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

Germ cell cancer
Germ cell tumours are cancers that develop from the cells that become sperm and eggs. The most common germ cell tumours are teratomas or seminomas of the testicle. About 1 or 2% of ovarian tumours are germ cell tumours and are usually found in young women. Germ cell tumours can rarely occur in other places - for example, the pineal gland in the br…

GFR test
(Glomerular filtration rate test) A test to measure how well the kidneys are working and how quickly they remove waste products from the blood. You have an injection that contains a dye. Then a number of blood samples are taken over a few hours which show how well the kidneys are filtering out the dye.

GIST
See gastrointestinal stromal tumour.

Gland
An organ in the body which makes and secretes (gives off) a substance such as a hormone or a digestive enzyme. For example, the salivary glands make and secrete saliva and the thyroid gland makes and secretes thyroid hormones.

Glioblastoma
The most common brain tumour found in adults. Also called Grade IV astrocytoma.

Glioma
(glial cells) A type of brain tumour that grows from glial cells. Glial cells make up the supporting tissue of the brain. Over half of all brain tumours are gliomas. Types include astrocytoma, ependymoma and oligodendroglioma. Mixed gliomas contain more than one type of glial cell.

Glottis
The middle part of the voice box (larynx), that surrounds the vocal cords.

Glucagonoma
A rare type of endocrine tumour of the pancreas, which secretes (makes and releases) abnormal amounts of a hormone called glucagon.

GM-CSF
Stands for 'granulocyte and macrophage colony stimulating factor'. A growth factor which encourages the bone marrow to make white blood cells and platelets.

Gorlin`s syndrome
An inherited skin disorder that can increase the risk of developing basal cell skin cancer. Also called 'naevoid basal cell syndrome'.

Goserelin
(Zoladex) A drug which acts on the pituitary gland in the brain to stop the production of sex hormones. It is used to treat prostate and breast cancer.

GP
General practitioner - family doctor.

Grade
Describes how abnormal cancer cells look under the microscope. The more abnormal they look, the higher the grade of the cancer. Low grade cancers are thought to be less malignant than high grade. This means they are likely to grow more slowly and less likely to spread to other parts of the body.

Graft versus host
A term used in donor bone marrow transplant. The graft (the donated marrow) reacts against the host (the person receiving the marrow). It can cause diarrhoea, skin rashes and liver damage. Usually it is mild. It can be a good thing because it means the marrow has taken and is producing a good immune response which may help to kill cancer cells.

Groin
Where the inner thigh meets the body. This area contains a lot of lymph nodes.

Gronin valve
A type of valve that can help you speak after you have had your voice box (larynx) removed.

Growth blocker-inhibitor
A drug that stops a growth factor from triggering cells to divide and grow. Growth blockers are a type of biological therapy. Examples of growth blockers used to treat cancer are imatinib (Glivec) and sunitinib.

Growth cycle
(cell cycle) The normal cycle of activity a cell goes through when reproducing itself (dividing into two).

Gut sterilisers
Tablets given to some people having high dose chemotherapy, bone marrow or stem cell transplant. They kill off the bacteria that are normally present in the digestive system. In healthy people, these bacteria are not harmful. But in people with very little resistance to infection they can cause illness.

Gynaecologist
A doctor specialised in treating diseases of the female sex organs - the ovaries, womb, fallopian tubes, vagina and vulva.

Haemangioblastoma
A rare, slow growing type of brain tumour. Develops from blood vessel cells in the brain. Is almost always benign.

Haemangioma
A non cancerous (benign) tumour in the blood vessels of the skin, making the skin look red or pink. Some look like birthmarks.

Haematological response
This is a way of describing how well your treatment has worked for some types of blood cancer. It means that following treatment your blood counts have gone back to more normal levels.

Haematologist
A doctor who specialises in treating blood disorders, including leukaemias and lymphomas.

Haematoma
A swelling where blood has collected under the skin.

Haematopoietic tissue
The tissue where the blood cells are made. The bone marrow in adults.

Haemoglobin
A pigment containing iron. It is found in red blood cells and carries oxygen around the body.

Haemorrhagic cystitis
Inflammation of the bladder with severe bleeding.

Hair follicle
(hair follicles) The sac in which the hair grows in the scalp. The hair follicles are damaged by some chemotherapy drugs. This is why chemotherapy often causes hair loss.

Halitosis
Bad smelling breath

Hand-foot syndrome
This is a side effect of some cancer treatments, including chemotherapy with capecitabine tablets or continuous 5FU. The skin on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet goes red and peels. The redness and peeling clears up when the treatment is finished. It is also called palmar-plantar erythema, which just means red palms and soles.

Head and neck cancer
(head and neck ) A term used by doctors to mean cancer affecting the lip, mouth, nose etc. Does not usually mean cancers of the oesophagus (gullet) or larynx (voice box).

Heart
The organ which pumps blood around the body.

