lining that is underneath the mucosa of the bowel transanal resection
Transverse colon – the area that connects the right and left sides of the colon; it crosses over the mid-section of the abdominal cavity
Tumor – an abnormal lump or mass of tissue. Tumors can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Ulcerative colitis – a type of inflammatory bowel disease. It affects the colon exclusively. It increases a person’s risk of colon cancer. This disease is associated with diarrhea and malabsorption.