ABPTS Oncology key terms

A standardized system, most often the TNM format, that describes the size and local extent of a primary tumor, whether regional lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether distant metastases are present.

A classification of how closely cancer cells resemble normal cells of the tissue of origin, usually reported on a scale from well differentiated to poorly differentiated, which reflects likely aggressiveness.

Spread of cancer cells from the original tumor to a distant site through blood vessels, lymph channels, or direct seeding, where a new secondary tumor grows.

Microscopic examination of tissue to identify the type of cells present, which establishes a tissue-based cancer diagnosis and guides treatment selection.

Removal of a small sample of tissue for laboratory examination so that the presence, type, and characteristics of cancer can be confirmed.

Signs or symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, night pain, new neurologic deficits, or a growing mass that suggest serious pathology and warrant medical referral before or instead of physical therapy.

A brief clinical process of gathering history and symptoms to decide whether a patient's presentation is consistent with the physical therapy diagnosis or requires further medical workup.

Directing a patient back to a physician or other appropriate provider when findings fall outside the scope of physical therapy practice or suggest a condition needing medical management.

A prediction of the likely course and outcome of a disease, including expected survival, chance of recurrence, and anticipated functional recovery, based on disease and patient factors.

The proportion of people with a given diagnosis who are alive after a specified period, often reported as a five-year figure and used to describe population-level prognosis.

A standardized rating of how well a person can carry out daily activities and self-care, used to estimate prognosis and to judge whether aggressive treatment is appropriate.

A personal behavior or exposure, such as tobacco use, obesity, or physical inactivity, that raises cancer risk and can be changed through education or intervention.

Actions taken to stop cancer from developing, such as avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, limiting alcohol, and receiving recommended vaccinations.

Early detection of cancer through screening tests and prompt follow-up so that disease is found and treated at a more curable stage.

Use of cytotoxic drugs that act on dividing cells throughout the body to kill cancer cells, often producing systemic side effects such as fatigue, neuropathy, and lowered blood counts.

Nerve damage from certain chemotherapy agents that causes numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness, usually starting in the hands and feet and raising fall and balance risk.

Delivery of targeted high-energy radiation to shrink or destroy tumor tissue, which can cause local skin reactions, fibrosis, and fatigue in the treated region.

Swelling caused by accumulation of lymph fluid when lymph nodes or vessels are removed or damaged by surgery or radiation, most often affecting an arm or leg.

Removal and testing of the first lymph node or nodes that drain a tumor to determine whether cancer has begun to spread through the lymphatic system.

Surgical removal of many lymph nodes from the armpit to treat or stage breast cancer, which increases the risk of shoulder impairment and lymphedema.

A persistent, distressing sense of tiredness related to cancer or its treatment that is not proportional to recent activity and does not resolve fully with rest.

Coordinated physical therapy and related services that help a person with cancer maintain or regain function, manage symptoms, and reduce disability across the treatment continuum.

Exercise, education, and conditioning delivered before planned cancer surgery or other treatment to improve baseline function and reduce postoperative complications.

Rhythmic activity using large muscle groups at moderate intensity, shown to reduce cancer-related fatigue and improve cardiovascular fitness and quality of life during and after treatment.

Progressive training against external load to build or preserve muscle mass and strength, important for countering treatment-related muscle loss and bone density decline.

Loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength that can result from aging, inactivity, or cancer and its treatments, contributing to weakness, falls, and reduced tolerance for therapy.

A state of reduced physiologic reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors, common in older adults with cancer, that raises complication risk and predicts poorer outcomes.

Thickening and stiffening of connective tissue that can follow surgery or radiation, restricting joint motion and soft tissue mobility in the treated area.

The extent of movement available at a joint, measured actively or passively, which is commonly limited after cancer surgery or radiation and is a key examination finding.

Use of an instrument to measure joint angles in order to quantify range of motion and document change over the course of rehabilitation.

A validated tool or test used to quantify a patient's function, symptoms, or quality of life at specific points so that progress and treatment effectiveness can be judged.

Information about symptoms, function, or well-being supplied directly by the patient, often through a standardized questionnaire, rather than measured by the clinician.

The smallest change in an outcome score that a patient would perceive as meaningful, used to decide whether an observed improvement is clinically relevant rather than just statistically significant.

A person's overall sense of well-being across physical, emotional, social, and functional domains, commonly assessed as a key outcome in oncology rehabilitation research.

Clinical decision-making that integrates the best available research evidence, the clinician's expertise, and the patient's values and preferences.

A ranking of study designs by their susceptibility to bias, from systematic reviews and randomized trials at the top to expert opinion and case reports at the bottom.

A study in which participants are assigned by chance to an intervention or comparison group, allowing stronger conclusions about whether the intervention caused the observed effect.

A patient's voluntary agreement to examination or intervention after receiving and understanding information about purpose, risks, benefits, and alternatives, documented as appropriate.

The legally and professionally defined boundaries of what a physical therapist may evaluate, diagnose, and treat, which guide decisions about managing care or referring out.

Working jointly with physicians, nurses, rehabilitation colleagues, and others to coordinate care, share information, and align goals for a patient with cancer.