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Macmillan - Cancer information Category: Health and Medicine > Cancer terms Date & country: 28/01/2011, UK Words: 355

Dermis
The inner layer of the skin that lies below the epidermis. The dermis and epidermis are the two main layers of the skin. The dermis contains the fibre that gives skin its strength and elasticity. It also carries the nerves that give us the sense of touch, and hair follicles, sweat and oil glands, and lymph and blood vessels. Below it is the fat.

Diagnosis
the process of deciding what illness a patient has. This may include observation by the doctor, the symptoms the patient reports, the medical background and the results of any tests and examinations.

Diaphragm
A sheet of muscle beneath the lungs. It separates the thorax (chest) from the abdomen (belly) and is responsible for breathing.

Diarrhoea
Passing frequent, very loose, and watery stools.

Dilation and curettage (D and C)
A way of getting a sample of cells from the lining of the uterus (womb). The entrance to the uterus (the cervix) is gently stretched open so that the doctor can reach the uterus and scrape off some of the cells.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
DCIS is an early form of breast cancer that starts in the milk ducts. See breast cancer section.

Duodenum
The first part of the small intestine.

Dysphagia
Difficulty in swallowing.

Dysphasia
Difficulty in speaking or understanding speech.

Elective surgery
Elective surgery is undertaken to improve the outcome of treatment, rather than as a medical necessity e.g. the removal of certain lymph glands to reduce the risk of a cancer spreading.

Electron Beam Therapy
Is the use of high-energy particles, which can be used in a similar way to radiotherapy to treat a cancer. Electron radiation does not penetrate into the tissue as far as x-rays. The beam is useful for treating shallow tumours and tumours in the head and neck where it is important to avoid harming other tissues and organs close by.

Endocrine gland
A gland that produces a secretion – often a hormone - and releases it directly into the bloodstream.

Endocrine therapy
Another name for hormone therapy. Some cancers need hormones to help them grow and multiply. Hormones are substances that occur naturally in the body. Hormone therapy is a treatment that changes the level of hormones in the body, or blocks hormones so that they can't help cancer cells to grow. See hormone therapy section.

Endometrial cancer
The most common type of cancer of the uterus (womb). See cancer of the uterus section.

Endometrium
The lining of the uterus (womb).

Endoscope
A thin, flexible instrument that is used to examine the inside of parts of the body. The bronchoscope, cystoscope and colonoscope are all types of endoscope.

Endoscopy
A test to look at part of the inside of the body - for example the stomach or the oesophagus (gullet). A thin, flexible instrument called an endoscope is used for this. X-ray pictures and samples of tissue (biopsies) can also be taken.

Ependymoma
A type of brain tumour. It can start in any part of the brain or spine.

Epidermis
The outer layer of the skin, which acts as a waterproof and protective barrier to the body tissue below.

Ewing's sarcoma
A cancer that usually starts in a bone - most often in the hip, arm or thigh. It can also start in the soft tissue near bones, but this is less usual. Ewing's sarcoma is a cancer that mainly affects children and teenagers.

Examination Under Anaesthetic (EUA)
An internal body examination whilst the patient is unconscious under a general anaesthetic.

Exocrine gland
A gland that produces a secretion and releases it through a duct or canal, often to the surface of the skin or to the surface of an internal organ. For example, sweat through the sweat glands, and the oily substance sebum, secreted through the hair follicles.

Fallopian tube
The tube leading from the ovary to the uterus (womb).

Fatigue
A feeling of extreme tiredness and lethargy. This may be a side effect of cancer or of cancer treatment. See section.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA)
A way of getting a sample of cells to look at under a microscope. The doctor uses a fine needle to draw up the cells into a syringe.

First degree relatives
see relatives

FNA
FNA stands for fine needle aspiration. It is a way of getting a sample of cells to look at under a microscope. The doctor uses a fine needle to draw up the cells into a syringe.

FOB Test
For the FOB (faecal occult blood) test you will bring the doctor a sample of your stool to smear on a test card and send to the laboratory. The test will help establish whether you have traces of blood from the colon or rectum which are not immediately visible.

Gamma camera
see positron emission tomography scanner

Gene
The basic unit of genetic information. Different kinds of genes have been discovered. They control the timing and the building of the different types of body cell. Strings of genes together form codes for making a whole body. Any changes to this genetic code will cause a mutation.

Germ cell tumour
A cancer of the testis or ovary. It starts in the cells that make sperm (in men) or eggs (in women).

