Oncology 101: The Basics of Cancer
by Kelly Erickson, MD | erickson@myhousecallmd.com
We all know what “cancer” is, but when you or a loved one hears it as a diagnosis in the physician’s office, the word suddenly takes on a whole new meaning. Not only may you become overwhelmed with emotions and the notion of mortality, but also with an entirely new vocabulary. The number of words the medical community has conjured up to describe cancer is astounding. As scary as it sounds, your understanding of cancer and the terms we use to describe it are paramount to your personal decisions and treatment. Here we will explain the basics of cancer as well as outline some of the most commonly used terminology in the field of oncology (a.k.a. cancer…and the vocabulary lesson begins).
