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).
What is the definition of cancer terms? ›Terms related to cancer types
Neoplasm – this is the medical term for cancer and means "new growth". Benign neoplasm, or benign tumors - a cancer that is not likely to spread, and is contained within one region of the body. Invasive or metastatic tumor - a tumor that has spread from one area of the body to another.
(KAN-ser) A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.
What is the word for not having cancer? ›What's the difference between remission, cancer-free, and no evidence of disease? A lot of people use those terms synonymously, but “remission” and “no evidence of disease” (also known as NEOD or NED) are probably the closest by definition. Officially, both mean that no cancer is currently detectable in the body.