Helicobacter pylori
Bacteria which can infect the stomach. Stomach infection with HP has been shown to be a cause of a rare type of lymphoma of the stomach. It also possibly increases the risk of the most common type of stomach cancer, (adenocarcinoma of the stomach), but this has not been conclusively proved.

Helper T cells
Type of white blood cell. Helper T cells stimulate B cells to make antibodies as part of the immune response.

Hemibody irradiation
Radiotherapy treatment of half the body at a time. It is most commonly used to treat secondary bone cancer.

Heparin
A drug which stops the blood from clotting. People sometimes describe this as 'thinning the blood'.

Hepatic artery
The main blood vessel carrying blood to the liver.

Hepatitis A
(hepatitis A vaccine) An infectious disease. You can have a vaccination against hepatitis A if you are having chemotherapy.

Hepatopancreatoduodenectomy
An operation to remove some of the liver tissue, the pancreas and some of the small bowel (intestine).

HER2
HER2 stands for human epidermal growth factor receptor. It is a protein found in small amounts on normal breast cells. It is one of the proteins involved in cell growth. About a quarter of breast cancers have too much of this protein - they are said to be HER2 positive.

HER2-neu
This gene makes cells produce HER2 protein.

Herceptin
Herceptin (trastuzumab) is a type of targeted treatment for breast cancer. It is a monoclonal antibody, which means a single type of antibody that can be made in the laboratory in large quantities. Antibodies are molecules made naturally by our immune systems. Their role is to seek out foreign cells - bacteria and viruses for example - and kill …

Heredity
The passing on of characteristics to the next generation via the genes. You can inherit physical or mental characteristics or the tendency to develop particular illnesses. Half your chromosomes (and so half your genes) come from your mother and half from your father.

High dependency unit
A ward where you can receive closer medical and nursing attention than on a regular ward. A high dependency unit typically has one nurse per patient or every 2 patients.

High dose chemotherapy
Anti-cancer drug treatment using very high drug doses. It often needs to be followed by a transfusion of bone marrow or stem cells.

High factor sun cream
A sun cream which provides maximum protection against ultra violet light. Cancer Research UK recommend using at least factor 15. This filters out 93% of the sun's harmful rays. Factor 60 is about the highest protection you can get, with 98% of harmful rays filtered out.

High grade
Means the cells look very different to normal cells. So the cancer may grow more quickly and be more likely to spread than low grade cancer.

Histiocyte
A type of immune system cell called a macrophage that is found in the body's soft tissues.

Histology
The study of body tissues and cells. When a biopsy is 'sent for histology' it is looked at under a microscope to find the type of body tissue it is. If it is a cancer the laboratory does tests to see which type of cancer it is.

Hoarse voice
The voice sounds husky and croaking. Can be a symptom of lung cancer or other head and neck cancers but may also be caused by other medical conditions.

Hodgkin's disease
A cancer of the lymphatic system. It is a type of lymphoma. There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin's disease and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Hormone
(hormones) Natural chemicals made in one part of the body which travel in the bloodstream and make things happen in another part of the body. Some cancers are stimulated to grow by hormones, including the sex hormones (testosterone in men and oestrogen in women).

Hormone dependent
(hormone sensitive) A hormone dependent cancer is one that is stimulated to grow by the presence of a particular hormone. Breast cancer and prostate cancer can be hormone dependent cancers.

Hormone replacement therapy
(hormone replacement therapies - HRT) Treatment with sex hormones to replace those no longer being produced. Women may take oestrogen alone, or more usually, oestrogen and progesterone after after natural or early menopause. Men may take testosterone after having both testicles removed during cancer treatment. HRT should not be taken by people wi…

Hormone therapy
(hormone treatment) Treating a disease with hormones, or by blocking the action of hormones.

Hospice
A place people where can go for treatment and relief of symptoms from their cancer. Hospices aim to maintain the best possible quality of life for as long as possible. They usually offer day patient and in-patient care.

Hospice at home
This is when people are looked after at home for treatment and relief of symptoms from their cancer. Specialist palliative care nurses and doctors visit people at home and give care there rather than in a hospice.

Hospital attendance
How often you have to go to the hospital and for how long.

Hot flushes
A sudden feeling of being very hot. You may also go red in the face and sweat. It usually lasts for a few minutes. These effects occur in women going through the menopause or 'change of life'. They may also be caused by some cancer treatments in women and men.

Hot spots
Aa area which shows up on a bone scan. Means there is damage to bone. This could be arthritis, an old fracture or cancer in the bones.

Human chorionic gonadotrophin
(HCG) A hormone made by the body in early pregnancy. This hormone may also be produced by some types of cancer, mainly choriocarcinoma and some testicular cancers.

Human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) The virus that causes AIDS. People with AIDS are slightly more likely to get lymphoma (and some other cancers) than the general population.

