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Questions to ask about advanced eye cancer, including treatment goals, symptoms, trials, and support.

A plain-language explanation of the Rai and Binet staging systems for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), based on blood counts and physical exam findings.

A plain-language guide to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) symptoms, why many people have none at diagnosis, and which symptoms need urgent attention.

A plain-language guide to DLBCL, the most common aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

A plain-language guide to mantle cell lymphoma, including diagnosis, treatment categories, and relapse options.

Questions to ask about metastatic gallbladder cancer, including treatment goals, symptoms, trials, and support.

Questions to ask about metastatic vulvar cancer, including treatment goals, symptoms, trials, and support.

Questions to ask about relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, including goals, options, trials, side effects, and support.

An implanted port usually needs less daily care than an external line, but infection and access instructions still matter.

Copay cards may lower out-of-pocket costs for some brand-name cancer medicines, but eligibility and insurance rules matter.

Patient and caregiver planning for home oxygen safety during cancer care: warning changes, questions, safety limits, and care-team instructions.

A plain-language guide to CT (computed tomography) scans in cancer care — how they work, what to expect, contrast dye, and radiation

Contrast is a dye that makes blood vessels, organs, and some tumors show up more clearly on a CT scan. Some scans use it; others do not.

What an elevated PSA can mean, why it is not always cancer, and what follow-up options may be discussed.

A plain-language guide to MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) in cancer care — how it works, what to expect, and how it differs from CT

A plain-language guide to PET scans and combined PET/CT in cancer care — how they work and what they show — based on National Cancer Institute resources.

A plain-language guide to what a surgical pathology report is, what information it contains, and how tissue is examined

Patient and caregiver planning for bone metastases: pain, fractures, and treatment: warning changes, questions, safety limits, and care-team instructions.

Constipation during cancer treatment is common, and your care team can treat it. When to report it, why bowel plans start on day one, and what needs a go-ahead.

Lightheadedness during chemotherapy can trace back to low red blood cell counts. NCI explains what to do about it and which symptoms to report to your team.

Diarrhea during chemotherapy is common, but it can also become dangerous. Here is what the National Cancer Institute says about when to pick up the phone.

What NCI says about when to wear a compression sleeve or garment for lymphedema, who fits it, and the infection signs that need a call right away.

What numbness, tingling, burning pain, or balance changes can mean during cancer treatment and what to ask early.

A calm guide to high platelets: common causes, when cancer is considered, and what to ask a doctor.

Night sweats usually come from menopause, infections, or a warm room — not lymphoma. Here is the pattern that is more worth checking.

Most headaches are not caused by a brain tumor. Here is what usually causes them, and the signs that need a call.

A white patch that won't rub off is called leukoplakia, a description, not a diagnosis. What it can be, why red patches worry doctors more, and next steps.

A bone that breaks under force it should have handled: osteoporosis, myeloma, bone metastasis, and the spinal cord warning signs that cannot wait.

Jaw pain has three urgent causes that are not cancer, including a heart attack. Here is how each one presents and what a dentist or doctor checks.

When heavy night sweats can be a warning sign of cancer, and when to see a doctor. Based on the National Cancer Institute.

How breast cancer treatment options often change by stage, biomarkers, goals, and risk.

After a transplant, the immune system takes months or years to rebuild, so exposure to germs is limited. What MedlinePlus and NCI say about that period.

How testicular cancer treatment turns on seminoma versus non-seminoma, the AFP, hCG and LDH markers, stage, and the IGCCCG risk groups.

An incentive spirometer is used to help keep your lungs healthy after surgery. Here is how MedlinePlus describes using one, and what to watch for.

BI-RADS 0 usually means the breast imaging exam is incomplete and more information is needed.

What a liver lesion on CT can mean and what follow-up may be recommended.

What a lung nodule on CT can mean, how size and risk affect follow-up, and what questions to ask.

An MRI uses magnets and radio waves; a CT uses x-rays. They show different tissues better and are used for different reasons. Here's how the two scans compare.

A PET scan shows how tissue is working; a CT scan shows detailed structure. Here's how the two imaging tests differ, when each is used, and why they're often combined.

"Poorly differentiated" describes how abnormal cancer cells look under the microscope. What differentiation and grade mean, and what to ask your team.

A plain-language explanation of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status in breast cancer reports. Based on the National Cancer Institute.

LR-3, LR-4, and LR-5 are three rungs on the LI-RADS probability ladder, and each one leads to a different next step.

A plain-language explanation of the pathology term adenocarcinoma — cancer that begins in gland-like cells. Based on the National Cancer Institute.

Atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) is a benign breast finding that raises breast cancer risk. What ADH and ALH mean and what to ask.

DCIS means abnormal cells are in the lining of a breast duct and have not spread outside it. What the term means and what to ask.

LCIS means abnormal cells are found in the breast lobules. NCI says it raises breast cancer risk in either breast. What to ask.

A plain-language explanation of tumor differentiation — well, moderately, and poorly differentiated — and what it says about grade.

A ground-glass opacity (GGO) is a hazy area on a lung CT scan. It has many causes — most not cancer. What GGO means and what follow-up may involve.

Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) means cancer cells were seen inside small blood or lymph vessels in the tissue sample. What it suggests and what to ask.

Perineural invasion means cancer cells were seen around or along nerves in the tissue sample. What it can suggest, what it does not prove, and what to ask.

A positive margin means cancer cells were found at the edge of removed tissue. What that does and doesn't mean, and what to ask your care team.

A pulmonary nodule is a small spot in the lung found on imaging. It is not a diagnosis. What a nodule means and what to ask about follow-up.

The Gleason score describes how prostate cancer cells look under a microscope and how likely they are to grow.

Gleason 6 on a prostate biopsy report: what NCI says it means, why it is the bottom of the scale, and what to ask next.

Gleason 7 on a prostate biopsy report: what the two numbers mean, why 3+4 and 4+3 are not the same, and what to ask.

Gleason 8 on a prostate biopsy report: what NCI says high grade means, how it maps to Grade Group 4, and what to ask next.

Gleason 9 and 10 on a prostate biopsy report: what NCI says, why both map to Grade Group 5, and what to ask next.

AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) is a tumor marker in blood, used with some liver cancers and germ cell tumors.

Asymmetry means an area of breast tissue looks different from the same area in the other breast. What asymmetry, focal, global and developing asymmetry mean.

Atelectasis means part of a lung has not fully filled with air. It is common after surgery, and can also come from a blocked airway or a tumor.

Beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) is a protein measured in blood or urine, used with multiple myeloma, CLL, and some lymphomas.

Bethesda thyroid biopsy categories explain whether a thyroid nodule sample is benign, suspicious, malignant, or unclear.

Bethesda III can appear in cancer reports or oncology notes. Learn what it can mean, what it cannot tell alone, and what to ask next.

Bethesda IV can appear in cancer reports or oncology notes. Learn what it can mean, what it cannot tell alone, and what to ask next.

Bethesda V can appear in cancer reports or oncology notes. Learn what it can mean, what it cannot tell alone, and what to ask next.

BI-RADS 1 means negative: nothing to report. What that does and does not tell you, and what to ask next.

BI-RADS 2 means benign: the radiologist saw something and identified it as not cancer. What that covers and what to ask next.

BI-RADS 3: what it usually means, what it does not prove, and what to ask next.

BI-RADS 5: what it usually means, what it does not prove, and what to ask next.

BI-RADS is a standard 0-to-6 scale radiologists use to summarize a mammogram result. Here's what each category means and what to ask.

CA 15-3 and CA 27.29 are tumor markers measured in blood, used to follow breast cancer.

CA-125 is a tumor marker measured in blood, used mainly to follow certain cancers over time. Many non-cancer conditions can also raise it.

Carcinoma in situ means abnormal cells are present but have not grown into nearby tissue. Here's what the term means on a pathology report and what to ask.

CEA is a tumor marker measured in blood, often used to follow certain cancers over time.

FDG-avid means tissue took up the PET tracer. It can suggest active cells, but it is not always cancer.

HER2 is a protein tested on some cancers, especially breast cancer. What HER2 positive and negative results mean, and how they guide treatment options.

HER2-low explained for patients: what it is, why it may affect treatment options, and what to ask about testing.

A plain-language explanation of immunohistochemistry — a lab test that uses stains to identify proteins in cancer cells. Based on the National Cancer Institute.

Karnofsky Performance Status can appear in cancer reports or oncology notes. Learn what it can mean, what it cannot tell alone, and what to ask next.

LI-RADS: what it usually means, what it does not prove, and what to ask next.

Lung-RADS is the category on a lung cancer screening CT report. What each category (1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 4X, S) means and what usually comes next.

Mass effect means something in the skull, like a tumor, swelling or bleeding, is pushing on nearby brain tissue. What the phrase means and when to call 911.

Nottingham grade on a breast pathology report: the three features scored, what G1, G2 and G3 mean, and what to ask next.

PI-RADS 1 means very low and PI-RADS 2 means a low likelihood of significant prostate cancer on MRI. What a low score means and what it does not rule out.

PI-RADS 3 is the equivocal score, where the real question is whether to biopsy at all and PSA density often decides.

PI-RADS: what it usually means, what it does not prove, and what to ask next.

R0, R1, and R2 Margins can appear in cancer reports or oncology notes. Learn what it can mean, what it cannot tell alone, and what to ask next.

A plain-language explanation of the Ki-67 proliferation marker on a pathology report. Based on the National Cancer Institute.

Thyroglobulin is a thyroid protein measured in blood, used to follow thyroid cancer after treatment.

TR3 means a thyroid nodule scored 3 points on ACR TI-RADS, or mildly suspicious. Size then decides between a biopsy, follow-up scans, or neither.

TR4 is a middle level on the TI-RADS ultrasound scale. Learn what it can and cannot tell you, and what to ask your care team.

TI-RADS 5 can appear in cancer reports or oncology notes. Learn what it can mean, what it cannot tell alone, and what to ask next.

TI-RADS sorts a thyroid nodule into a risk level based on five ultrasound features. Ask your team how your level and nodule size shape the plan.

After a chemo dose, blood counts often dip to a low point (the nadir) before recovering.