Gland
an organ that makes and secretes [gives out], certain fluids such as hormones, digestive juices, sweat, tears, saliva, or milk. There are two main types, the exocrine glands, which release their secretions through ducts, and the endocrine glands, which release their products – often hormones - directly into the bloodstream.

Gleason score
A way of describing how aggressive a patient's prostate cancer is. The Gleason score may be between Gl 2 and Gl 10. See prostate cancer section.

Glioma
A type of brain tumour.

Grade
Doctors can classify a patient's cancer according to its grade. They look at the cancer cells under a microscope to see how much they still look like normal cells. The less they look like normal cells, the higher the grade of the cancer. Higher grade cancers are more likely to grow and spread.

Graft
An organ, tissue or artificial part used for transplantation to replace or repair a damaged part of the body.

Gullet
Another name for the oesophagus, or food pipe.

Gynaecologist
A doctor who specialises in treating the female reproductive organs.

Haemangioblastoma
A type of brain tumour.

Haematologist
A doctor who specialises in treating diseases of the blood.

Hepat/hepato
a prefix, meaning the word relates to the liver.

Hepatectomy
the removal, or partial removal, of the liver.

Hepatocellular carcinoma
The most common type of primary liver cancer. It starts in the main cells of the liver. Another name for it is hepatoma.

Hepatoma
The most common type of primary liver cancer. It starts in the main cells of the liver. Another name for it is hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hickman line
A common type of central line. If you are going to have chemotherapy, you may be given your drugs through a line. A long, thin plastic tube is put into a vein in the chest, and is left in place throughout the treatment. Every time you then have chemotherapy your nurse gives you the drugs through the line. See chemotherapy section.

Histology
The study of body tissue, by looking at samples through a microscope.

Histopathology
The study of diseased tissue and cell samples under a microscope.

Hodgkin's disease
A type of lymphoma, which is a cancer of the lymphatic system. See Hodgkin's disease section.

Holistic care
A word used to describe care of the whole person. A holistic approach to cancer care would aim to meet the physical, social, psychological and spiritual needs of the patient.

Homeopathy
A type of medicine based on a principle of 'like cures like'. A homeopath believes that, if a substance causes particular symptoms in a healthy person, the same substance (in small doses) can be used to treat those symptoms in an ill person.

Hormone therapy
Some cancers need hormones to help them grow and multiply. Hormones are substances that occur naturally in the body. Hormone therapy is a treatment that changes the level of hormones in the body, or blocks hormones so that they can't help cancer cells to grow. Another name for this treatment is endocrine therapy. See hormone therapy section.

Hospice
A service to provide medical, nursing and emotional support for those with illnesses that cannot be cured, as well as advice and support for their families and carers. A hospice may well be a physical building - but there are also hospice at home services that provide care and support in the patients' own homes.

Human papilloma virus (HPV)
A common virus that is normally passed on through sex. In some people, HPV may eventually cause changes to body cells (in the cervix, for example). These changes, if left untreated, may eventually turn into cancer.

Hyperplasia
Thickening of the skin. It happens... as a protective response to exposure to sunlight...

Hysterectomy
An operation to remove the uterus (womb).

Hysteroscope
A thin, flexible instrument used to examine the inside of the uterus (womb).

Hysteroscopy
An examination of the inside of the uterus (womb).

Ileal conduit
If your bladder is removed, you will need a new way of collecting urine. One way is through an ileal conduit. The surgeon makes an opening (stoma) on the wall of the abdomen. A small piece of bowel is used to help carry the urine to the new opening.A bag can be fixed around the opening to collect the urine.

Ileostomy
An operation to remove the entire colon and rectum (large bowel). A new opening (a stoma) is made for body waste by bringing the end of the small bowel to the surface of the abdomen. A bag is worn to collect the waste.

Immunisation
Immunisation is a method of protecting against disease or infection by introducing disease-germs or their poisons into the body to stimulate the body`s immune system to become sensitive to the threat and to quickly produce special proteins that will fight it.

Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is treatment that stimulates the body`s own defences (immune system) to fight infections and diseases. In some cases it is used to suppress the body`s immune system to prevent rejection of a graft.In cancer treatment it is used for both these reasons. It is also used to encourage the body to repair normal cells damaged by ...

Impotence
The inability to get an erection. This may be a side effect of cancer or of cancer treatment.

Incontinence
The inability to control the bladder or bowel. This may be a side effect of cancer or of cancer treatment.

Infertility
The inability to have children. This may be a side effect of cancer or of cancer treatment.

