Go back to the index of this complete glossary to find the definition of all medical terms for cancers, treatments and health.
Cancer Glossary - M
- Malignant : Cancerous.
- Malignant giant cell tumor : A type of bone tumor.
- Mammogram : An x-ray of the breast.
- Mastectomy : Surgery to remove the breast.
- Melanoma : Cancer of the cells that produce pigment in the skin. Usually begins
in a mole.
- Metastasis : Spread of cancer to another organ, usually through
the bloodstream.
- Monoclonal antibodies : Substances that can locate and bind to cancer cells
wherever they are in the body. Can be used alone or used to deliver drugs, toxins,
or radioactive material directly to the tumor cells.
- MRI : A procedure using a magnet linked to a computer to create pictures of
areas inside the body. Also called magnetic resonance imaging.
- Mucous membranes : Tissues lining such organs as the mouth and intestine. The
mucous membranes keep the organs moist by secreting juices.
- Multimodality therapy : The combined use of more than one method of treatment,
eg, surgery and chemotherapy.
- Myelin : Fatty substance that covers and protects nerves.
- Myelogram : An x-ray of the spinal cord and bones of the spine.