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

Intermediate grade
A group of types of lymphomas. There are three grades of lymphomas: high, intermediate and low. Grade is used to decide on treatment. In practice, doctors tend to group intermediate grade and high grade lymphomas together.

Internal radiotherapy
Radiotherapy given by putting a source of radiation inside the body. It is sometimes called 'brachytherapy'. The source can be solid (for example, radioactive grains put into the prostate), or liquid (for example, a radioactive iodine drink or injection given to treat thyroid cancer).

Intra cranial pressure
Pressure inside the skull.

Intramuscular injection
(IM injection, intramuscularly) Injection into a muscle.

Intraperitoneal injection
An injection directly into the abdominal area. Some chemotherapy is given in this way to treat cancers that may spread to other organs in the abdomen.

Intrathecal injection
(IT injection, intrathecally) An injection into the fluid around the spinal cord. Some chemotherapy needs to be given this way for particular types of cancer that may spread to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

Intratumoural treatment
Injecting treatment directly into a tumour. Types of treatment that may be given in this way include chemotherapy, biological therapies and cancer vaccines. (May also be spelt intratumoral treatment.)

Intrauterine device
(IUD, coil) A type of contraception. A small shaped piece of plastic is put into the womb to stop a fertilized egg from burying into the womb lining. This prevents pregnancy.

Intrauterine system
(IUS) A type of contraception. Similar to an intrauterine device (IUD) or 'coil' but also releases a small amount of a progesterone type hormone, thickening the mucous in the neck of the womb, so that sperm can't get through.

Intravenous infusion
(drip) Giving fluid into the bloodstream. A bag of fluid is connected to plastic tubing and a needle. The needle is put into a vein, usually in the arm.

Intravenous urogram
(IVU, IVP, intravenous pyelogram) A scan of the kidneys, ureters (the tubes running from the kidneys to the bladder), bladder and urethra (the tube running from the bladder to the outside of the body). A dye is given into a vein by injection. The dye collects in the urinary system and can be looked at using an X-ray.

Intravesical therapy
Treatment given directly into the bladder. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy can both be given in this way to try to stop early bladder cancer from coming back.

Inverted nipple
Nipple which is turned inwards rather than sticking out.

Iodine 131
(I131, radioactive iodine, radio-iodine) A form of iodine which is radioactive. It is used to treat cancer of the thyroid.

Iridectomy
An operation to remove the iris from the eye.

Iridium
(iridium wires) Thin radioactive wires used to give internal radiotherapy. The wires are put into the tumour under anaesthetic. Sometimes, hollow, thin tubes are put into the tumour and then tiny radioactive balls are fed into the hollow tubes from a machine.

Iris
The coloured disc at the front of the eyeball. It can develop a malignant melanoma in very rare cases.

Iron
A mineral in the diet, which is needed for the healthy development of red blood cells.

Islet cell
The cells of the pancreas that produce insulin and other hormones. Tumours of these cells (called endocrine pancreatic tumours) can make the cells produce large amounts of the hormones.

Isolation
Kept apart from other people. People having high dose chemotherapy, bone marrow or stem cell transplant are often looked after in single rooms while their white blood cell counts are low. This is to protect them from infection. People having some types of internal radiotherapy may need to be looked after in isolation to make sure other people are n…

Isotope
A variation of a normal chemical substance, which is radioactive. Can be used to diagnose or treat cancer. For example, Sr89 is an isotope of strontium used to treat bone cancer.

Jaundice
Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. There are several different causes, but usually means there is something wrong with the liver or gall bladder.

Kaposi's sarcoma
A cancer of the cells that line the walls of the blood vessels (endothelial cells). Widespread lesions develop on the skin, in the mouth, lymph nodes and internal organs such as the lung, liver and spleen. It is commonly, but not always, found in people who are HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) positive.

Keratinocytes
Type of flat skin cells that cover the outer layer of the skin. Also called squamous cells. Many cancers are squamous cell cancer.

Kidney
(kidneys) There are two kidneys, right and left. They filter waste products out of the blood and make urine. The kidneys are very sensitive to blood flow and to some drugs. Doctors often take blood tests to check how well the kidneys are working.

Kidney function
(kidney function tests) Blood tests to see how well the kidneys are working.

Laboratory study
Research done in a laboratory. These studies may use test tubes or tests on animals to find out if a drug, procedure, or treatment is likely to be useful. Laboratory studies take place before any testing is done in humans.

Lacrymal gland
The medical name for the tear glands. Tear glands produce fluid to keep the eyeballs moist, as well as producing tears. Radiotherapy to the eye can stop the lacrymal glands from working and make the eye permanently dry.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
An operation to remove the gall bladder using a laparoscope.

Laparoscopy
A small operation where a flexible tube filled with optical fibres (a laparoscope) is put inside the abdomen (tummy) through a small cut. The doctor can look through the laparoscope, see inside the body and take tissue samples (biopsies).

Laparotomy
An operation to look inside the abdomen (tummy). Can be done as part of diagnosis or after chemotherapy treatment to see how well it has worked.

