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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Abdominal
The body area which includes the stomach, intestines and other digestive organs.
Acupuncture
A procedure adapted from Chinese medical practice in which specific body areas are pierced with fine needles for therapeutic purposes. Acupuncture is often used to relieve pain.
Adjuvant therapy
Treatment, usually chemotherapy, hormone therapy or radiotherapy, given following surgery. It is given to increase the likelihood of killing all cancerous cells.
Alexander technique
A way of teaching improved posture which can help people to stand or move more easily.
Alopecia
Hair loss.
Appliance officer
A person responsible for supplying and fitting stockings, collars, wigs, supports and prosthetics.
Aromatherapy
Gentle massage using natural oils from flowers, roots and leaves. Often used as a relaxation aid.
Art therapy
A way of conveying feelings through drawings and paintings, which can then be discussed with a specially trained professional.
Benign
Non-cancerous. Used to refer to tumours which grow slowly in one place and which (once treated, or removed by surgery), tend not to recur.
Biopsy
A procedure to remove a sample of tissue from an area of the body where cancer is suspected.
Bone marrow
The spongy inner part of large bones where blood cells are made. Bone marrow aspiration is a procedure in which a fine needle is used to remove a small amount of bone marrow for examination.
Bronchoscopy
A procedure to examine the inside of the lung.
Cancer
The name given to a group of diseases that can occur in any organ of the body. All cancers involve abnormal or uncontrolled growth of the body's cells.
Carcinogen
A substance that can cause or help to cause cancer.
Carcinoma
A cancer that arises from the tissues lining an organ or system. Carcinomas are the commonest cancers.
Chemotherapy
The treatment of disease with chemicals, such as cytotoxic (cancer destroying) drugs.
Counselling
The opportunity to talk things over with a trained counsellor. Counselling can help you make sense of your feelings and offer you encouragement. It does not tell you what to do, but it can offer new ideas for coping.
CT (Computed tomography) scan
An imaging technique which uses a computer to assemble multiple x-ray images into a cross-section image of the head or body.
Diagnosis
Identification of a disease in a person's body.
Dietitian
A health professional who can advise on how to eat sensibly to help you live with cancer and its treatments.
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)
The genetic material present in our cells which carries vital information on cell growth, division and function.
Endoscopy
A procedure which uses an endoscope, a small fibre-optic tube, to look inside the body.
Fine needle aspiration
A procedure in which a fine needle is used to take a sample of cells from a suspicious lump under local anaesthetic.
There are currently no G words.
Haematologist
A doctor who specialises in blood disorders.
Herbalism
Use of plants and herbal remedies so treat illness.
Hickman® catheter (also known as a Hickman® line)
(® denoting a registered trade mark). A special tube which is inserted through the chest into a large vein (under anaesthetic) so that chemotherapy drugs can be fed directly into the bloodstream. It can stay in place for months and means needles do not have to be used during treatment.
Histology
The study of tissues. Histology reports help doctors to make a diagnosis.
Home carer
A person who can help with household jobs and personal care. Home carers can be arranged through your local social services department but there may be a charge for their services. Also known as 'home helps'.
Homeopathy
A system for treating disease based on giving patients very small amounts of a substance that, in very large amounts, produces symptoms in healthy individuals similar to those of the disease itself.
Hormone therapy
Treatment of disease with hormones. Usually used in the treatment of cancers of the breast, prostate, thyroid and uterus (womb).
Hormones
Chemical substances produced by the body, which circulate in the blood and help to control growth, reproduction and other functions.
Immune system
The body's main defence system against infection, disease and foreign substances.
In situ
Cancer at an early stage, which has not spread to neighbouring tissues.
Incontinence
The loss of ability to control the muscles which control the passing of urine or faeces.
Inoperable
Refers to a cancer that cannot be removed by surgery, either because the cancer has spread to nearby organs or because removal might cause too much damage to normal tissue.
Intramuscular injection/administration
Given by injection into a muscle.
Intravenous injection/administration
Given by injection or infusion into a vein.
Isotope scan
An imaging technique involving the injection of a very weak radioactive substance, which collects in a particular organ for a short time. A special camera is then be used to look at the organ.
There are currently no J words.
There are currently no K words.
Local therapy
Using treatments such as radiotherapy and surgery which affect only a particular area of the body.
Lumpectomy
The surgical removal of a lump
Lymphangiogram
An imaging technique used to display the lymphatic system.
