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- Large cell lung cancerA 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 excisionA small operation to remove abnormal pre-cancerous cells from the cervix. Done as an out patient under local anaesthetic.
- LaryngealMeans 'of the larynx'. The larynx is the voice box. So laryngeal surgery is surgery to your voice box.
- LaryngoscopyAnother 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.
- LaserAn 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 dorsiA muscle in the back. This muscle can be used in a type of breast reconstruction.
- LavageWashing out of an organ or cavity. This may be to obtain a sample or as a part of treatment.
- LaxativeMedicines that stimulate the bowel and prevent constipation.
- Lead screensLarge pieces of lead put in front of patients having internal radiotherapy. The screens protect hospital staff and visitors from radiation.
- LeiomyosarcomaA 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.
- Letrozole (Femara)Decreases the synthesis of oestrogen by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme. It is used in the treatment of breast cancer.
- LeukaemiaCancer 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,(...)
- LeukencephalopathyBreakdown 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.
- Li-Fraumeni syndromeA syndrome is a collection of symptoms. People with this syndrome have an increased risk of developing a number of different cancers.
- Limb salvage surgeryAn 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 diseaseLimited 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.
- LindaneAn insecticide that has been researched as a health hazard including as a possible cause of breast cancer. This has not yet been proved.
- LipomasNon cancerous (benign) lumps under the skin caused by a collection of fatty tissue.
- LiposarcomaA 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 .(...)
- Liver cancerCancer 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 ultrasoundA 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.
- LobectomyAn operation to remove a lobe of an organ, for example, to remove a lobe of a lung.
- Local recurrenceWhen a cancer comes back in the same part of the body as the original cancer.
- Local resectionA 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 treatmentOr localised treatment. A treatment that treats one area of the body. Surgery and radiotherapy are both local treatments.
- Localised cancerThis 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.
- Lomustine (CCNU)An oral chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of brain tumours and lymphoma.
- 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 lipoproteinsType of fats found in the blood. Cholesterol is a lipoprotein that can be high or low density.
- Low grade: lymphomas (low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma)Low grade lymphomas are slow growing and may not cause symptoms for a long time. They are usually treated with mild chemotherapy. If they are not causing any symptoms, doctors may just monitor you. Although it is difficult to cure them completely, they can often be kept under control for many years.
- Low grade: solid tumoursMeans the cells in the tumour do not look very like normal cells. This can mean the cancer tends to be fast growing and might be more likely to spread.
- Low malignant potentialMeans not likely to spread or grow quickly. In other words, a low grade cancer.
- Lumbar punctureA test to check the fluid that circulates round the brain and spinal cord (the cerebrospinal fluid - CSF). Your doctor puts a needle into your spine to collect a small amout of the fluid. For cancer, it is usually done to see if there are any cancer cells in the fluid. But it is also used to(...)
- LumpectomyAn 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(...)
- LungsThere 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.
- Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone Analogs: Leuprolide (Lupron), Goserelin (Zoladex)Decreases the synthesis of gonadal hormones (testosterone in men, oestrogen in women). Used in the treatment of prostate cancer and breast cancer.
- 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 (lymphatic fluid)A body fluid which circulates in the lymphatic system. Carries fluid and waste products away from the body tissues
- 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 dissectionRemoving 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.
- LymphadenectomyAn 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 systemThe 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.