Back to Cancer Australia’s website
Search
(clear)
- PharmacogeneticsTesting how genes affect the way people respond to a drug and the side effects they have.
- PharmacokineticsLooking at what happens to a drug in the body. It includes how the body absorbs the drug, how the drug gets to different parts of the body and how the body breaks down and gets rid of the drug.
- PhaseA distinct stage in a process. There are four phases of research in clinical trials – phase 1, 2, 3 and 4 trials.
- Phase 0 trialPhase 0 trials are the first-in-human studies for drugs that have been previously tested in animals. Usually a single drug dose is given to 10–15 people to gather preliminary data on how the drug is metabolised and what effect the drug has on the body. The dose of drug given is below what is(...)
- Phase 1 trialsThese are the first tests of a treatment in humans and involve approximately 15–30 people. They aim to see if the trial treatment is safe and to find the best dose. The research team notes major and minor side effects. This helps researchers to work out the best dose and the best way to give(...)
- Phase 2 trialsPhase 2 trials usually involve less than 100 people. The trials aim to see how well the new treatment works against cancer and to monitor for side effects. Phase 2 trials generally involve people who have already had cancer treatment. The chance of the treatment being tested in a Phase 2 trial(...)
- Phase 3 trialsPhase 3 trials involve from hundreds to thousands of people. The trials are usually conducted through doctors’ offices, hospital clinics and cancer centres around the country or even around the world. They aim to test if the new treatment (the intervention treatment) is better than the current(...)
- Phase 4 trials‘Phase 4 trial’ refers to the long-term monitoring that sometimes occurs after a drug has been licensed for use and put on the market. Phase 4 trials are to assess any long-term side effects of a new treatment. There are very few Phase 4 trials.
- Philadelphia chromosomeA genetic abnormality found in some types of leukaemia. Some of the DNA from one chromosome (no. 9) moves over to another chromosome (no. 22). This type of genetic fault is called a translocation.
- Phlegm (sputum)Pronounced 'Flem'. Mucus that is coughed up from the lungs.
- Phosphorus (P32, radioactive phosphorus)A radioactive form of phosphorus used as internal radiotherapy to treat some cancers and diseases of the bone marrow.
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT)Cancer treatment using light. An inactive drug is given. When the drug is concentrated in the cancer cells, laser light is shone at the cancer. The drug is activated and kills the cancer cells. This type of treatment is used for skin cancers. It is being tried for bladder, lung, skin and(...)
- PhysiotherapistA person trained to treat illness by physical methods such as manipulating joints and muscles, massage and heat treatment rather than by using drugs.
- Phyto oestrogensSubstances occurring in plants that have an oestrogen like effect on the body. Soya beans and soya products contain phyto oestrogens. Research is looking at whether increasing phyto oestrogens in the diet helps to prevent breast or prostate cancer.
- PigmentA substance that gives colour. There is pigment in our skin, and in the iris (coloured part) of our eyes. It is the cells that produce these pigments that become cancerous in malignant melanoma.
- Pineal germinoma (pineal tumour)A type of brain tumour affecting the pineal gland. Occurs more often in children and teenagers than in adults. It is extremely rare.
- Pituitary glandA gland in the brain that produces many different hormones. The hormones control a lot of body processes - for example, growth, metabolism, and production of sex hormones.
- Pituitary tumour (pituitary adenoma)A type of brain tumour affecting the pituitary gland. Most are benign. One in ten brain tumours are pituitary tumours.
- PlaceboA dummy treatment used in some research trials. One group of patients will get the new treatment and another group will get the dummy treatment. The patients will not know which they are getting and so will not unconsciously affect the results. Placebos are rarely used in cancer trials.
- Placebo controlled trialA trial where the control group (patients who are being compared to patients getting the new treatment) are being given a placebo (dummy treatment).
- Placebo effectUsed to describe an improvement in the condition of patients who think they are being treated, but are in fact getting a dummy treatment.
