Sarcoma   
A malignant tumor of muscles or connective tissues such as bone and cartilage.

Screening   
The detection of a disease process before it causes any symptoms.

Sedation   
Medication given to reduce awareness.

Segmental mastectomy (lumpectomy)   
Removal of the lump and a small amount of surrounding breast tissue.

Seizures   
Convulsions or muscle spasms.

Shingles   
See Herpes Zoster.

Side effects   
Secondary effects of cancer treatment.

Sigmoidoscopy   
An examination of the first 10-12 inches of the rectum with a sigmoidoscope (a thin, lighted metal or plastic tube) inserted through the rectum.

Sign   
Observable evidence of disease.

Simple mastectomy (modified mastectomy)   
Removal of the entire breast.

Small cell lung cancer   
One of the two main types of lung cancer.

Sponsor   
The agency or firm responsible for financing the clinical trial.

Sputum   
Secretions produced by the lungs.

Sputum cytology   
Analysis of cells present in sputum to determine if there are signs of cancer.

Squamous cell carcinoma    
Cancer arising from the skin or the surfaces of other structures, such as the mouth, cervix, or lungs.

Squamous cell carcinoma   
One of the specific types of cancer cells.

Stage   
The anatomic extent of a cancer, how far it has spread.

Staging   
A method to describe the extent of cancer, using such characteristics as the size of the tumor, lymph node involvement, and where it has spread.

State-of-the-art   
The most advanced and latest methods.

Stoma   
An artificial opening between two cavities or between a cavity and the surface of the body.

Stomatitis   
Temporary inflammation and soreness of the mouth.

Study agent   
A treatment modality medicine, vitamin, mineral, food supplement, or a combination of them being tested in a cancer chemical trial.

Subclavian vein   
Large vein behind the clavicle, sometimes used for infusion of fluid or medicine.

Subcutaneous   
Into the fatty tissue under the skin.

Superior vena cava   
The large vein that drains blood from the head, neck and arms back to the heart, may be blocked by a lung cancer in the upper right lung.

Superior vena cava syndrome   
Swelling in the head, neck and arms caused by obstruction of the superior vena cava.

Surgeon   
A medical doctor trained to perform operations.

Survival   
The act of continuing to live after a certain event, such as a diagnosis of lung cancer.

Symptom   
A change in condition as perceived by a patient, subjective evidence of disease.

Syngeneic   
The infusion of bone marrow from one identical twin into another.

Systemic disease   
A disease that affects the whole body instead of a special organ.