Go back to the index of this complete glossary to find the definition of all medical terms for cancers, treatments and health.
Cancer Glossary - S
- Salpingo-oophorectomy : Surgical removal of the
fallopian tubes and ovaries.
- Sarcoma : Cancer arising in the connective tissue.
- Schwannoma : A type of brain cancer.
- Schiller test : Diagnostic test in which iodine is applied to the cervical
cells. Healthy cells are stained; abnormal cells are not.
- Screening : Checking for disease when there are no symptoms.
- Scrotum : The pouch of skin that contains the testicles.
- Selective renal arteriography : Diagnostic method using
x-rays and a special chemical to obtain a picture of the kidney blood vessels.
- Seminoma : A type of testicular cancer that arises from sex cells,
or germ cells, at a very early stage in their development.
- Seroma : Collection of tissue fluid.
- Shunt : A catheter (tube) that carries fluid from one place in the body to
another.
- Sigmoidoscope : A lighted instrument used to view the inside
of the lower colon.
- Sigmoidoscopy : An examination of the rectum and lower
colon using a sigmoidoscope. Also called proctosigmoidoscopy or "procto".
- Simulation (relating to radiation) : A process involving special x-ray pictures
that are used to plan radiation treatment so that the area to be treated is
precisely located and marked for treatment.
- Speculum : An instrument used to widen the opening of the vagina
so that the cervix is seen more easily.
- Sperm banking : Freezing sperm before cancer treatment for use in the future.
This procedure can allow men to father children after loss of fertility.
- Staging : The process of learning whether cancer has spread from its original
site to another part of the body.
- S-phase fraction : Measure of number of cells dividing at any one time.
- Seminal vesicles : Glands that help produce semen.
- Small intestine : The part of the digestive tract that extends from the stomach
to the large intestine.
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma : A sarcoma that begins in the muscle, fat, fibrous tissue,
blood vessels, or other supporting tissue of the body. Not a type of bone cancer.
- Stereotaxis : Use of a computer and scanning devices to
create three-dimensional pictures. This method can be used to direct a biopsy,
external radiation, or the insertion of radiation implants.
- Steroids : Drugs used to relieve swelling and inflammation.
- Stoma : An opening in the abdominal wall; also called an ostomy.
- Stomatitis : Mouth sores. Father had a lot of mouth sores at
the end stage of his metastatic
liver cancer.
- Stool : The solid matter discharged in a bowel movement. Pain
medication reduces your stool movements.
- Subcutaneous tissue The tissue under the skin.
- Systemic treatment Treatment involving the whole body, usually using drugs.