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

Central line
A central line is a long plastic tube that goes into a large vein near the heart. They can be used for taking blood samples and giving drugs, including chemotherapy. In some types, the tube comes out of the body at the side of the neck, or into the chest. An injection can be given into the tube, or a drip attached to it. In other types called '…

Central nervous system lymphoma
(CNS lymphoma) Cancer of the lymphatic system that starts in the brain or spinal cord.

Cervical cancer
Cancer of the neck of the womb. The neck of the womb is also called the cervix.

Cervical erosion
An inflamed area on the cervix (neck of the womb). It is often picked up on a cervical smear test, but is nothing to do with cancer. It often gets better by itself with no treatment, although it can be treated if it doesn't go away on its own.

Cervical smear
A type of screening test for early cell changes that could develop into cancer of the neck of the womb (cervical cancer) if left untreated.

Cervix
Neck of the womb.

Charity grants
Money available to people in need, usually for particular things, such as extra heating costs, travel expenses.

CHART
(Continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy) Stands for Continuous Hyperfractionated Accelerated Radiotherapy. A way of giving radiotherapy in which more than one treatment (fraction) per day is given.

Check up
(check ups) Medical appointments after treatment has finished, to see how you are. These appointments are sometimes called 'follow up'.

Chemoradiation
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy given together. You may have chemotherapy through a pump during part of your course of radiotherapy. Or you may have one treatment 'sandwiched' between the other - for example, chemotherapy, then your radiotherapy, then more chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy
Drug treatment. In cancer treatment the term usually means treatment with anti-cancer drugs. There are many different types of cancer chemotherapy and different ways of giving the drugs.

Chemotherapy course
(course of chemotherapy) A series of anti-cancer drug treatments. Chemotherapy is normally given in cycles - where the drugs are given and then there is a break to allow the body to recover before the drugs are given again. A course of treatment is made up of a number of cycles of treatment. So, a course of treatment may take anything from a few…

Chemotherapy drugs
Drug treatment. In cancer care the term is used to mean anti-cancer drugs. There are many types of cancer chemotherapy drugs and they are divided into groups - alkylating agents, nitrosoureas, antimetabolites, anthracyclines, topoisomerase inhibitors and mitotic inhibitors. These drugs may sometimes be given in combination with other chemotherap…

Chemotherapy pump
(chemotherapy pumps, infusion pump, infusion pumps, pump, pumps) Machine which controls how fast anti-cancer drugs are given. Some types of pump are attached to a drip. Other types are small, portable pumps which hold their own syringe or bag of drugs. The portable pumps can be used at home, with trips to the hospital only to change the syringe o…

Chemotherapy regime
Plan of treatment with anti-cancer drugs. Includes which drugs are given, doses, and when they are to be given.

Chemotherapy side effects
Unwanted effects of treatment with anti-cancer drugs (sickness, hair loss etc).

Chemotherapy tablets
Chemotherapy that can be taken by mouth. Most chemotherapy drugs cannot be given as tablets, either because the drug is too toxic to the stomach, or because the digestive juices destroy it. But some can be taken as tablets, for example, chlorambucil, hydroxycarbamide (used to be called hydroxyurea).

Chemotherapy trial
Research study looking at a particular chemotherapy treatment. Usually compares the new treatment with existing treatment to see which works best and find out the benefits and drawbacks.

Chest
The part of the body between the neck and bottom of the rib cage. Contains the lungs and heart. It is also called the thorax.

Chest cavity
The space in the chest that contains the heart and lungs. The medical name for this is the thorax.

Chest infection
(chest infections) Infection of the lungs or airways.

Chest wall
Muscle covering the chest, including behind the breast tissue.

Chest X-ray
(chest X-rays) Picture of the inside of the chest, taken using X-rays. Most often used to show the lungs,

Chi squared test
Statistical test that helps to show if there is a real difference between different treatments being tested in a controlled clinical trial.

Chicken pox
Infectious disease caused by a virus called herpes zoster. This can be dangerous to people who have had chemotherapy, especially high dose for bone marrow or stem cell transplant. The virus can also cause a painful condition called shingles.

