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- Microscopic spread (micrometastases)This means cancer that has spread, but the areas of cancer cells are too small to be seen on scans or with the naked eye during surgery. Some types of cancer are very likely to micrometastasise and doctors may then assume that the cancer is elsewhere in the body even if they cannot find(...)
- Minimal residual disease (MRD)Minimal residual disease (MRD) is the name given, to small numbers of leukaemic cells that remain in the patient during treatment, or after treatment when the patient is in remission (no symptoms or signs of disease). It is the major cause of relapse in cancer and leukaemia.
- Mixed cell cancerCancer containing more than one type of cell (for example, teratoma and seminoma).
- Mixed gliomaGlioma (a type of brain tumour) which contains more than one type of cell.
- MMRA combination vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella. You should not have this vaccination if you are having chemotherapy, as the vaccine contains live virus.
- Modified radical mastectomyAn operation to remove the breast and the lymph glands under the arm.
- Monoclonal antibodies (mabs, magic bullets)Many copies of a single antibody. These can be made in the laboratory and used for targeted cancer treatment. There are many different types of monoclonal antibodies.
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)A condition where plasma cells make too many large protein molecules known as immunoglobulins. MGUS is often found by chance as it can show up in routine blood tests. It does not cause any symptoms, and does not generally affect your health or need treatment. But if you have MGUS, you will be(...)
- Mould roomA room in hospital where masks (moulds) for medical treatment are made.
- Mouth ulcerAn area of sore, broken skin inside the mouth.
- MouthwashA liquid used to rinse and clean the mouth. It is usually not swallowed.
- MRISee Magnetic resonance imaging.
- MucinousPronounced myoo-sin-us. Mucinous carcinoma is a type of cancer that begins in cells that line certain internal organs and produces mucin (the main component of mucus)..
- MUGAMUGA stands for multiple gated acquisition. It is a type of heart scan that shows how well the heart is pumping blood around the body. It uses very small amounts of radioactive tracers to show up the main chambers and blood vessels of your heart. You have an injection first and then the scan(...)
- Multi-centre trialA trial where patients are recruited from more than one hospital. Some trials include patients from different countries.
- Multi disciplinary team (MDT)A team made up of various health professionals who work together to discuss your case and how best to manage your treatment and care. The team may include specialist doctors, surgeons, cancer specialist doctors, specialist nurses, doctors specialising in diagnosis from tissue specimens(...)
- MultifactorialMeans 'many factors involved'. When this word is used about a disease, it means it has more than one cause. For example, someone may develop a cancer partly because of their genetic make up, partly because of their diet and partly because of other factors in their environment.
- Multifrequency bio-impedanceThis is a way to measure tissue density, particularly the amount of fluid in the arm.
- Multiple myelomaThis is a form of cancer which affects plasma cells in the bone marrow.
- Muscle reconstructionA type of plastic surgery which uses muscle tissue to rebuild a part of the body that has been removed during surgery (for example, the breast).
- MutationA change in a gene. Genes are really codes that tell a cell to make a particular protein. If a gene is mutated, the protein it makes will be abnormal. Mutation can also change how a gene works by permanently switching it on or off.
- MYCNMYCN is a gene that can affect outlook (prognosis) in a childhood cancer called neuroblastoma. Some children with neuroblastoma have too many copies of this gene. This is called 'gene amplification'. Doctors think that children with too many copies of the MYCN gene may not respond as well to(...)
- Mycosis fungoidesA very rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that affects the skin. It is a type of cutaneous T cell lymphoma and usually begins with red scaly patches forming on the skin. These can be very itchy. In the second stage raised red plaques (patches) can form. The last stage is raised lumps forming(...)
- Myelodysplastic syndromesPronounced my-lo-dis-plas-tic sin-dromes. These are a group of conditions affecting the bone marrow. The bone marrow makes many abnormal blood cells but there are not enough healthy blood cells in the blood. Myelodysplastic syndromes are not cancer but they can sometimes develop into leukaemia.
- Myeloid leukaemia (AML) This is a cancer of the myeloid line of white blood cells.
