NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms (2024)

FAQs

What is the NCI definition of cancer? ›

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the federal government's principal agency for cancer research and training. Established under the National Cancer Institute Act of 1937, NCI is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one of 11 agencies that make up the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

As defined by the National Cancer Institute, cancer that occurs in fewer than 15 out of 100,000 people each year. Most types of cancer are considered rare, and they are often more difficult to prevent, diagnose, and treat than the more common cancers.

| Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) | American Cancer Society.

(ser-VY-ver) One who remains alive and continues to function during and after overcoming a serious hardship or life-threatening disease. In cancer, a person is considered to be a survivor from the time of diagnosis until the end of life.

Three designations are recognized: Comprehensive Cancer Centers, Clinical Cancer Centers, and Basic Laboratory Cancer Centers.

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Lung cancer is the most aggressive form of cancer. Smoking and tobacco use are the major causes of it. Low-dose CT scans, which can detect cancer earlier, have improved survival rates for those with lung cancer, even among heavy smokers.

So this is what the three letters mean: T refers to the primary tumor (original tumor). N describes whether or not regional lymph nodes are affected. M describes whether or not distant metastases have been found.

Listen to pronunciation. (ad-VANST KAN-ser) A term that is often used to describe cancer that is unlikely to be cured.

What causes cancer NCI? ›

Cancer is caused by changes to DNA. Most cancer-causing DNA changes occur in sections of DNA called genes. These changes are also called genetic changes. A DNA change can cause genes involved in normal cell growth to become oncogenes.

Learn more about NCI-designation status. NCI Comprehensive Cancer Centers comprise the most robust, innovative laboratory and clinical cancer research programs in the country. This is the research that's making the biggest difference in cancer prevention, diagnostics and treatment and ultimately in finding a cure.

Cancer refers to diseases in which abnormal cells divide out of control and are able to invade other tissues.

In carcinoma of unknown primary, the cancer cells that spread to other parts of the body are found. But the original tumor isn't found. This can happen if: The original cancer is too small to be detected by imaging tests.

The premise of the NCI method is that usual intake is equal to the probability of consumption on a given day times the average amount consumed on a "consumption day." The exact methods used for dietary components that are consumed nearly every day by nearly everyone differ slightly from those used for dietary ...

PREVENT will allocate NCI contract resources and expertise to generate data and materials, which are used by applicants of successfully approved concepts to further advance their novel cancer preventive agents (singly or in combination) or biomarkers toward IND filing and proof-of-principle clinical testing.