Lymphatic system
The interconnected system of lymph nodes and vessels (small tubes) which carries lymph around the body. Lymph nodes are located throughout the body, filtering out dangerous substances and producing infection-fighting cells called lymphocytes.
Lymphoedema
Swelling, usually in the arms or legs, which occurs because the lymph vessels are damaged or blocked, as a result of the cancer itself or cancer treatment.
M
Malignant
Cancerous. Malignant tumours can invade and destroy surrounding tissue and have the capacity to spread.
Mammogram
A specialised x-ray which shows up the breast tissue and can detect breast cancer.
Mastectomy
The surgical removal of all or part of a breast.
Metastasis
The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another, usually by way of the lymphatic system or bloodstream.
MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) scan
An imaging technique in which magnets are used to help a computer to make images of the body.
Nausea
The feeling of sickness.
Occupational therapist
A health professional, who finds ways to help people live at home and be independent, despite their illness. Occupational therapists are also known as OTs.
Oncologist
A doctor who specialises in treating cancer. A clinical radiologist , specialises in treating cancer with radiation, and a medical oncologist specialises in treating cancer with drugs.
Orally
Given by mouth.
Orchidectomy
Surgical removal of a testicle
Palliative care
Palliative care concentrates on improving your quality of life and that of your family. It focuses on controlling pain and other symptoms, and meeting a person's social, emotional and spiritual needs.
Pathology
The branch of medicine concerned with the examination of diseased tissues.
Peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBCT)
Stem cells collected from the patient's blood are removed, stored and then reintroduced into the bloodstream.
Physiotherapist
A health professional who helps people to stay mobile and free of pain by teaching exercises, giving advice, and providing treatment.
Primary cancer
The first malignant tumour to develop in a particular part of the body.
Prognosis
An assessment of the expected future course and outcome of a person's disease.
Prosthesis
A specially made replacement for a part of the body which has been removed, such as a breast or a limb.
There are currently no Q words.
Radiographer
A healthcare professional who takes x-rays and scans (diagnostic radiographer) or gives radiotherapy (therapeutic radiographer).
Radiologist
A doctor who specialises in interpreting scans and x-rays.
Radiology
The use of radiation in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Radiotherapist
A doctor who specialises in the treatment of cancer with radiation.
Radiotherapy
The treatment of cancer using radiation (x-rays, gamma rays etc) to destroy cancer cells.
Reflexology
A type of complementary therapy based on pressure and massage of certain points on the soles of the feet.
Secondaries
New tumours, or metastases, which are formed because cancer cells from the original tumour have broken off and moved to other parts of the body.
Shiatsu
A form of therapeutic massage in which pressure is applied with the thumbs and palms to those areas of the body used in acupuncture. It is thought to be helpful in stress-related conditions. Also called acupressure.
Social workers
Social service professionals who can help you get practical, emotional, and financial help.
Speech and language therapists
A health professional who can help people with chewing and swallowing problems, as well as speech problems.
Spiritual healing
Spiritual or psychic healers channel energy in the person being healed to help stimulate recovery.
Staging
Assessment of a cancer to help plan treatment. The staging is based on four aspects: the size of the tumour; histological grade; whether there is any lymph node spread; whether there is any other spread or metastasis.
Stoma
An artificial opening between an organ and the skin surface, formed by surgery. There are different types including a tracheostomy (formed from the windpipe), ileostomy (formed from the small bowel), colostomy (formed from the large bowel), and urostomy (formed from the bladder).
Subcutaneous injection/administration
Given by injection beneath the skin
Syringe drivers
A means of administering pain-killing or chemotherapy drugs under the skin reducing the need for frequent injections.
Systemic therapy
Using treatments, such as chemotherapy, which affect the whole body.
Terminal care
Care of a person in the last days or weeks before they die. Terminal care puts the emphasis on making the person free of pain and as comfortable as possible.
Terminal illness
Active and progressive disease which cannot be cured. Curative treatment is no longer appropriate, but palliative care is.
Therapy
A word often used to mean treatment.
Thoracic
Referring to the chest area.
Tumour
A lump or mass of cells which can be either benign or malignant. Also known as a neoplasm.
Tumour markers
A substance in the body that usually indicates the presence of cancer.
Ultrasound scan
An imaging technique which uses sound waves to create an image of internal organs.
Visualisation
A relaxation technique involving seeing an image in your mind and altering it as you wish.
W
There are currently no W words.
There are currently no X words.
Yoga
A combination of relaxation, breathing techniques and exercise. Yoga is sometimes used to combat stress, help circulation and improve movement of the joints.
There are currently no Z words.