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Cancerhelp - glossary Category: Health and Medicine > Cancer Date & country: 11/12/2007, UK Words: 1261

Antigen vaccines
Vaccines made from special proteins (antigens) in cancer cells. They aim to stimulate the patient's immune system to attack the cancer. Scientists have recently worked out the genetic codes of many of these cancer cell proteins, so they can make them in the lab in large quantities.

Antiemetic drugs
Medicines that reduce or stop nausea and being sick.

Antibodies
Blood proteins produced by white blood cells when the body recognises that something foreign (unfamiliar) has got in, for example bacteria. The antibodies attach themselves to the invading bacteria or viruses, which are then destroyed.

Antibiotics
Drugs which fight bacterial infections.

Antiangiogenic drugs
Drugs that can stop cancers from forming their own blood supply. Research is going on into developing these drugs.

Anti diarrhoeal drugs
Drugs to stop diarrhoea.

Anti idiotype vaccines
A vaccine that stimulates the body to make antibodies against cancer cells.

Anti-androgen
(anti-androgens) Androgen is a type of male sex hormone. An anti-androgen is a drug that stops androgens from being produced or stops them working.

Anorexia
Loss of appetite.

Anthracycline
Anthracyclines are a group of chemotherapy drugs. They are a type of cytotoxic antibiotic. This group of drugs includes aclarubicin, daunorubicin, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), epirubicin and idarubicin. Mitoxantrone (used to be called mitozantrone) is made from anthracyclines, so is sometimes included in this group.

Angiosarcoma
Type of cancer that develops from the cells making up the walls of blood or lymph vessels. These cancers are called either haemangiosarcomas (blood vessels) or lymphangiosarcomas (lymph vessels).

Angiogram
An X-ray test that uses dye to look at blood vessels. The doctor injects dye into an artery. As the dye passes through your blood vessels, the doctor can see them on an X-ray screen. This test can show the blood supply to cancers or to any part of the body.

Angiography
X-rays of the blood vessels using a dye.

Angiogenic factors
Chemicals given off by cells that make new blood vessels grow.

Angiogenesis
Creation of blood vessels. Growing cancers can attract new blood vessels to grow towards them so that they can get their own blood supply.

Anecdotal evidence
Evidence based on personal experience that hasn't been scientifically tested. Usually means observations and reports that are passed on by word of mouth.

Analysis
Detailed look at something.

Anastomosis
Re-connecting or joining together. For example, in bowel surgery, part of the bowel can be cut out and the two cut ends joined together (anastomosed).

Anastrozole
(Arimidex) Drug used to treat breast cancer. A hormone treatment which stops oestrogen being produced.

Anal sphincter
The ring of muscle that surrounds the anus. The anus is the part of the bowel that opens to the outside of the body

Anaesthetic
Drug which stops feeling, especially pain. A general anaesthetic will also make you unconscious. A local anaesthetic just stops feeling in part of the body.

Anal cancer
The anus is the opening to the outside of the body at the end of the bowel. There are several different types of anal cancer. Most are squamous cell cancers, sometimes called epidermoid cancers.

Anaemia
A low number of red blood cells. Blood cells contain haemoglobin, and so the level of haemoglobin is also low. Red blood cell and haemoglobin levels can be measured by blood test. Anaemia is treated with iron tablets or blood transfusion.

Aminoglutethamide
Drug used to treat breast cancer which stops the adrenal glands from making sex hormones. Has to be taken with steroid tablets as it also stops steroid production.

Amputation
Operation to remove part of the body. Usually used to refer to removing an arm or leg.

Alveoli
(air sacs) Little air sacks at the end of the airways in the lungs. This is where oxygen is absorbed into the bloodstream and the waste gas carbon dioxide filters back into the lungs to be breathed out.

Amino acids
The building blocks of proteins - proteins are made of long chains of amino acids joined together.

Alopecia
Hair loss.

Alpha-fetoprotein
(AFP) Substance found in the bloodstream of some men with testicular cancer. The level rises when the cancer is growing and falls when the cancer is shrinking. So a blood test can measure the progress of the disease and success of treatment.

Alkaline phosphatase
This is a chemical that is normally found in the bloodstream. It is produced by bone cells. The level in the blood can be raised in some types of primary bone cancer.

Allogeneic transplant
(donor transplant) Means a bone marrow or stem cell transplant using bone marrow or stem cells from a donor. The donor must be tested to check that their marrow or stem cells are as close a match as possible to the person receiving them, so that the marrow or stem cells are less likely to be rejected.

Airways
The tubes (pipes) that make up the respiratory system.

Alcohol
Heavy drinking is linked to some cancers and can damage your liver. Recommended safe drinking limits are 21 units a week for men and 14 for women. A double measure of spirits is 3 units. A standard glass of wine is 2 units. And a pint of regular beer is 2 units (3 if the beer is 5% strength).

AIDS
Aquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Condition resulting from infection with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). People with AIDS are slightly more likely to get lymphoma (and some other cancers) than the general population.

Aim
What the research is trying to find out.

