Since I'm replying from my phone, I can't quote the relevant parts of the messages. At first glance, SuStel and voragh, your suggestions are interesting. Unfortunately though, without having the means to express "exterior surface", the problem remains. If we say the tumor protrudes from the bone, then the question is, from which surface ? Most bones have four surfaces; ventral/dorsal/medial-inner/lateral-outer. Let alone the fact, that the need to specify outer has often to do with the need to say that the tumor doesn't break through the surface of the bone facing the medullary cavity. Now, I know that maltz isn't a doctor, and I chose this example just in order to answer to charghwI', that there are cases in which there is indeed a need for a word, which would mean "surface". And here is a simpler example: The fire burnt only the pillow's surface; it didn't burn the feathers inside. Anyways, I can understand that no constructed language can have words for everything. But I can't understand the need to avoid admitting that some missing words can be indeed at times necessary. As far as the interesting question "how would I describe cancer", the answer is simple: I would say from the start the name of the cancer, and then I would use "disease": "the disease broke through the bone". It is something which actually happens, to refer to cancer by simply saying {rop} "disease", once someone has said the cancer's name. e.g. The disease has spread There is still residual disease The disease went into remission And in case someone wonders "how would you describe the cancer's name ?" I would just say it. After all even in english, most of the cancers, don't have english names: Osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, liposarcoma; are greek words. 'a DaH paS, jIghung 'ej jIQongnIS.. ~ changan qIj