Fundamentals of Cancer Detection, Treatment, and Prevention. Surya K. De

TR timed‐release TSH thyroid‐stimulating hormone Tx treatment U or u unit UA urinalysis u.d., ut. dict. as directed ung. unguentum ointment USP United States Pharmacopeia UTI urinary tract infection vag. vagine vaginally vag, p. v. via the vagina VLDL very low‐density lipoprotein vol % volume percent vol. volume w with w/a while awake w/f with food (with meals) w/o without w/v weight in volume WBC white blood cell WNL within normal limits wt. weight x multiplied by XL extended‐release YO, y.o. years old yr year μEq microequivalent μg, mcg microgram μL microliter @ at > greater than < less than

℔	libra	pound
℥	uncia	ounce
&ip.ezh;	drachma	dram (drachm)
℈	scrupulus	scruple
°		hour

      The list is for educational purposes only, currently discouraging practices.

Further Reading

      1 Johnston, M. (2006). The Pharmacy Technician Series: Fundamentals of Pharmacy Practice, 24. Pearson Prentice Hall.

      2 Davidson, T. (ed.) (1907). Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language. W & R Chambers Ltd.

      3 BNF (British National Formulary) (n.d.) published twice yearly by the British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

      4 Taber's Medical Abbreviations (2019). Taber's Online. (accessed 17 July 2019).

      5 The Joint Commission (2019). Patient Safety and Performance Measurement Fact Sheets. Facts About the Official “Do Not Use” List of Abbreviations. June 2019 (accessed 17 July 2019).

      6 FDA (2019). MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program. (accessed 17 July 2019).

      7 Shekelle PG, Wachter RM, Pronovost PJ et al. (2013). Making Health Care Safer II: An Updated Critical Analysis of the Evidence for Patient Safety Practices. Comparative Effectiveness Review No. 211. (Prepared by the Southern California‐RAND Evidence‐based Practice Center under Contract No. 290‐2007‐10062‐I.) AHRQ Publication No. 13‐E001‐EF. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/evidence-based-reports/ptsafetyuptp.html.

      8 Kilner, W.B. (ed.) (1886). A Compendium of Modern Pharmacy and Druggists' Formulary. HW Rokker.

      9 FDA Consumer Updates (2019). FDA and ISMP Work to Prevent Medication Errors. Drugs.com (29 March 2012). (accessed 17 July 2019).

      10 FDA (2021). Animal and Veterinary. A Microgram of Prevention is Worth a Milligram of Cure: Preventing Medication Errors in Animals (accessed 14 August 2021).

1 An Overview of Cancer

      1.1 Introduction

Cancer originates at a cellular level and can occur almost anywhere in the body. Cells are the basic building blocks making up the body, with almost 37 trillion cells in an average human. Normal human cells grow and divide in an orderly process to form new cells as the body requires them. When cells grow old or become damaged, they die, and new cells take their place.

Cancer forms when normal cell processes break down. The safeguards that are characteristic of healthy cells fail, resulting in the cells becoming increasingly abnormal or out of control. Old or damaged