Affected lymph nodes
Usually means lymph nodes that have cancer cells in them.

Aflatoxin
Mould found on peanuts that can cause primary liver cancer.

After loading
During internal radiotherapy, the tubes which hold the radioactive source are put in under anaesthetic. The radioactive source is put into the tubes after you are back on the ward, so this is known as 'after loading'.

Advanced cancer
Advanced cancer usually means a cancer that has spread from where it started to another part of the body. 'Locally advanced' cancer usually means the cancer has grown outside the organ that it started in and into surrounding body tissues.

Adrenal glands
(adrenal gland) Two small glands, one on top of each kidney. They are in two parts: the cortex which makes steroids and small amounts of the sex hormones; and the medulla which makes adrenalin.

Adjuvant tamoxifen
Tamoxifen taken after surgery to try to prevent a cancer from coming back.

Adjuvant therapy
A treatment given in addition to the main treatment (for example, chemotherapy as well as surgery) to try to prevent a cancer from coming back.

Adenoids
(nasopharyngeal tonsils) Lymph tissue at the back of the nose. The adenoids are part of the immune system.

Adenoid cystic cancer
A rare type of cancer of glandular tissue that occurs most often in the salivary glands. It can also occur in the mouth, nose, nasal sinuses, voice box, and very rarely, in the food pipe (oesophagus).

Adams apple
The cartilage that covers the voice box (larynx). It is the lump you can see in front of your neck, moving up and down when you swallow.

Adenocarcinoma
A cancer of glandular tissue. Glandular tissue is made up of cells that secrete (make and release) liquids, enzymes, hormones or other chemicals. For example, an adenocarcinoma of the lung is a cancer of the glandular cells lining the airways. Glandular cells lining the airways secrete mucus.

Acupuncture
An alternative therapy involving having fine needles put into the skin to stimulate and balance the flow of energy through the body. Sometimes used to control cancer symptoms such as pain and sickness.

Active drug
A term used in drug trials to distinguish between the drug and placebo. The active drug contains actual medicine.

Acral lentiginous melanoma
An uncommon type of malignant melanoma that most often occurs on the soles of the feet. But it can also develop on the skin of the palms of the hands.

Acoustic neuroma
Slow growing, benign brain tumour. Grows on the auditory nerve, which is responsible for hearing.

Acitinic keratosis
A change in the skin that may be the first warning sign of a skin cancer developing. It shows as an area (lesion) that is usually slightly raised, red or pink and may be scaly. The area is very sensitive to sunlight. It may also be called actinic keratosis.

Abortion
Medical name for the early end of a pregnancy that is either natural (a miscarriage) or carried out for medical reasons. The word is most commonly used to mean the deliberate ending of a pregnancy.

Acinar cell
A type of cell in the pancreas that produces the digestive juices of the pancreas. These cells can develop into a type of pancreatic cancer.

Abdominoperineal resection
An operation to remove anal cancer. The surgeon removes the anus, your rectum and part of your colon. They may also remove some lymph nodes. A colostomy is formed during the operation.

Abdominal side effects
Unwanted effects on the abdomen caused by cancer treatments. May include diarrhoea, wind, bleeding, abdominal cramps or pain. May be caused by abdominal radiotherapy or cancer medicines.

Abdominal ultrasound
Body scan of the abdomen. Sound waves make up a picture of the organs inside the abdomen.

Abdomen
The area of the body below the ribs and lungs and above the hip bones. Contains many of the body organs, such as the stomach, small and large bowel, pancreas, liver, spleen, and kidneys.

Abdominal radiotherapy
Radiotherapy given to any part of the abdomen. The abdomen is the area below the ribs and above the hip bones.

Antioxidant
Prevents a chemical process called oxidation, when oxygen molecules join with another chemical. This can cause gene damage in cells that can lead to cancer, so antioxidants may help to prevent cancer. Antioxidants include vitamins A, C and E and selenium.

Anus
Opening to the outside of the body at the end of the bowel and rectum.

Apoptosis
'Programmed cell death'. Normal cells automatically die off once they have reproduced about 60 times. This is called apoptosis.

Applicator
Holder for radioactive source which is put inside the body during internal radiotherapy. Most commonly used for cancer of the cervix or vagina.

Approved drugs
Drugs that have been given the go ahead for marketing in the UK. Also called 'marketing authorisation', being 'licensed' or being 'registered'. Drugs then have to be 'launched' in the UK before doctors can prescribe them for patients.

Aromatase inhibitors
A group of drugs used to treat breast cancer. They work by blocking the action of the enzyme aromatase. Aromatase converts androgens into oestrogens in the fatty tissues of the body by a process called aromatisation. Lowering the levels of oestrogen in this way can reduce the chance of breast cancer coming back or can stop or slow a breast canc…

Arthritis
Inflammation (swelling) of the joints.

Artificial progesterone
Man-made Progesterone (a female sex hormone). Used to treat some types of cancer - most commonly breast, womb and kidney cancer.