- MyelomaA type of cancer that develops from the plasma cells of the bone marrow. Myeloma is often referred to by the particular type of immunoglobulin or light chain (kappa or lambda type) produced by the cancerous plasma cell.
- Myeloproliferative disordersA group of conditions closely related to leukaemia in which one or more type of blood cell is overproduced by the bone marrow. There are three main types. In essential thrombocythaemia, too many platelets are produced. In polycythaemia vera, too many red blood cells are produced. In(...)
- MyosarcomaCancer of a muscle.
- Naevoid basal cell syndromeAn inherited skin disorder that can increase your risk of developing basal cell skin cancer. Also called Gorlin's syndrome.
- Naevus (naevi)The medical name for a mole – the brown pigment patches that most fair skinned people naturally have on their skin.
- NasoendoscopyA test to examine your upper airways and voice box. A tube is put up your nose and down into your throat. The tube contains a light and a camera so your doctor can see inside. May also be called nasendoscopy.
- Nasogastric tubeA tube put down the nose into the stomach. Can be used to drain fluid from the stomach, or to give liquid food directly into the stomach.
- Nasopharyngeal cancerThis develops in the nasopharynx, an area in the back of the nose toward the base of skull.
- Neck dissectionSurgery to remove lymph nodes in one or both sides of the neck.
- Needle aspirationA type of biopsy. A needle is put into the area to be examined (for example, a breast lump) and some cells are sucked out. The cells are then looked at under the microscope.
- Needle biopsySample of tissue taken with a needle and looked at under a microscope.
- Neoadjuvant therapy (neoadjuvant treatment)Giving chemotherapy before surgery or radiotherapy to try to shrink a cancer and make the surgery or radiotherapy more successful.
- NephrostomyA small tube inserted through the skin into the kidney to drain off urine. The nephrostomy tube is connected to a drainage bag outside the body. A nephrostomy is needed if urine cannot drain out of the kidney and so collects in the kidney.
- Nerve blockA procedure sometimes used to control pain. The nerves causing the pain are 'blocked' by injecting them with a local anaesthetic to numb them or with alcohol to kill them.
- Nerve preservation (nerve sparing)Treatment that aims to avoid damaging important nerves. For example, in newer types of prostatectomy and cystectomy the surgeon tries to use nerve preservation techniques to reduce the risk of impotence after the operation.
- NeuroblastomaNeuroblastoma is a very rare cancer that affects children, mostly under the age of 5 years. It starts in cells of the body that are left behind from a baby's development in the womb.
- Neuroendocrine systemA system of nerve and gland cells that makes hormones and releases them into the bloodstream. There are neuroendocrine cells in the gut, lungs and pancreas. They make different hormones depending on where they are in the body.
- Neuroendocrine tumoursNeuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are rare cancers. The commonest type of NET is carcinoid tumour, which grows most often in the appendix and small bowel, but may occur in other parts of the digestive system, or the lung, pancreas, kidney, ovaries and testicles.
- NeurofibromatosisA condition caused by an inherited faulty gene. There are two types – neurofibromatosis 1 & 2. People with neurofibromatosis 1 have an increased risk of tumours of the optic nerve (the nerve to the eye), the auditory nerve (to the ear) and some other types of brain tumour. People with(...)
- NeutropeniaA drop in the number of white blood cells called neutrophils. This can happen a week to 10 days after having chemotherapy. Your neutrophil count gradually improves over the following days or weeks. Neutropenia can also be spelt as neutropaenia.
- NeutrophilA type of white blood cell that is very important in fighting infection. Your doctor will regularly measure the number of neutrophils in your blood if you are having treatment with cancer drugs that lower the number of neutrophils made by your bone marrow.
- NHMRCThe National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is Australia’s peak body for supporting health and medical research; for developing health advice for the Australian community, health professionals and governments; and for providing advice on ethical behaviour in health care and in the(...)
- Night sweatsHeavy sweating that happens at night for no apparent reason. Can be a symptom of some types of cancer, such as Hodgkin's lymphoma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- Nilutamide (Anandron)Inhibits the action of testosterone. Used in the treatment of prostate cancer.
- NitrosaminesChemicals that are thought to be carcinogenic (cause cancer). Used in curing meats, so found in bacon, ham, salami etc.