Cholangiocarcinoma
Gall bladder cancer or biliary cancer. It is possible to have a cancer anywhere within the biliary tree - of the gallbladder itself or the bile ducts. It most commonly occurs at the junction of the two main bile ducts within the liver.

Cholangiography
X-rays of the bile ducts using a dye.

Cholecystectomy
Operation to remove the gall bladder. Also called a simple cholecystectomy.

Cholecystitis
Inflammation of the gall bladder.

Cholecystojejunostomy
Surgery to relieve (bypass) a blocked bile duct. The gall bladder is reconnected directly to the gut.

Choledochal cysts
An abnormal condition in which small sacs form along the bile duct and fill with bile. This condition increases the risk of gall bladder cancer.

Choledochoenterostomy
Type of bypass surgery to relieve a blocked bile duct. The bile duct is cut above the blockage and reconnected to the gut.

Cholera
(cholera vaccine) Cholera is an infectious disease. You can have a vaccination to protect you against cholera if you are having chemotherapy.

Chondrosarcoma
A type of primary bone cancer that makes cartilage. Cartilage is the smooth, shiny tissue that normally covers the ends of long bones.

Choriocarcinoma
A type of germ cell cancer. Germ cells are the cells that form sperm or eggs. Choriocarcinomas can develop in the womb after a 'molar pregnancy'. This is when the sperm and egg cells have joined but a baby does not develop. Occasionally choriocarcinomas can grow in other parts of the body.

Choroid
One of the layers lining the eyeball. This layer contains lots of pigment to stop light coming into the eye from being reflected around the inside of the eyeball and so interfering with your eyesight. The cells that produce this pigment can develop into malignant melanoma in very rare cases.

Chromium
A metal used in the dyeing and leather tanning industries. Also used to cover other metals for decoration and to protect them from rusting. Thought to be a factor in the cause of some cancers.

Chromogranin A
(CgA) Chromogranin is a protein made by some neuroendocrine tumours including carcinoid. It is also made by some other types of cancer, such as small cell lung cancer and neuroblastoma. A higher than normal level of CgA in the blood is a marker for these tumours. Doctors use CgA to diagnose and monitor the effects of treatment in people with tum…

Chromosome
Found in the nucleus (centre) of all human cells, the chromosomes are made of millions of genes. The genes are codes that control the cell. One set of chromosomes is inherited from each parent through the egg and sperm that join together when an egg is fertilised during conception.

Ciliary body
This is the muscle in the eyeball that controls the shape of the lens and so focuses your eyes. Very rarely, malignant melanoma can develop in the ciliary body.

CIN
(cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, CIN 1, CIN 2, CIN 3) CIN stands for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, which means pre-cancerous cells found on the surface of the cervix. The cells are found by cervical screening with either a cervical smear test or liquid based cytology. The cell changes can be classed as CIN 1, 2, or 3. The higher the nu…

Circulation
(circulatory system) The flow of blood through the body. The blood flows from the right side of the heart to the lungs where it picks up oxygen. It goes back to the left side of the heart and is then pumped around the body. After it has travelled around the body, it goes back to the right side of the heart.

Cisplatin
Chemotherapy drug.

Classification
Grouping diseases with similar characteristics. Different varieties of a type of cancer can be classified according to how the cells look under the microscope. Doctors use classifications to help them decide how best to treat a particular cancer.

Cleaning the marrow
(purging) This means removing any cancer cells that may still be in marrow that has been harvested for autologous bone marrow transplant.

Clear margins
A border of tissue around a removed tumour that contains no cancer cells. Removing this border along with the cancer helps to make sure that all the cancer has been taken out and lowers the risk of the cancer coming back.

Clinical oncologist
Doctor who specialises in treating cancer, particularly with radiotherapy, but also chemotherapy or other drug therapies. Sometimes called a radiotherapist or radiation oncologist.

Clinical trial
(clinical trials, trial, trials) Carefully designed research studies that investigate a new test, treatment or medical procedure in people. Trials may look at whether a treatment is safe, its side effects or how well a treatment or procedure works. Some trials look at how well treatments control symptoms or whether they improve quality of life.

