Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

cancer, renal cell
A malignant tumor that devel-
ops in the lining of the kidney tubules that filter the
blood and produce urine. Also known as renal cell
carcinoma and renal adenocarcinoma. See also
cancer, kidney.
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cancer, renal cell
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cancer, skin
A malignant tumor of the outer sur-
face of the body. Skin cancer is the most common
cancer in the US. There are many types of skin can-
cer; the three most common types are basal cell
carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and the most
deadly, melanoma. The main cause of skin cancer is
ultraviolet light from sunlight. Tanning lamps are a
hazard in this regard. Unexplained changes in the
appearance of the skin that last longer than 2 weeks
should be evaluated by a physician. The cure rate
for skin cancer could be 100 percent if all skin can-
cers were brought to a physician’s attention before
they had a chance to spread. See also 
basal cell car-
cinoma; squamous cell carcinoma; melanoma.
cancer, stomach
See 
cancer, gastric.
cancer, testicular
A malignant tumor of the male
sex organ (testicle) that normally produces the hor-
mone testosterone. It is one of the most common
cancers in young men. Most testicular cancers are
found by men themselves, as lumps in the testicles.
The risk of testicular cancer is increased in males
whose testicles did not move down normally into the
scrotum during childhood (undescended testicles).
When a growth in a testicle is detected, cancer is
confirmed after surgical removal of the affected tes-
ticle (orchiectomy) and examination of the tissue
under a microscope. Testicular cancer is almost
always curable if it is found early.
cancer, thyroid
A malignant tumor of the gland
in front of the neck that normally produces thyroid
hormone, which is important to the normal regula-
tion of the metabolism in the body. There are four
major types of cancer of the thyroid gland: papillary,
follicular, medullary, and anaplastic. Persons who
received radiation to the head or neck in childhood
should be examined by a physician for thyroid can-
cer every 1 to 2 years. The most common symptom
of thyroid cancer is a lump, or nodule, that can be
felt in the neck. The only certain way to tell whether
a thyroid lump is cancer is by examining thyroid tis-
sue obtained via biopsy.
cancer, uterine
A malignant tumor of the uterus
(womb), which occurs most often in women
between the ages of 55 and 70. Abnormal bleeding
after menopause is the most common symptom.
Cancer of the uterus is diagnosed based on the
results of a pelvic examination, Pap test, biopsy of
the uterus, and/or dilation and curettage (D & C).