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- I & D:
- Incision and drainage.
- Idiopathic:
- Describes a disease of unknown causes.
- Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura or ITP:
- A disorder where a person's normal immune system makes substances called antibodies which destroy the platelets, a type of blood cell. When the platelets are destroyed, a person is more susceptible to easy bruising and bleeding.
- Ileostomy:
- A surgically made opening in the small bowel that connects it to the surface of the abdomen. It is made for the elimination of waste.
- Imaging studies:
- Tests that produce pictures of the inside of the body.
- Immune system:
- A complex group of cells and substances that protect the body from foreign substances that might cause infection or disease.
- Immunity:
- The body's ability to fight disease or infection.
- Immunosuppression:
- Weakening of the natural immune system responses.
- Immunotherapy:
- A treatment that stimulates the body's immune system to fight cancer.
- Implant:
- A device inserted into the body to either treat cancer or to replace or substitute for a lost part or ability. Examples of implants include a radioactive implant used to treat a cancer, or a breast implant.
- Implanted port:
- A catheter (tubing) connected to a disc that is implanted just below the skin of the chest during an operation. The catheter is inserted into one of the large veins or arteries so fluids can be given directly into the bloodstream, or blood can be drawn from this port.
- Impotence:
- The inability to have or maintain an erection.
- Impotent:
- The inability to have or maintain an erection adequate for sexual intercourse.
- Incidence:
- The rate at which a certain event occurs, as the number of new cases of a specific disease occurring during a certain period.
- Incision:
- A cut made during surgery.
- Incisional biopsy:
- A surgery to remove part of a lump or suspicious area to be examined under a microscope.
- Incontinence:
- The leaking of, or inability to control urine.
- Induction therapy:
- The initial course of chemotherapy given to patients after diagnosis of leukemia is established. The goal of therapy is remission. Future courses of chemotherapy may be called re-induction.
- Infiltrating ductal carcinoma:
- A common type of breast cancer that begins in the milk duct and has grown through the wall of the duct and spread into the surrounding tissue.
- Inflammatory breast cancer:
- A type of breast cancer where the breast looks red and swollen and feels warm to the touch. The redness and warmth occur because the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin.
- Informed consent:
- In a clinical trial, a process where all relevant information, including the purpose, risks, benefits, alternatives and procedures to be followed are provided to the potential participant. After the information is reviewed, if the patient decides to participate in the trial, the patient signs a form, signifying informed consent.
- Inguinal orchiectomy:
- A surgery where a testicle is removed through an incision in the groin.
- In situ:
- Cancer in an early stage of development when the cancer cells are still confined to the site where they began.
- Institutional review board:
- A board of researchers, ethicists and lay people who oversee all research projects in an institution in order to ensure participant safety.
- Interferon:
- A natural body protein produced by normal cells that is capable of killing cancer cells or stopping their growth. Interferon can be artificially produced and used as a form of immunotherapy.
- Interleukins:
- A group of natural, hormone-like substances that are made in the body by lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. Interleukins may increase the activity of cells in the immune system that normally recognize and destroy cancer cells.
- Internal beam radiation therapy:
- A procedure where radioactive material contained in seeds, needles, or wires is put directly into a tumor. Also called brachytherapy or interstitial radiation therapy.
- Interstitial:
- Within an organ. For example, radioactive seeds may be implanted within the prostate to treat cancerous cells. A type of radiation therapy.
- Intestine:
- A long tube-like organ that completes the digestion and absorption of food. It includes both a small and large intestine. Also called bowels.
- Intrahepatic:
- Into the liver.
- Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT):
- Radiation therapy given during surgery.
- Intraperitoneal:
- Into the peritoneal cavity or the area that contains the abdominal organs.
- Intrathecal chemotherapy:
- A procedure to inject anticancer drugs directly into the cerebrospinal fluid
- Intravenous (IV):
- Into a vein.
- Intravenous pyelogram:
- Also called IVP. An X-ray of the kidneys, ureters and bladder, taken after a dye is injected into a vein.
- Intravesical:
- Within the bladder.
- Invasive cancer:
- A cancer that has spread beyond the layer of tissue where it started. The tumor is growing into healthy tissue in the surrounding area. Also called infiltrating cancer.
- Investigational group:
- In a clinical trial, the group that receives the new treatment being tested is the investigational group.
- Investigational new drug:
- A drug the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows to be studied in clinical trials but has not yet been approved by the FDA for commercial marketing.
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- Jaundice:
- A yellowish discoloration of the skin and bodily tissues and fluids.