A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Radiation oncologist: A physician who specializes in treating cancer with radiation therapy.
Radiation physicist: A scientist who helps plan complex radiation treatments for cancer and makes sure all treatment planning calculations are performed correctly.
Radiation therapy: The treatment of cancer with forms of energy, including x-rays and gamma rays. Also called radiotherapy.
Radiation therapist: A technician trained in setting up and administering external beam radiation treatments for cancer.
Randomized, controlled clinical trial: Research study in which patients are randomly assigned to a control group (receiving the standard treatment) or an intervention group (receiving the experimental treatment). Randomized, controlled trials are considered the most reliable and impartial method of determining the most effective medical treatment.
Recombinant DNA technology: Techniques used to take apart and recombine a cell's genetic information, and being investigated for use in melanoma vaccines.
Recombinant viral vaccines: Vaccines in which viruses are genetically altered through recombinant DNA technology. These viruses carry tumor-associated or other antigens to stimulate an immune response.
Recurrence: The reappearance of a cancer after a period of complete remission or following definitive surgical treatment of the primary melanoma.
Regional lymph nodes: Lymph nodes in the region of the primary tumor.
Remission: Complete or partial disappearance of a cancer, usually after treatment.
Resection: The surgical removal of a malignant tumor in its entirety.
Reticular dermis: the lower part of the dermis, made up of dense connective tissue that gives skin its elasticity and strength.
Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay: A molecular biologic technique being investigated for its ability to detect tyronsinase, a possible tumor marker for melanoma.
Risk factor: Anything that increases the chance of developing a disease, including cancer. Risk factors may include personal traits and habits, family history of a disease or predisposing condition, and exposure to environmental agents.