Health FAQs for Research Participants

Health FAQs for Research Participants

If you are interested in participating in a clinical research trial, you may have questions about some of the health language that researchers use. These FAQs contain information about health terms that may help you better understand research studies.

“Benign” as a medical term generally means something is mild or not harmful (source). It is often used to describe a tumor or sore that is not a cancer. Benign tumors may still be dangerous even though they are not cancerous. For example, a benign tumor that pushes up against the brain could be dangerous and may need to be removed (source).

“Malignant” as a medical term generally means something is severe, getting worse, toxic, or maybe fatal (source). It is often used to describe a tumor that is cancerous. If a tumor is malignant, it means the cancer cells have metastasized, or spread, to different parts of the body. Malignant is also used to describe other severe medical conditions, like malignant hypertension which is when blood pressure suddenly gets very high (source)

Lethargic is a description that means tired, weak, or having low mental and/or physical energy. People who are lethargic can feel less alert and changes in their mood. Many different illnesses and conditions can make someone feel lethargic. It can also be a side effect of some medications. Lethargy is similar to fatigue, which you can learn more about on Medline Plus and from the CDC.