- Plantar palmar erythemaAlso called 'hand foot syndrome'. It is a side effect of some cancer drugs. The skin on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet goes red and peels. The redness and peeling clears up when the treatment is finished.
- PlaquesIn radiotherapy treatment, this is a tiny disc lined with radioactive material. Radioactive plaques are used in radiotherapy to the eye. The plaques are stitched in place over the area containing the cancer. They are left there for several days to give radiation directly to the cancer.
- PlasmaThe liquid part of blood that the blood cells are suspended in.
- PlasmacytomaA tumour of plasma cells in either bone or soft tissue. It is very similar to multiple myeloma but only found in one place in the body. Sometimes, people with a single plasmacytoma will go on to develop multiple myeloma some time later.
- Plastic surgeonA doctor who specialises in surgery to avoid or correct damage to the skin. For example, reducing the amount of scarring that may happen because of surgery to treat a cancer of the breast or head and neck.
- Platelet (platelets)A type of blood cell. Helps the blood to clot.
- Platelet transfusion (platelet transfusions)Giving extra platelets by drip into a vein.
- Pleura (pleural membrane)Two sheets of skin-like body tissue that cover each lung.
- Pleural effusionAn abnormal collection of fluid between the sheets of skin (pleura) which cover the lungs. Causes difficulty breathing.
- Pleural membrane (pleura)Sheet of skin covering the lung.
- Pleural tapA procedure to drain off a build up of fluid from between the sheets of skin that cover the lungs (a pleural effusion). A needle is put into the space and the fluid drained off into a bag. Usually done under a local anaesthetic.
- PleurectomyRemoval of the pleura - the sheets of tissue that cover the lungs.
- PleurodesisSealing the space between the two sheets of tissue that cover the lung (the pleura) with either talc or an antibiotic. This is done to stop fluid collecting in the space (pleural effusion) and causing difficulty breathing.
- PneumonectomyAn operation to remove a whole lung.
- Polio (polio vaccine)Polio is an infectious disease. You should not have a vaccination against polio if you are having chemotherapy.
- Polycythaemia rubra vera (PCV)A type of blood disease. Not a cancer. Too many blood cells are made. It is often treated with cancer treatments such as radioactive phosphorus.
- Positive lymph nodesUsed to mean lymph nodes that contain cancer cells. Means there is a greater chance that a cancer has spread and usually a sign that adjuvant treatment is needed, such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy.
- Precancer (precancerous, precancerous cells)The stage before cancer has developed, when cells appear abnormal but are not actually cancerous. If left untreated, they may go on to become cancerous. Treatment can usually prevent a cancer developing, if precancerous cells are detected by screening programs (for example the Australian(...)
- Premature menopauseMenopause brought on artificially before it would happen normally. This can be due to cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy to the womb or pelvis, or can be a result of surgery to remove the ovaries.
- Prevention trialsPrevention trials involve people who do not have cancer. The trials look to see whether a particular intervention stops cancer from developing.
- Primary brain tumourA cancer which starts in the brain (rather than spreading to the brain from another part of the body).
- Primary cancer (primary tumour)Means the area in the body where the cancer started.
- Primary lung cancerCancer that started in the lung.
- Procarbazine (Natulan)A chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of lymphoma and brain tumours.
- ProctoscopeA thin, short tube that doctors use to look into the lowest part of your bowel (the rectum). It has a light and camera on the end and may also have a tool to take biopsies of any abnormal areas.
- ProctoscopyAn examination of the rectum (back passage) using a tube (proctoscope) put into the rectum through the anus. The doctor can see inside the rectum and take biopsies (samples of tissue) for examination under a microscope.
- ProgesteroneOne of the two female sex hormones.
- PrognosisThe likely outlook for someone with a disease. In other words, whether it is likely to be cured or controlled with treatment.
- ProgressionTo a researcher, this means that a cancer has grown by at least a quarter in size, or that new areas of cancer have appeared.