Clot
(blood clot, blood clots) Thickened lump of blood.

Clotting
Normal way the body stops bleeding. Some of the blood will thicken and form a clot. This blocks the bleeding point or wound.

Clotting time
Blood test to see how fast the blood clots. This test is often used for people having chemotherapy. If the clotting time is too slow bleeding can happen inside the body.

CMF
Combination chemotherapy regime containing three drugs: cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5FU. CMF is used to treat breast cancer.

Cobalt
(cobalt 60) A radioactive metal which gives off gamma rays (radiation) and is used to give radiotherapy treatment.

Coeliac disease
Inability to digest gluten, which is a protein found in wheat. Eating wheat causes bloating, diarrhoea, weight loss and a lack of some vitamins. So people with coeliac disease need to follow a gluten free diet.

Coeliac plexus
A network of nerves at the back of the abdomen. Pressure on the nerves from a tumour can cause pain, which can be relieved by a procedure called a nerve block.

Cold cap
Used to try to prevent hair falling out during chemotherapy treatment. Is worn as the treatment is given and makes the skin of the head very cold. This slows the blood flow through the scalp and reduces the amount of anti-cancer drugs reaching the hair follicles. Can help to prevent hair loss, but not suitable for everyone.

Cold coagulation
Method of treating abnormal cells on the cervix to prevent them developing into cervical cancer. Despite the name, a hot probe is actually used to burn off the abnormal cells so that normal ones can grow back in their place.

Collagen
A protein substance which works like a 'glue' to hold the skin, bone, cartilage and connective tissues of the body together.

Collecting tubules
A newtwork of small tubes that collect fluid. There are collecting tubules in the testicles where sperm develop. There are also collecting tubules in the kidney, where they collect urine.

Colon
(bowel, large bowel, large intestine) Also called the large bowel, large intestine, or the bowel. Waste left from digested food passes from the small bowel to the colon, where fluid and some nutrients are absorbed. The waste then goes through to the rectum (back passage) and then through the anus to the outside of the body.

Colonoscopy
(colonoscope) Examination of the colon (large bowel) using a long, thin bendy tube (colonoscope) put up into the colon through the anus. The doctor can see inside the bowel and take biopsies (samples of tissue) to examine under a microscope.

Colorectal cancer
Cancers of the colon and rectum (large bowel). These are grouped together and called colorectal cancer.

Colostomy
Opening of the bowel onto the surface of the abdomen (tummy). A bag is worn to collect the waste matter from digestion that would normally be passed from the body as a bowel motion.

Colostomy bag
(colostomy pouch) Bag that is made to use with a colostomy. Most commonly a soft, flat, plastic disc (flange) is stuck over the stoma with a special glue and the bag attaches to that. There are many different designs and your stoma nurse will help find the right one for you.

Colostomy equipment
The bags, seals, clips etc that are made to be used with a colostomy.

Colposcope
A device used to look closely at the surface of the cervix after an abnormal result following cervical screening. The colposcope looks a bit like a microscope and magnifies the cells of the cervix. The doctor can find any abnormal areas more easily than with the naked eye. Any abnormal areas can then be treated to prevent cervical cancer develop…

Colposcopy
Test using a colposcope. The surface of the cervix is closely examined to find any abnormal areas, so that they can be treated. Usually done if a woman has abnormal cells found during cervical screening.

Combination chemotherapy
Treatment with more than one chemotherapy drug at a time.

Combination therapy
The use of two or more types of treatment, for example, surgery and chemotherapy or chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Combination chemotherapy means treatment with more than one chemotherapy drug.

Combined pill
Pill to prevent pregnancy containing both the female sex hormones (oestrogen and progesterone).

Compensation
Something given (usually money) to make up for harm done.

Complementary therapy
Treatment that is not part of traditional Western medicine, but used alongside. Usually used to help reduce stress and promote a feeling of well being. May help to control cancer symptoms and treatment side effects.

Complete response
To a researcher, this means the disappearance of all signs of cancer for at least four weeks.

Condom
Rubber sheath which covers the penis during sex to prevent pregnancy and reduce the risk of infections.

