Tumor burden means the total amount of cancer in the body at a given time. It can describe tumor size, how many sites are involved, or cancer cells measured in blood or bone marrow. It is commonly used in oncology clinics, imaging reports, pathology, and clinical trials. Clinicians use it to summarize disease extent and track change over time.
A Pathology report is a medical document that describes what a pathologist finds in tissue, cells, or blood. It is commonly created after a biopsy, surgery, or bone marrow test. It helps confirm a diagnosis and describes important features of a tumor or abnormal tissue. It is used across cancer care, including solid tumors and blood cancers.
Histology is the study of cells and tissues under a microscope. In cancer care, Histology is used to identify what a tumor is made of and how it behaves. It is commonly performed by pathologists on tissue taken from a biopsy or surgery. Histology helps clinicians confirm a diagnosis and plan appropriate treatment.
Grade is a way of describing how abnormal cancer cells look under a microscope. It is most commonly assigned by a pathologist after a biopsy or surgery. In oncology, Grade helps estimate how quickly a tumor may grow or spread. It is one part of risk assessment and is used alongside stage and other test results.
Stage is a clinical label that describes how far a cancer has spread in the body. It summarizes key findings from exams, imaging, and sometimes surgery or biopsy results. Stage is commonly used at diagnosis, after surgery, and when planning cancer treatment. It helps clinicians communicate clearly and choose appropriate next steps.
Metastatic disease means cancer has spread from where it started to a distant part of the body. It is commonly used in oncology to describe cancer stage, expected behavior, and treatment planning. The original cancer is called the *primary tumor*, and the new sites are called *metastases*. Even after spreading, the cancer is still named for where it began (for example, breast cancer with bone metastases).
Locally advanced is a clinical term that describes a cancer that has grown beyond where it started but has not spread to distant organs. It often means the tumor involves nearby tissues, structures, or regional lymph nodes. It is commonly used in staging discussions, imaging reports, and oncology treatment planning. The exact meaning can vary by cancer type and stage.
A Secondary tumor is a tumor found in a new location after cancer cells spread from an original (primary) cancer. The term is commonly used in oncology to describe metastasis, meaning “spread” to another organ or tissue. Sometimes people also use “secondary” to describe a new, separate cancer that develops later (a second primary cancer). Because the wording can be confusing, clinicians often clarify what “secondary” means in each case.
A Primary tumor is the first tumor that forms where a cancer begins. It is different from tumors that appear after cancer spreads to other organs. The term is used in pathology reports, imaging results, staging, and treatment planning. Clinicians use it to describe the “origin site” of a person’s cancer.
Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from where they started to another part of the body. It is commonly discussed in cancer diagnosis, staging, and treatment planning. A metastatic tumor is made of the same cancer type as the original (primary) tumor. Metastasis is a key concept in oncology, pathology, radiology, and cancer surgery.