Human papilloma virus
A group of viruses. There are more than 100 different types of HPV. Some cause wart like growths on the skin. Some types of HPV are a factor in the development of cancers of the cervix, anus and head and neck.

Humerus
The upper arm bone that runs from the shoulder to the elbow.

Hydronephrosis
A build up of urine in the kidney. This can happen if one of the ureters (the tubes that go from each kidney to the bladder) becomes blocked.

Hypercalcaemia
Too much calcium in the blood. This causes drowsiness and sickness at first and unconsciousness if it is not treated. Often caused by cancer affecting the bones.

Hyperplasia
Means increased growth of cells, but the cells are normal.

Hyperthyroidism
Too much thyroid hormone being made by the thyroid gland. Causes weight loss, a fast heartbeat and difficulty in relaxing.

Hypopharynx
Part of the food pipe (oesophagus) that surrounds the larynx. It helps guide food around the larynx and into the oesophagus.

Hypothyroidism
Too little thyroid hormone being made by the thyroid gland. Causes weight gain, tiredness and a lack of energy.

Hysterectomy
(salpingo-oophorectomy, TAH, TAHBSO) An operation to remove the womb. TAH stands for total abdominal hysterectomy. BSO stands for bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which means removing both ovaries and fallopian tubes as well.

Immature cells
Cells that are not fully developed. Cancer cells are immature cells. Cancers made up of cells that are very immature compared to normal cells are thought to grow more quickly than cancers made up of cells that are less immature.

Immediate reconstruction
Breast reconstruction carried out at the same time as the operation to remove the breast.

Immortal
Living forever. Normal cells grow and divide a fixed number of times and then die. Cancer cells can carry on reproducing for ever and so are immortal.

Immune deficiency
Having a lowered resistance to infection.

Immune response
The reaction of the body to anything from outside the body (foreign). This includes bacteria, viruses, cancer cells and foreign bodies. The immune response includes the production of antibodies by B lymphocytes (helped by T lymphocytes). Abnormal cells are also swallowed by cells called phagocytes.

Immune system
System in the body that fights infection and causes allergic reactions. Includes the lymph glands, spleen and white blood cells.

Immunity
Ability to resist infection. The immune response is activated when bacteria or viruses enter the body. Some people have poor immunity, which means they do not have much resistance to infection. This can be because they have a condition which has damaged their immune system (for example AIDS). Or it can be because chemotherapy has temporarily red…

Immunoblastic large cell
A type of high grade lymphoma. It is diagnosed by the appearance of the cells under the microscope.

Immunosuppressant
Medicine that damps down (suppresses) the activity of your body's immune system.

Immunotherapy
Treatment that stimulates the body's immune system to fight cancer. Immunotherapies are a type of treatment called biological therapy. Interferon and interleukin 2 are immunotherapies.

Implant
(implants) Something put into the body. May be to replace a part of the body that has been removed (for example, a breast implant) or to give treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Impotent
(impotence) Inability to get an erection.

Inadequate smear
A smear test that did not collect enough of the right cells - so cannot be used. You will be asked to have a repeat smear.

Incontinence
(faecal incontinence, urinary incontinence) Not being able to control passing urine (urinary incontinence) or passing a bowel motion (faecal incontinence).

Indemnity insurance
Insurance against damage claims.

Independent scientific review
(scientific review) In research, a trial plan being checked by a group of qualified people who are nothing to do with the trial.

Industrial disease benefit
Social security benefit payable to people who have contracted a disease due to their work.

Infection
Illness caused by micro-organisms, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. Signs of infection include a high temperature and pain, swelling and redness in the infected area.

Infertile
Unable to have children.

Influenza
(flu) Infectious disease. You can have a vaccination against flu if you are having chemotherapy.

Informed consent
Agreeing to take part in a clinical trial, or have a particular treatment, with a full understanding of the benefits and drawbacks.

Inherited
Gained from your parents. Inherited information is passed on from parents to their children in genes. The genetic information may cause a high risk of some illnesses or cancer, or may cause a particular characteristic such as eye colour.

Insulin
A hormone produced by the pancreas. It regulates the amount of sugar in the blood. A lack of insulin results in diabetes.

Insulinoma
A rare type of tumour of the pancreas. Insulinomas make abnormal amounts of insulin and release it into the blood.

Intensity modulated radiotherapy
(IMRT) A type of radiotherapy. IMRT alters the radiotherapy dose depending on the thickness of body tissue. This means that all parts of the cancer receive the same dose of radiation. Healthy tissues close to the tumour can receive a low dose.

Intensive care unit
(ITU) A ward where patients are very closely monitored. ITU's have one nurse for each patient. Some ITU's only have patients who cannot breathe without help and so are on ventilators (artificial respirators).

Interleukin 3
(IL3) A growth factor which encourages the bone marrow to make more white blood cells.

Interleukin 6
(IL6) A part of the immune response. A growth factor which stimulates white blood cells (B cells) to mature and grow.