Inflammatory breast cancer
A rare, fast growing breast cancer that can be difficult to diagnose. It may cause symptoms of redness and swelling, rather like mastitis (breast infection).

Inoculation
see vaccination

Inoperable tumour
A cancer that can't be removed through surgery.

Intestine(s)
The bowels, which are part of the food digestive system. There is the small intestine (the duodenum, jejunum and ileum) and the large intestine (the colon and rectum).

Intraluminal Radiotherapy
Is radiotherapy given from inside the body, by placing a radioactive source close to the cancer. The source may be contained in fine wires or tubes, or in tiny seeds. Radioactive seeds are sometimes used to treat early prostate cancer, or oesophageal cancer, for instance. See radiotherapy section.

Intravenous bolus
An injection of drugs into a vein.

Intravenous urogram (IVU)
An x-ray of the kidneys, ureters and bladder. To make the picture clearer, a liquid called contrast medium is injected into a vein before the x-ray is taken.

Islet cell cancer
A type of cancer that starts in the endocrine pancreas. This is the part of the pancreas that produces insulin and other hormones. See cancer of the pancreas section.

Isotope scan
See radioactive isotope scan.

IVU
IVU stands for intravenous urogram. This is an x-ray of the kidneys, ureters and bladder. To make the picture clearer, a liquid called contrast medium is injected into a vein before the x-ray is taken.

Kaposi's sarcoma
A type of cancer that starts on the skin, before spreading to the lymph nodes and internal body organs. In Europe, this cancer especially affects those whose immune systems aren't working properly (eg AIDS patients).

Keratin
The horny substance in skin, nails, hair.

Keratosis (plural keratoses)
A horny growth on or over the skin, such as a wart.

Kidney
The body organ that makes urine. Kidney cancer is a disease that starts in the cells of the kidney. There are different types - the most common is renal cell carcinoma RCC). See kidney cancer section.

Klatskin tumour
a tumour of the bile ducts, growing at the place where the hepatic bile duct (coming from the liver) meets the common bile duct (going to the small intestine).

Laparoscopic surgery
An operation carried out through telescopes passed though small cuts in the abdomen. This is sometimes called keyhole surgery.

Laparotomy
Surgical operation to open up the abdomen.

Laryngectomee
A word sometimes used to describe a person who has had their larynx (voice box) removed.

Laryngectomy
An operation to remove the larynx (voice box).

Larynx
Another name for the voice box. It is in the front of the neck, at the top of the windpipe.

Laser surgery
This type of surgery uses a beam of light to remove unwanted body tissue (eg cancer cells).

LCIS
LCIS stand for lobular carcinoma in situ, which is a condition of the breast. It is not cancer, but people with LCIS are more likely to develop breast cancer in the future.

Lesion
A word often used by doctors to describe many different types of injury to body tissue. A lesion may be caused by disease or wounding. For example, it can be used to describe a mole, a bruise, a spot, a cut, an ulcer, or a tumour.

Leukaemia
A cancer of the blood cells. There are many different types. See leukaemia section.

Linear accelerator
A type of radiotherapy treatment machine.

Liver
A large body organ with many functions. For example it breaks down certain foods so that the body can use them. It also destroys some harmful substances and helps the body to get rid of them. Primary liver cancer is quite a rare cancer that may start in the main cells of the liver, or in the cells of the bile duct.

Lobectomy
An operation to remove a lobe (part) of an organ - for example the lung or liver. See lung cancer section.

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
A condition of the breast. LCIS is not cancer, but people who have it are more likely to develop breast cancer in the future.

Local recurrence
A cancer that has come back in the place where it started.

Lung cancer
A type of cancer that grows in the lung or the tissues around it. There are two main types: small cell and non-small cell. See lung cancer section.

Lymph
A body fluid that contains the white blood cells that fight infection. See lymphatic system.

Lymph node
A gland that is part of the lymphatic system. The nodes make and store white blood cells called lymphocytes. They also help to trap and remove germs so that they don't harm us. See lymphatic system.

Lymphadenectomy
the surgical removal of lymph glands. This is often the lymph glands near to an organ affected by cancer.

Lymphatic system
A network of tubes, channels, glands and body organs that help us to fight infection. See lymphatic system.

Lymphocyte
A type of white blood cell that fights infection. See lymphatic system.

Lymphoedema
A build up of lymph fluid in the body (see lymphatic system). The fluid builds up because it can't drain away properly. This may be because the lymph channels are damaged or blocked. Lymphoedema is sometimes a side effect of cancer treatment - for example it may occur after breast surgery, when lymph nodes have been removed. The condition can cause...