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Glossary
Age-specific PSA reference range: A range that is designed to compare the results of men in the same age group. If a man's PSA levels are high compared to others in his age group, then there is a higher chance that prostate cancer could be present.
Androgen (AN-dro-jen): Any hormone that produces male physical characteristics (facial hair, deep voice). The main androgen hormone is testosterone.
Anesthetic: A drug that causes a loss of sensation or a feeling of numbness, usually used during surgical procedures.
Benign: A term for a tumor that does not normally threaten a person's life (that is, a tumor that is not cancerous and does not spread to other parts of the body). Brachytherapy (bray-kee-THER-uh-pee): Another name for various types of internal radiation therapy; sometimes called "seeds."
Cancer: A tumor with abnormal cells that grow and divide without control. Cancer cells can spread through the blood and lymph to other parts of the body and pose a serious threat to a person's life.
Capsule: The layer of cells around an organ such as the prostate.
Cells: The basic structural and functional unity of the body.
Chemotherapy (kee-mo-THER-a-pee): Treatment with powerful drugs that attack cancer cells but may also harm certain types of healthy cells.
Clinical trials: Studies conducted on patients with cancer or other diseases, usually to evaluate a new treatment. Each study is designed to answer specific questions and to find better ways to treat patients.
Digital rectal examination or DRE: An examination performed by a physician in which a gloved, lubricated finger is inserted into the rectum to feel the prostate.
Ejaculate: To eject sperm and seminal fluid from the penis.
Estrogen (ES-tro-jen): A female sex hormone.
External beam radiation therapy: Radiation therapy that uses rays from a machine directed at parts of the body.
Gleason grading system: The most commonly used prostate cancer grading system. It involves assigning scores (called a Gleason grade) to cancerous prostate tissue, ranging from 1 through 5, based on how much the arrangement of the cancer cells mimics the way normal prostate cells form glands. Two grades are assigned to the most common patterns of cells that appear; these two grades (they can be the same or different) are then added together to determine the Gleason score (a number from 1 to 10).
Hormone therapy: In prostate cancer, treatment that interferes with the production or activity of male hormones that promote prostate tumor growth.
Impotence (IM-po-tens): Inability to have an erection.
Incontinence (in-KON-tin-nens): Loss of urinary control.
Internal radiation therapy: Treatment with high-energy radiation from tiny radioactive seeds inserted into the prostate.
Lymph: A nearly clear fluid collected from tissues around the body and returned to the blood by the lymphatic system.
Lymphatic system: Vessels that carry lymph are part of this system. Other parts include lymph nodes and several organs that produce and store infection-fighting cells.
Lymph nodes: Small bean-shaped structures scattered along the vessels of the lymphatic system. The nodes filter out bacteria and cancer cells that may travel through the system.
Malignant: A term for a tumor that can threaten a person's life (that is, a tumor that is cancerous.) Malignant has the same meaning as cancerous.
Metastasis (meh-TASS-tuh-sis): The spread of cancer from its original site to distant areas via blood and lymph.
Oncologist: A doctor who specializes in treating cancer.
Orchiectomy (or-EK-toe-mee): The surgical removal of the testicles, the major source of male hormones.
Palliative therapy (pa-LEE-a-tive): A therapy that is intended to provide relief but is unlikely to cure a disease.
Pathologist (pah-THAL-o-jist): A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis of disease by studying cells and tissues with a microscope.
Perineal prostatectomy (pair-in-NEE-al prah-stah-TEK-toe-mee): An operation to remove the prostate gland through a cut made in the perineum, the area between the scrotum and the anus.
Prognosis (prog-NO-suhs): A prediction made as to the potential outcome of a disease.
Prostatectomy (prah-stah-TEK-toe-mee): The surgical removal of the prostate gland.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA): A blood substance that often increases in cases of prostate cancer and other prostate diseases.
Radiation therapy: Treatment with high-energy rays such as those from X-rays or other sources of radiation.
Rectum: The last 5 or 6 inches of the intestine leading to the outside of the body.
Retropubic prostatectomy: (reh-tro-PYOO-bik): An operation to remove the prostate gland through a cut made in the lower abdomen.
Scrotum (SKRO-tum): The external sac, or pouch, containing the testicles.
Seminal vesicles: Pouches inside the body above the prostate
that store semen.
Stage: A term used to describe the size and extent of spread of cancer.
Staging: Tests conducted to determine the stage of a cancer.
Testicles: Two egg-shaped glands that produce sperm and sex hormones.
Testosterone (tes-TOS-ter-own): A male sex hormone produced chiefly by the testicles. Testosterone stimulates a man's sexual activity and the growth of other sex organs, including the prostate.
Tissue: A group of cells organized to perform a specialized function.
Transrectal ultrasonography: Using sound waves produced by a device inserted into the rectum to produce a picture of the prostate.
Transurethral resection of the prostate: The use of a special instrument inserted through the urethra in the penis to remove noncancerous prostate tissue. Also called TUR or TURP.
Tumor: An excessive growth of cells resulting from uncontrolled and disorderly cell replacement.
Unilateral extracapsular extension: A term sometimes used in staging, which refers to the tumor spreading to outside of the prostate capsule on only one side.
Ureter (YUR-e-ter): The tube that carries urine from each kidney to the bladder.
Urethra (ye-REETH-rah): The tube running through the penis to the outside of the body. It carries urine from the bladder and semen from the sex glands.
Urologist: A doctor who specializes in diseases of the male sex organs and in disease of the urinary organs in both men and women.
Watchful waiting: When a prostate cancer is simply watched by the doctor using regular digital rectal examinations and blood tests.
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