Artificial saliva
Spray or lozenges used to moisten the mouth in people who don't make enough saliva naturally.

Asbestos
A fibrous material made from silica. Very heat resistant so often used in the past in buildings for insulation. Now banned because it is a health risk. Exposure to asbestos can cause a lung disease called asbestosis and also a type of cancer that affects the lungs, called mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can occur up to 40 years after the exposure to …

Ascites
Fluid collected in the abdomen. Can be a sign of cancer affecting the liver or ovaries. It can also be casued by other medical conditions.

Aspartate aminotransferase
(AST) An enzyme involved in the processing of amino acids by the body. It is found in the liver as well as other body organs. If an organ is damaged, more AST is released into the blood and can be picked up in a blood test. It is a reliable test for liver damage.

Aspirin
Pain killer and anti-inflammatory drug. Also used as a type of blood thinner. Should not be taken regularly without the advice of a doctor or on an empty stomach.

Astrocytoma
A type of brain tumour. The most common type of glioma. Develops from cells called astrocytes. Grade IV astrocytoma is also called glioblastoma multiforme.

Atom
Tiny particles that make up everything in the world, including our bodies. Atoms bond together to form molecules.

Atomic nucleus
The nucleus (atomic nucleus) is the centre of the atom. It's made up of particles called protons and neutrons, and surrounded by particles called electrons.

Atrophy
To shrink.

ATTOM
A clinical trial which aimed to find out how long women who had surgery for early breast cancer should take Tamoxifen. It closed in 2005.

Atypical hyperplasia
An increase in cell production and the cells are slightly abnormal (although they are not cancer cells). Can occur in the breast, womb or other parts of the body. In the breast it is usually diagnosed when a breast lump is tested to see if it is cancerous. It is the only type of benign breast disease that may sometimes develop into breast cancer…

Autoimmune diseases
A disease caused when the body mistakenly identifies something that is natural to it as foreign. For example, rheumatoid arthritis is a disease caused by an antibody reaction to the body's own joints.

Autologous transplant
Bone marrow or stem cell transplant using the person's own marrow or stem cells. Their cancer is put into remission and some of their own marrow or stem cells are taken out. The marrow or stem cells are frozen and stored while the person has high dose chemotherapy treatment (and sometimes radiotherapy). The marrow or stem cells are then given ba…

Avascular necrosis
Loss of blood supply to the bone. The bone tissue dies making the bone weak and more likely to collapse. Avascular necrosis can be a side effect of long term or high dose steroid treatment. It happens most often in the hip bones.

Axilla
Armpit

Axillary clearance
Operation to remove all the lymph glands from under the arm.

Axillary dissection
Operation to remove some, or all, of the lymph glands from under the arm.

Bacteria
Single cell micro-organisms. Some of these cause diseases if they get into the body. They may enter the body through a cut, the digestive system, respiratory system etc. Most bacterial infections can be cured by antibiotics, but there are some bacteria which are becoming resistant.

Balanced diet
Eating a wide variety of foods to give you all the energy, protein, vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy. For most of us, that means eating more fruit and vegetables (at least 5 portions a day), more fibre, less fat and cutting down on sugar, alcohol and salt.

Barium
(barium enema, barium meal) Barium is a soft, white metal. Barium sulphate is used for X-rays of the digestive system. It is given as a white liquid drink (known as a barium meal) or into the back passage (a barium enema). X-rays cannot go through it, so when the X-ray pictures are taken, the outline of the stomach or bowel shows up on the X-ray…

Barrier methods
(barrier contraception, cap, condom) Types of contraception which put a barrier between the penis and cervix to prevent pregnancy - for example a cap or condom (sheath).

Basal cell
Cells in the deepest layer of the skin (epidermis). All new skin cells develop from these cells.

Basal cell skin cancer
A cancer that develops in cells found in the deepest layer of the skin - basal cells.

Basement membrane
The layer of tissue that cells 'sit' on. If cancer cells from a tumour have broken through the basement membrane, then the cancer can spread and is called 'invasive'.

Batimastat
A research drug that may stop blood vessels from supplying a growing cancer (an antiangiogenic drug).

BCG
(tuberculosis vaccine, TB) An injection to prevent tuberculosis (TB) or treat certain types of cancer. You should not have this vaccination if you are having chemotherapy, as it contains live TB bacteria.

Becker's implant
A type of breast implant which is inflated with sterile salt water until it is the same size as the natural breast.

Benign
Not cancerous. A benign tumour is a harmless overgrowth of cells, which may or may not need surgery to remove it.

Benign breast lumps
Lumps in the breast which are not cancerous.

Benign cyst
Fluid filled lump which is not cancerous.

Benign polyps
(polyp, polyps) Polyps are small outgrowths on the skin or the lining of the gut. Benign polyps are not cancerous.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH) Commonly called enlarged prostate. Literally means non-cancerous overgrowth of the cells of the prostate gland.

Benzidin
A chemical used in the rubber industry that was found to cause bladder cancer.

Best current treatment
The most effective treatment being used at the moment for a particular cancer or situation.