Glossary - I
Idiopathic - An idiopathic disease or other medical condition is one that has occurred seemingly sporadically. Doctors are not sure what caused this problem.
Imaging Tests - Imaging tests uses x-rays or other kinds of waves to created images of the body for doctors to examine.
Immune - Being immune to something means that the disease cannot infect and hurt your body.
Immune Function - In the body, your immune system (function) is a basic "recording" system that the body uses to protect you against known diseases. You get some immunities learned from your moth before birth, while others are presented to you in vaccine form or when you develop a disease naturally.
Immunoaugmentative Therapy - This form of cancer treatment has patients inject healthy proteins and antibodies from donors to fight the tumors. Immunaoaugmentative Therapy is still being studied for safety and effectiveness and is only currently available in a few states.
Immunohistochemical - Also called IHC, this treatment option works with the body's antibodies in tissue cells fight diseases.
Immunostaining - With immunostaining, researchers use antibodies to "stain" specific proteins in the tissue they are studying.
Immunosuppressant - An immunosuppressant substance reduces the effect the immune system has on the body.
Immunotherapy - Immunotherapy is a treatment option that is based on manipulating the immune system to fight problems. It is a commonly used way of treating cancer in its early stages, but can be used in other ways as well. Vaccination is a form of immunotherapy, for example.
Informed Consent - Legally, informed consent is the act of giving permission for an action after learning about the facts. Children and some mentally challenged patients do not have the right to give informed consent in a medical situation since they cannot understand the implications of the action.
Inhalation - Inhalation is a part of breathing. It is the movement of air from your environment to your lungs.
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) - IMRT is a type of therapy that uses computer-controlled radiation aimed at a specific part of your tumor.
Interferon - Interferons, also known as IFNs, are proteins created by your body's immune system in the vertebrates. These proteins specifically fight foreign bodies in your system.
Internal Radiation Therapy - With internal radiation therapy, the source of the radiation is put directly into your body to help attack the cancerous cells.
Interstitial Disease - Also called Intersitial Lung Disease (ILD), this medical condition is a classification including many kinds of lung problems, all of which affect the tissue between the air sacs of the lungs.
Intraoperative Photodynamic Therapy - Thismtechnique uses a photsensitizer, light, and oxygen to treat cancer.
Intraperitoneally - This adjective is used to describe injections into the peritoneum.
Intrapleaurally - This adjective is used to describe injections into the pleural.
Intravenous - This adjective means "within the vein" and is usually used to refer to IV therapy - dripping liquids into the blood system.
Invasive Cancer - Invasive cancer is cancer that has spread beyond its starting point to healthy tissues.
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