Large bowel resection
An operation to remove part of the bowel. The remaining healthy parts of the bowel are usually then joined together again.

Large cell lung cancer
A type of lung cancer. Named after the large rounded cells that are seen when this type of cancer is looked at under the microscope.

Large loop excision
A small operation to remove abnormal pre-cancerous cells from the cervix. Done as an out patient under local anaesthetic.

Laryngeal
Means 'of the larynx'. The larynx is the voice box. So laryngeal surgery is surgery to your voice box.

Laryngectomy
Surgery to remove the whole or part of the larynx.

Laryngoscopy
Another name for a test called a nasoendoscopy. This means you have your upper airways and voice box examined. You have a thin tube put up your nose and down into your throat. The tube contains a light and a camera so your doctor can see inside.

Larynx
The voice box.

Laser
An intense beam of light that is so strong it can cut through body tissue. Laser treatment is often used to kill off abnormal pre-cancerous cells or may be used as a treatment for advanced cancer.

Laser therapy
(laser treatment) An intense beam of light is used to destroy cancer cells. Sometimes surgery is done using a laser instead of a knife, as lasers are very precise. There is also less bleeding because the laser cauterises (seals) any damaged blood vessels as it cuts.

Latissimus dorsi
A muscle in the back. This muscle can be used in a type of breast reconstruction.

Laxative
Medicines that stimulate the bowel and prevent constipation.

Lead screens
Large pieces of lead put in front of patients having internal radiotherapy. The screens protect hospital staff and visitors from radiation.

Leiomyosarcoma
A type of cancer that starts in smooth muscle cells. These are muscles that are not under our conscious control, for example the muscles of the womb or the walls of the stomach or bowel.

Leukaemia
Cancer of the white blood cells. There are two main groups of leukaemias, acute leukaemias and chronic leukaemias. Each of these can affect white blood cells that develop from cells called lymphoblasts or myeloblasts (myeloid type cells). So there are acute lymphoblastic, acute myeloblastic, chronic lymphoblastic and chronic myeloid leukaemias.

Leukencephalopathy
Breakdown of the nerve coverings of the brain. It is a very rare side effect of some medical treatment. Has been known to occur after intensive radiotherapy to the brain. There are also reports of rare cases of leukencephalopathy after treatment with 5FU and Levamisole.

Levamisole
A drug used to treat bowel cancer. It is given along with Fluorouracil (chemotherapy) after surgery. It may increase the effectiveness of the chemotherapy, possibly by boosting the immune system.

Li-Fraumeni syndrome
A syndrome is a collection of symptoms. People with this syndrome have an increased risk of developing a number of different cancers.

Libido
Sex drive.

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

Limb salvage surgery
An operation where part of a bone affected by cancer is removed. It can be replaced with a piece of metal or a piece of bone taken from another part of the body.

Limited disease
Limited disease means cancer that is only in one area or organ of the body. 'Limited disease' is also a stage of small cell lung cancer. It means the cancer can only be seen in one lung and in nearby lymph nodes.

Lindane
An insecticide that has been researched as a health hazard including as a possible cause of breast cancer. This has not yet been proved. Lindane has been banned in some European countries but is still used in the UK for crop spraying and wood treatment.

Lipomas
Non cancerous (benign) lumps under the skin caused by a collection of fatty tissue.

Liposarcoma
A type of cancer that starts in the body's fat cells. It can occur anywhere in the body.

Live vaccines
(live virus vaccines) Vaccines which contain tiny amounts of live cells of a particular disease. In healthy people, this is just enough to give them protection against infection. But these vaccines can be dangerous in people having chemotherapy and they should not have them, unless under specialist supervision . Includes vaccines for measles, mump…

Liver
The largest organ in the body. Responsible for making blood proteins and substances that help the blood to clot; storing vitamins; cleaning bacteria and worn out red blood cells out of the blood; getting rid of waste products, drugs and other chemicals and processing carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

Liver cancer
Cancer of the liver. This term should only be used to refer to cancer that has started in the liver (primary liver cancer). But some people also use it to mean cancer that has spread to the liver from somewhere else in the body (metastatic liver cancer).

Liver function
(liver function tests) Blood tests to see how well the liver is working.

Liver ultrasound
A scan of the liver using soundwaves.

Lobe
(lobes) A section of an organ. There are lobes of the brain, thyroid, liver and lungs. The right lung has three lobes and the left only two.

Lobectomy
An operation to remove a lobe of an organ, for example, to remove a lobe of a lung.

Local recurrence
When a cancer comes back in the same part of the body as the original cancer.

Local resection
A small operation to remove an early cancer which has not spread away from where it started growing.

Local spread
(local invasion) Growth of a cancer into the area of the body around where it started.

Local treatment
Or localised treatment. A treatment that treats one area of the body. Surgery and radiotherapy are both local treatments.

Localised cancer
This means that a cancer involves only the area of the body where it started and the tissues next to it. For example, a localised bone cancer is only found in the bone in which it developed and possibly in muscle or tendon next to it.

