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A
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) : the basic tasks that allow a person to function independently, including bathing, eating, and dressing. A person’s ADLs often serve as a measure of eligibility for aid.
Adenocarcinoma : cancers that start in the glandular tissue; a type of non-small cell lung cancer that arises from mucous glands lining the air passages.
Advance Care Planning : specifies plans for future medical care in the event a patient is unable to make his or her own decisions.
Alkaline phosphatase : a test measures levels of this enzyme in the blood to monitor or screen for a liver or bone disorder.
Anesthesia : drug(s) that cause the dulling or loss of sensation. General anesthesia induces unconsciousness during surgery. Local anesthesia blocks pain sensations in a limited region of the body.
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B
Biopsy : removal of tissue, cells, or fluid for laboratory examination and diagnosis.
Blood cell counts : a test that determines the amount of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets contained in a blood sample.
Bronchioloalveolar adenocarcinoma : a specific type of non-small cell cancer that can be diffuse, multicentric, or localized. When localized, surgical removal may be associated with a high cure rate.
Bronchoscope : an instrument inserted into the throat and breathing passages to check for cancer.
Bronchoscopy : examination of the breathing passages with a bronchoscope.
Bronchus(singular, bronchi) : bronchial tubes; also referred to as breathing tubes.
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C
Chemotherapy : treatment with drugs to destroy cancer cells or slow their growth.
Chest X-ray : a picture of the chest taken with x-rays.
Clinical trials : evaluation of potential new treatments, using patients under strictly controlled conditions.
Co-payments : in a health plan contract, the portion of covered medical costs that is paid by the patient. In a typical plan, the patient's co-payment may be based on a percentage or a flat fee.
Comfort care : an approach to care that focuses on pain control to ensure comfort when patients are no longer able to participate in activities important to maintaining their lifestyle; palliative care.
Computerized tomography (CT) scan : a diagnostic test that uses a combination of x-ray and computers to create three-dimensional internal views of the body.
CPT Codes : code numbers used to identify medical procedures. Developed by the American Medical Association, CPT stands for Current Procedural Terminology. CPT codes are used by physicians when billing for their services. This is the code you’ll get from your doctor when you want to find out in advance if a procedure is covered.
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D
Deductible : the total amount of the cost of medical care expenses that is paid by the patient, usually on an annual basis, before the insurance company begins paying benefits.
Diagnostic tests : methods used to identify a disease.
Dietician : a specialist in the science of applying the principles of nutrition to the diet.
Digestive tract : includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines. Makes food absorbable by dissolving it and breaking it down.
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E
Environmental factors : potential cancer-causing agents present in daily life such as smoke, toxic chemicals, radiation, some viruses, and even stress.
Esophagus : a muscular tube connecting the mouth to the stomach, also commonly referred to as the swallowing tube.
Exclusions : a condition or circumstance for which a health plan does not provide benefits.
Extensive disease : describes small cell lung cancer when it has spread beyond the chest.
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F
Fatigue : constant and extreme tiredness that does not go away with a good night’s sleep.
Fixed Annual Premium : a fee paid to a Health Maintenance Organization, either by the patient or an employer. A premium covers most expenses for coverage under the plan.
Fluorescence bronchoscopy : examination of the breathing passages with a bronchoscope, combined with an injection that makes tumors give off light, allowing them to be easily detected.
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G
Genetic markers : a usually dominant gene or trait that serves especially to identify genes or traits, including diseases such as cancer, linked with it.
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K
Kidney function : one of two organs that clean the blood and excrete waste through the urine.
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L
Lactate dehydrogenase : a test measures levels of this enzyme in the blood to evaluate the presence of tissue damage. Elevated levels may indicate abnormal tissue formation.
Large cell carcinoma : one of the subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer where the cells are large.
Limited disease : describes small cell lung cancer when it has not spread beyond the chest.
Liver function : many drugs impact the function of the liver. Cancer can also spread to the liver and affect its function. There are a number of tests that measure liver function.
Lobes : division of a body organ, such as the lung; there are usually 2 lobes in the left lung and 3 lobes in the right lung.
Lymph nodes : also called lymph glands. Small bean-shaped collections of immune tissue that help the body fight infection.
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M
Mass : tumor that may or may not be malignant.
Mediastinoscopy : a surgical procedure for examining the lymph nodes under the breastbone for the presence of cancer or other disease.
Metastasis (plural, metastases) : cancer that has spread to a different organ.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) : a machine that produces images of the body using magnetic fields.
Mucous glands : a gland that secretes a slimy, protective fluid.
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N
Nodule : small solid mass.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) : one of the 2 main categories of lung cancer that includes adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.
Nurse practitioner : a registered nurse who is qualified through advanced training to assume some of the duties and responsibilities formerly done only by a physician (eg, prescribing drugs).
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O
Occupational therapist : a professional who helps a person regain the ability to perform activities of daily living through self-care, work, and play.
Oncologist : a physician who specializes in the treatment of cancer patients.
Out-of-pocket costs : the total amount of medical expenses that is paid by the patient, usually a total of deductibles and co-payments.
P
Palliative care : treatment administered with the goal of making the patient feel better or to improve function when cure or long-term control is not possible; comfort care.
Palpitations : an unusually rapid or irregular heart beat.
Pharmacist : a professional licensed to practice in the preparation and dispensing of medical drugs.
Physical therapist : a professional who helps to promote health by such means as massage and exercise and who helps patients disabled by pain, disease, or injury regain function (eg, ability to walk).
Psychiatrist : a professional specializing in the branch of medicine that deals with mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.
Psychologist : a professional specializing in the science of mind and behavior.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan : a test that produces an image based on the uptake of glucose by a cancer to determine if a tumor is cancerous and if the cancer has spread.
Preauthorization letter : a letter written by a physician to an insurance company prior to a procedure (usually surgery). The letter explains in detail the procedure a physician plans to perform and requests confirmation that the planned services are covered. The preauthorization letter also requests confirmation of the level of coverage for the planned services.
Pulmonary therapist : a professional skilled in giving treatment/therapy related to the lungs (this could include tests of how well the lungs function and exercises to help a person regain lung function).
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R
Radiation : a beam of energy similar to x-rays that is used to stop cancer cells from growing or dividing.
Radiation oncologists : a medical doctor specializing in the treatment of cancer with radiation.
Remission : the complete or partial disappearance of cancer in response to treatment. A remission is not necessarily a cure.
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S
Second Opinions : a consultation with another medical specialist for the purpose of deciding on treatment. Most health insurance plans provide coverage for second opinions.
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) : one of 2 main categories of lung cancer; may also be called oat cell lung cancer.
Social worker : a professional whose responsibilities are concerned with providing social services and the investigation, treatment, and aid of the economically underprivileged.
Sputum cytology : analysis of cells present in sputnum to determine if there are signs of cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma : one of the subtypes of non-small cell carcinoma also known as epidermoid carcinoma.
Stage : describes lung cancer by the size and location of tumor cells.
Staged : the process of finding out whether cancer has spread and if so, how far.
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T
Thoracoscopy : examination of the chest cavity with an instrument designed with a lighting system and telescope.
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