The Encyclopedia of Women's Reproductive Cancer (Facts on File Library of Health and Living)

321 Pages·2004·1.02 MB·English

by  Carol Turkington, Mitchell, M.D. Edelson

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
WOMEN’S
REPRODUCTIVE CANCER
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
WOMEN’S
REPRODUCTIVE CANCER
Carol Turkington
Mitchell Edelson, M.D.
The Encyclopedia of Women’s Reproductive Cancer
Copyright © 2005 by Carol Turkington
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, elec-
tronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval sys-
tems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information contact:
Facts On File, Inc.
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New York NY 10001
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Turkington, Carol.
The encyclopedia of women’s reproductive cancer / Carol Turkington and Mitchell Edelson, M.D.
p. ; cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8160-5031-7 (hc. ; alk. paper)
1. Generative organs, Female—Cancer—Encyclopedias. 2. Cancer in women—Encyclopedias. I. Title.
[DNLM: 1. Genital Neoplasms, Female—Encyclopedias—English. WP 13 T939ea 2005]
RC280.G5T78 2005
616.99′465′03—dc22 2004043253
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Text and cover design by Cathy Rincon
Printed in the United States of America
VB Hermitage 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
CONTENTS
Foreword vii
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction xi
Entries A–Z 1
Appendixes 201
Glossary 275
Bibliography 279
Index 285
FOREWORD
omen’s reproductive cancers account for 12 are targeting the cancer cells and leaving the nor-
Wpercent of all cancers in women. The treat- mal cells alone. Additionally, combinations of these
ments available for these cancers, which affect the modalities (surgery, radiation therapy, and chemo-
cervix, uterus, ovary, fallopian tube, vulva, and therapy) are being used to maximize the destruc-
vagina, have become more refined in recent years. tive effect on these cancer cells.
The newer treatments we have today aim to cure I know firsthand the difficulty of explaining
women of these cancers while minimizing the these treatments in easy-to-understand language.
short- and long-term side effects. The goal of this encyclopedia is to simplify the lan-
Modern surgical procedures are becoming less guage that is used so that women can better under-
extensive, with the use of minimally invasive stand the treatment options and better prepare
surgery and sentinel node biopsies. Radiation ther- themselves for surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.
apy treatments are focusing on treating the cancer
cells but sparing the normal cells. Chemotherapy is —Mitchell Edelson, M.D.
evolving with the development of new drugs that
vii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
he creation of a detailed encyclopedia involves mount, I Can Cope, International Union Against
Tthe help and guidance of a wide range of Cancer, CHEMOcare, Chemotherapy Foundation,
experts, without which this book could not have National Association of Hospital Hospitality, Hered-
been possible. itary Cancer Institute, National Cancer Institute,
First of all, thanks to all the staff at Fox Chase Hospice Education Institute, HospiceLink, and the
Cancer Center in Philadelphia, and to Dr. Mitchell National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
Edelson. Also thanks to the staffs of the National Also, thanks to the National Hospice Founda-
Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of tion, Cancer Legal Resource Center, American Col-
Nursing Research, the American Medical Associa- lege of Radiology, American Society of Clinical
tion, National Institutes of Health, American Asso- Oncology, Association of Community Cancer Cen-
ciation of People with Disabilities, American ters, Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, American
College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Ameri- College of Radiology, American Institute for Can-
can Heart Association, American Psychiatric Asso- cer Research, Cancer Research Foundation of
ciation, American Psychological Association, America, Cancer Research Institute, European
American Society of Hematology, the Cancer Infor- Organisation for Research and Treatment of Can-
mation Service, Centers for Disease Control and cer, National Asian Women’s Health Organization,
Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the and the National Women’s Health Information
National Cancer Institute, and the American Board Center.
of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. Thanks also to the librarians at the Hershey
Thanks also to the Look Good . . . Feel Better Medical Center medical library, the National
program, National Bone Marrow Transplant Link, Library of Medicine, the Reading Public Library,
National Marrow Donor Program, American and the Pennsylvania State Library.
Brachytherapy Society, Cancer Hope Network, Finally, thanks to my agent, Gene Brissie, of
Cancer Information and Counseling Line, Cancer James Peter Associates; to Bert Holtje; to my editor,
Information Service, Cancer Net, Cancer Research James Chambers, and Vanessa Nittoli at Facts On
Institute, Cancer Survivors Network, CanSur- File; and to Kara and Michael.
ix