Glossary Below is a list of the common medical terms you might hear when talking about cancer.

In this article

A to D E to L

M to R S to Z

Abdominal

Referring to the body area including the stomach, intestines and other digestive organs.

Acupuncture

Use of fine needles to control the body's energy flows.

Adjuvant therapy

Treatment - usually chemotherapy or radiotherapy - given following surgery. It's given even if there are no symptoms of cancer at the time of treatment.

Alexander technique

A way of teaching improved posture that allows people to stand and move more efficiently.

Alopecia

Hair loss.

Appliance officer

A person responsible for supplying and fitting stockings, collars, wigs, supports and artificial replacements for body parts removed by surgery.

Aromatherapy

The use of oils from flowers, roots and leaves, often with relaxing perfumes to help promote positive mood and wellbeing.

Art therapy

A way of conveying your feelings through drawings and paintings. These are then discussed with a specially trained professional.

Benign

Non-cancerous. Used to refer to tumours that grow slowly in one place and, once removed by surgery, tend not to recur.

Biopsy

Examination of a sample of tissue that's been removed from an area of the body where cancer is suspected.

Bone marrow

The spongy inner part of large bones where blood cells are made. Bone marrow aspiration is the removal by fine needle of a small amount of bone marrow for examination.

Bronchoscopy

A test used to examine the inside of the lung.

Cancer

The name given to a group of diseases that can occur in any organ of the body - all involve abnormal or uncontrolled growth of cells.

Carcinogen

A substance that can cause or help to cause cancer.

Carcinoma

A cancer that arises from the lining of an organ or system - the commonest cancers.

Counselling

An opportunity to talk things over with a trained counsellor. This can help make sense of feelings and offer encouragement. Counselling doesn't involve telling you what to do, but can offer new ideas for coping.

Chemotherapy

The treatment of disease with chemicals, such as cytotoxic (cancer destroying) drugs.

CT (computed tomography) scan

Produces a cross-section image of the head and body that is then analysed by computer.

Central venous catheter

A special tube inserted, under anaesthetic, through the chest into a large vein, so chemotherapy drugs can be fed directly into the bloodstream. It can stay in place for months and means needles don't have to be used during treatment.

Diagnosis

Identification of a disease in a person's body.

Dietician

Health professional who can advise on how to eat sensibly to help recovery from cancer and its treatments.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

The genetic material present in our cells that's responsible for passing on vital information on cell growth, division and function.

Endoscopy

Looking inside the body through a small fibre-optic tube passed into the lungs or digestive system.

Fine needle aspiration

The use of a fine needle under local anaesthetic to take a sample of cells from a suspicious breast lump to determine whether it's benign or malignant.

Haematologist

A doctor who specialises in the treatment of blood disorders.

Herbalism

Use of plants and herbal remedies to treat illness.

Histology

The study of tissues, used in diagnosis.

Home carers

Also known as home helpers. Can be arranged through your local social services department to help with household jobs and personal care. There may be a charge for their services.

Homoeopathy

A complementary therapy based on giving patients very dilute amounts of a substance that, in larger amounts, would produce similar symptoms to the illness being treated.

Hormones

Chemical substances produced by glands, which circulate in the blood and help to control growth, reproduction and other functions.

Hormone therapy

Treatment with hormones to control cancer growth, usually for cancer of the breast, prostate, thyroid and uterus (womb).

Immune system

The body's main defence system against infections or foreign substances.

Incontinence

An inability to control the muscles that control the passing of urine or faeces.

Inoperable

Refers to a cancer that can't be removed by surgery, either because the cancer has spread to nearby organs or because removal might cause too much damage to normal tissue.

In situ

The earliest stage of cancer, when it's localised to its area of origin.

Intramuscular

Given by injection into a muscle.

Intravenous

Given into a vein by injection or infusion.

Isotope scan

A scan involving the injection of a very weak radioactive substance, which collects in the organ being investigated so it can be viewed more easily with a special camera.

Local therapy

Use of treatments such as radiotherapy and surgery that are concentrated on particular areas of the body.

Lumpectomy

The surgical removal of a lump.

Lymphangiogram

A special X-ray procedure carried out to display the lymphatic system.