Cone biopsy
Removal of a cone shaped piece of the cervix. Used as a treatment for abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix (or sometimes very early cervical cancer). The area that is removed is where cervical cells are most likely to become abnormal. So it helps to prevent abnormal cells coming back, or cervical cancer developing.

Confidence interval
Range of values that researchers believe an experimental result lies between. What they are really saying with a 95% confidence interval is that while their result might not be exactly right, they are 95% sure that the real result lies between the upper and lower limits they have given.

Confidential
(confidentiality) Private. If information about you is confidential, no one can pass it on to anyone else without your permission.

Conformal radiotherapy
(3D conformal radiotherapy, 3DCRT) A way of planning and giving radiotherapy using computer technology that allows the tumour to be seen in 3 dimensions (3D). This helps to shape the radiation beams so that they are moulded to fit the area where the cancer is.

Conjunctiva
The outer covering of the eyeball. Very, very rarely malignant melanoma can develop in the conjunctiva.

Connective tissue
The connective tissues of the body are the tissues that hold the organs and other body structures in place. Specialised connective tissues include bones, cartilage, muscles, and nerves. Cancers of connective tissue are called sarcomas.

Consent
Agree to something. Or give permission for something to be done.

Consent form
Form that you sign before treatment (especially surgery) or before taking part in a clinical trial. The form says that you have been told about the treatment or trial and any possible complications.

Consolidation of the lung
The air spaces in the lung are filled with fluid rather than air. Often caused by an infection. Your doctor can see the fluid on a chest X-ray.

Constipation
Not having bowel movements as often as normal. Or difficulty opening your bowels .

Contact details
Information on how to contact a person. If you are having treatment you will normally be told who to contact if you have any side effects from the treatment or if you have any questions. If you have been given information about a clinical trial, you will be given contact details for the person you or your doctor should get in touch with if you wa…

Contagious
A contagious (infectious) disease is one that is spread from one person to another by contact (touch) or through air.

Continent urinary diversion
An operation to remove the bladder and make a pouch inside the body to collect your urine. The pouch is emptied by putting a catheter through a stoma (opening) in the abdomen and draining it out.

Continuous 5-FU
(continuous 5-fluorouracil, 5FU) Continuous chemotherapy treatment with the drug 5-FU (5-Fluorouracil).

Continuous ambulatory chemotherapy
Literally means chemotherapy given all the time that you can walk around with! Usually used to mean treatment with a small (personal stereo sized) pump that is worn under the clothes.

Continuous chemotherapy
(continuous administration) Way of giving chemotherapy treatment. The chemotherapy drug is given all the time, through a pump.

Contraception
Something used to prevent pregnancy (for example, sheath, cap, pill).

Contraceptive pill
Pill to prevent pregnancy.

Contrast medium
(contrast injection) A substance used to give a clearer picture on a scan. Can be a drink or injection given to a patient before the scan.

Control group
In research, the control group is the group of patients not having the treatment being tested in the study. Their results are compared to those of the treatment group. Usually the control group have the best current treatment available.

Controlled trial
A type of clinical trial where one group of patients is compared to another. Usually the patients are put into the two groups at random to help stop the results being biased.

Core needle biopsy
A tissue sample (biopsy) taken using a needle. The needle is put into the lump and a core of tissue is removed inside it when it is taken out. This tissue sample is checked under the microscope for cancer cells.

Counselling
Helping someone to work through their feelings or problems by listening to them and supporting them.

Counsellor
(counsellors) Someone trained to provide counselling.

COX 2 inhibitors
COX 2 inhibitors are a type of non steroidal anti inflammatory drug (NSAID's). These drugs block an enzyme (cyclo-oxygenase) that helps cancer cells develop. So these drugs may help lower the risk of some cancers occurring and may help to prevent cancers coming back. An example of a COX-2 inhibitor is celecoxib, a drug used for arthritis pain. …

Crohn`s disease
A disorder where the bowel becomes inflamed and ulcerated. Symptoms can come and go. It is not curable, but is treatable with drugs and sometimes surgery. Having Crohn's disease for several years can increase risk of bowel cancer, so doctors may suggest screening.