Long term side effects
(long term effects) Unwanted effects of treatment that last for a long time after treatment has finished or may be permanent. With radiotherapy treatment, long term side effects may not appear until some time after treatment has finished (in some cases, several years).

Low blood count
(low blood counts) Lower than normal levels of red or white blood cells, or platelets. Measured by a blood test.

Low density lipoproteins
Type of fats found in the blood. Cholesterol is a lipoprotein that can be high or low density.

Low malignant potential
Means not likely to spread or grow quickly. In other words, a low grade cancer.

Lubricant
(lubricants) Something which moistens, or makes a surface slippery.

Lubricating jelly
A jelly which moistens or makes a surface slippery.

Lumpectomy
An operation to remove a lump. This term may be used to refer to the removal of a breast cancer.

Lung function tests
(breathing tests) A number of different tests can find out how well your lungs are working. For example, doctors can measure the amount air you normally breathe in or out; the amount you can breathe in or out when you are trying as hard as you can; or the extra you can breathe in when you try after you have breathed in normally. The tests tell doct…

Lungs
There are two lungs (right and left) inside the rib cage in the chest. When we breathe in, air passes into the lungs. Oxygen from the air filters through the lungs into the bloodstream. Waste carbon dioxide filters back into the lungs and is breathed out.

Lymph
(lymphatic fluid) A body fluid which circulates in the lymphatic system. Carries fluid and waste products away from the body tissues.

Lymph glands
(lymph nodes) A network of glands throughout the body - particularly in the armpits, neck and groins. They fight infection and drain away waste fluid, waste products and damaged cells.

Lymph node biopsy
(lymph gland biopsy) Taking out a lymph node to look at it under the microscope. This is to see if it contains any cancer cells. It is a very small operation. It is normally done under a general anaesthetic, but you should be able to go home the same day.

Lymph node dissection
Removing lymph nodes from a particular area of the body. You may have this to see if the cancer has spread (find out the 'stage' of the cancer), or to remove cancer that is already in the lymph nodes.

Lymphadenectomy
An operation to remove lymph nodes.

Lymphangiogram
(lymphogram) X-ray scan of the lymph glands using dye injected into the bloodstream. This test is rarely used now, as CT and MRI scans can check the lymph glands.

Lymphatic system
The system of tubes and glands in the body which filters body fluid and fights infection. Made up of the lymph glands, lymphatic vessels and the spleen.

Lymphatic vessels
(lymph vessels) The channels, or tubes, of the lymphatic system.

Lymphoblastic
Lymphoblasts are early types of white blood cell that the B and T lymphocytes develop from. Lymphoblastic lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that involves the lymphoblasts. It is a high grade lymphoma. There is also a type of leukaemia called acute lymphoblastic (or lymphocytic) leukaemia (ALL).

Lymphocytes
Type of white blood cell. There are two types of lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes. They are part of the body's defense against disease, the immune response. B lymphocytes produce antibodies, helped by T lymphocytes.

Lymphoedema
Swelling of a part of the body due to blockage of the lymph vessels. An arm or leg are most commonly affected. Lymphoedema can occur after surgery or radiotherapy which damage the lymph glads, or because cancer is blocking the lymph glands.

Lymphogram
A test using dye that shows lymph nodes and how lymphatic fluid circulates on an X-ray. It is sometimes used to try to pick out which lymph node is the first to drain lymph fluid from a particular organ, or part of an organ.

Lymphokines
A collective name for the interleukin growth factors. The interleukins are produced mainly by T cells. They stimulate other cells of the immune system to grow and mature.

Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Both have similar symptoms: enlarged lymph nodes (glands), tiredness and often heavy sweating, unexplained high temperatures and weight loss. They are often treated similarly but are different diseases.

Macmillan nurse
Nurse who specialises in giving advice about coping with symptoms (for example, pain, sickness) in people with cancer. Can be based in hospital, or visit people in their own homes.

Macrophages
Type of white blood cells that are part of the immune system. They are found in the lymph nodes where they help to fight infection. They swallow up and kill foreign cells, including cancer cells.

Magic bullet
Popular name for targeted treatment using monoclonal antibodies.

Magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI, nuclear magnetic resonance) Scan using magnetism to build up a picture of the organs inside the body. These scans are painless, but are very noisy. You should tell your doctor if you have a pacemaker or any metal parts inside your body (such as joint replacements or surgical clips) as this may mean you cannot have this type of scan.

Malignant
Cancerous. Opposite of benign.

Malignant fibrous histiocytomas
(MFH) These are cancers that start in fibrous tissue cells called histiocytes. MFH is a type of primary bone cancer. It is one type of a group of tumours called spindle cell sarcomas.

Mammogram
X-ray examination of the breast to look for early signs of cancer.

Mammography
Using X-rays to examine the breast for signs of cancer.

Marie Curie nurse
Nurse who looks after cancer patients in their own homes, often overnight, to give relatives a break. Can be contacted through the district nurse.

Marker
Chemical substance produced by a cancer and used to monitor the progress of the disease. Usually measured by a blood test.