Lymphatic system

The system of lymph nodes and the vessels or small tubes that connect them. Lymph nodes are located throughout the body, filtering out dangerous substances and producing infection-fighting cells called lymphocytes.

Lymphoedema

Swelling, usually in the arms or legs, that occurs because the lymph vessels are damaged or blocked. This can occur following some treatments for cancer or because of the cancer itself.

Malignant

Cancerous. Malignant tumours can invade and destroy surrounding tissue, and have the capacity to spread.

Mammogram

A specialised X-ray that shows up breast tissue and can detect breast cancer at a very early stage.

Mastectomy

The removal by surgery of all or part of the breast.

Metastasis

The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another, via the lymphatic system or bloodstream.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan

Uses radio waves rather than X-rays to produce pictures, which are then analysed by computer.

Nausea

The feeling of sickness.

Occupational therapists

Health professionals, also known as OTs, who find ways to help people live at home and be independent, despite their illness.

Oncologist

A doctor who specialises in treating cancer. A clinical oncologist, or radiotherapist, specialises in treating cancer with radiation, and a medical oncologist specialises in treating cancer with drugs.

Orally

Given by mouth.

Orchidectomy

Surgical removal of a testicle.

Palliative care

Palliative care concentrates on the quality of life of the person affected by cancer and their family. It focuses on controlling pain and other symptoms, and meeting a person's social, emotional and spiritual needs.

Pathology

The branch of medicine concerned with the examination of diseased tissues.

Peripheral stem cell transplant (PSCT)

Stem cells collected from the patient's blood are removed, stored and then reintroduced into the bloodstream.

Physiotherapists

Health professionals who help people stay mobile and free of pain by teaching exercises, giving advice, and providing massage and other treatments.

Primary cancer

The first malignant tumour to develop in a particular part of the body.

Prognosis

An assessment of the expected future course and outcome of a person's disease.

Prosthesis

A specially made replacement for a part of the body that's been removed, such as a breast or limb.

Radiographer

The member of the healthcare team who takes X-rays and scans (diagnostic radiographer) or gives radiotherapy (therapeutic radiographer).

Radiologist

A doctor who understands and interprets a scan or an X-ray.

Radiology

The use of X-rays in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Radiotherapist

A doctor specialising in the treatment of cancer with radiation. Also known as a clinical oncologist.

Radiotherapy

The treatment of cancer by X-rays or gamma rays to destroy cancer cells.

Reflexology

A relaxing massage technique using pressure to the feet to improve the blood supply to various parts of the body.

Secondaries

New tumours, or metastases, formed because cancer cells from the original tumour have broken off and been carried to other parts of the body in the bloodstream.

Shiatsu

A form of massage that works on the energy flow around the body. It can be helpful for stress-related conditions.

Social workers

Social service professionals who can help organise practical help, emotional help and financial support.

Speech and language therapist

Health professionals who can help people with problems chewing and swallowing, as well as speech problems.

Staging

Determining the extent of cancer in an individual, using strict measures. It helps doctors to decide on the best treatment.

Stoma

An artificial opening between an organ and the skin surface, formed by surgery. There are different types including a tracheostomy (formed from the windpipe), ileostomy (formed from the small bowel) colostomy (formed from the large bowel) and urostomy (formed from the bladder).

Subcutaneous

Given by injection beneath the skin.

Syringe drivers

A means of administering painkilling or chemotherapy drugs under the skin.

Systemic therapy

Use of treatments, such as chemotherapy, that affect the whole body.

Terminal care

Care of a person in the last days or weeks before they die that focuses on making the person free of pain and as comfortable as possible.

Terminal illness

Active and progressive disease that can't be cured. Curative treatment isn't appropriate but palliative care is.

Therapy

A word often used to mean treatment.

Thoracic

Referring to the chest area.

Tumour

A lump or mass of cells that can be either benign or malignant. Also known as a neoplasm.

Tumour markers

Substances produced by some cancers that can be traced in the blood.

Ultrasound scan

Use of sound waves to build up an image of internal organs.

Visualisation

A way of becoming relaxed, involving seeing an image in your mind and altering it as you wish.

Yoga

A combination of relaxation, breathing techniques and exercise that combats stress, and helps circulation and movement of the joints.

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Trisha Macnair in September 2006.
First published in February 1999.