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- RandomBy chance.
- RandomisationIn clinical trials, the process of putting people into groups by chance, to make sure there is no bias.
- Randomised controlled trialA fair and unbiased test of whether a treatment works. Randomised controlled trials (also called randomised trials, controlled trials and clinical trials) provide the best evidence about the benefits and risks of treatments.The people taking part in the trial are put into different groups at(...)
- ReceptorsReceptors are structures on the surface of cells to which specific proteins attach. This triggers a reaction in the cell. There are many different receptors. Each triggers different reactions in the cell. Some make cells grow and divide into new cells, others tell cells to stop growing or die.(...)
- Reconstructive surgeryAn operation to rebuild a part of the body that has been removed or damaged (for example, breast reconstruction).
- RecruitmentIn clinical trials, the trial is open for people to enter.
- Rectal examinationA medical examination where the doctor puts a finger into the back passage (rectum) to see if they can feel anything wrong.
- RectumThe back passage. The end of the bowel where faeces is stored before it passes out of the body through the anus.
- RecurCome back (or happen again) – cancers may come back (recur) after they are first treated.
- Recurrence (recurred, recurrent)Cancer that has come back again in the same place after treatment.
- Red blood cells (red blood cell, red cells)Cells in the blood that carry oxygen from the lungs around the body. If you don't have enough red blood cells, it is called anaemia.
- Red spidery marks (telangiectasia)These are a long term side effect of radiotherapy. Extra blood vessels can grow in the skin where radiotherapy treatment has been given in the past.
- ReddeningTo become more red. The skin may go red after radiotherapy treatment or due to some cancer drug treatments.
- ReflexologyA type of complementary therapy. Reflexologists use pressure points on the feet, similar to acupuncture points, to detect blockages of energy in the body. They aim to correct the blockages by massaging the feet.
- Regional chemotherapyChemotherapy given to one part of the body only. For example, for secondary bowel cancer in the liver, chemotherapy can be given to the liver through the hepatic artery.
- Regional limb perfusionA technique for giving chemotherapy into an arm or leg. it is an experimental treatment. Under general anaesthetic, the blood supply to the affected arm or leg is connected to a pump which circulates it, with oxygen and the chemotherapy.
- RelapseAn illness that has seemed to be getting better, or to have been cured, comes back or gets worse again.
- RemissionIf a cancer is in remission, there is no sign of it in examinations or tests. Doctors say 'remission' instead of cure because they cannot always be sure that all cancer cells are gone and the cancer won't come back. Generally, the longer the remission, the less likely it is that the cancer(...)
- ResearchLooking into something in a systematic and logical way to find out new facts about it. Cancer research looks into new treatments, but can also find out many other things about cancers for example, who is at risk, how to prevent cancer and how to lessen side effects of treatment.
- ResectionRemoved (cut away) during an operation.
- Resistance to infectionOur immune system works to destroy infections that enter the body. Some cancer treatments can temporarily lower your white blood cell count and so lower your resistance to infection.
- ResistantNot responsive to treatment. If a cancer becomes resistant to chemotherapy, then the treatment will no longer control or shrink it.
- Respiratory systemThe body system for breathing. Includes the nose, windpipe (trachea), airways and lungs.
- Response rateHow much of the cancer the treatment kills. If the cancer disappears for a period of time it is called a ‘complete response’. If half of the cancer disappears it is called a ‘partial response’. If it stays about the same size it is called ‘stable disease’.
- RetinoblastomaA rare cancer of the eye. This cancer can either be inherited or just develop spontaneously.
- RhabdomyosarcomaA type of cancer that starts in the cells of muscles that we control, such as the muscles in the arms
- Rigid laryngoscopyAn examination of the voice box, done under anaesthetic. A rigid tube is put down your throat. The tube has a light and camera inside so your specialist can see your voice box clearly. This is usually part of a panendoscopy.
- Risk factorsIn medicine, a risk factor is something that may make you more likely to develop a particular condition or illness. For example, smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer and sun exposure a risk factor for skin cancer.
- Rituximab (Mabthera)A monoclonal antibody that is directed against the CD20 antigen (protein) found on the surface B white blood cells (lymphocytes). It is used in the treatment of non-Hogkin’s B-cell lymphoma.
- Rodent ulcerA deep ulcer (hole) in the skin that spreads into and damages the body tissues that surround it. If basal cell skin cancer is left untreated, it can develop into a rodent ulcer.
- Rubella (rubella vaccine, German measles, German measles vaccine)An infectious disease. You should not have a vaccination against rubella if you are having chemotherapy as the vaccine is live.
- SalineSolution of salt in water.
- SarcomaCancer that has developed from cells of the body's connective tissues. Muscle, bone, nerves, blood vessels, fat and fibrous tissues are all connective tissues.
- Scan (scans)Looking at the inside of the body from the outside to see if there is anything wrong (for example, a CT scan or ultrasound scan).
- SchwannomaA tumour of the nerve sheath (fatty covering of the nerves). Can occur in the major nerves of the head or the peripheral nerves (outside the brain and spinal cord). One of the most common sites is the main nerve for hearing (the acoustic nerve). Schwannomas are usually benign (non cancerous),(...)
- Screening (screening program, screening test, screening tests)Testing the general population to see if a particular disease can be picked up early - usually before that person has noticed any symptoms. This can only be done if there is a reliable and simple test for the disease, as with the cervical smear test or mammogram.
- ScrotumThe sack of skin that surrounds the testicles.
- Second cancerCancer caused by previous cancer treatment. Some treatments cause changes in the body that may lead to a different type of cancer developing some years afterwards. This is not the same as a secondary cancer, which is a cancer which has spread.
- Second line treatmentThis is the treatment you have if your first course of cancer treatment doesn't work or your cancer comes back after a period of time.
- Second look laparotomyAn operation that is done after chemotherapy (most often for ovarian cancer) to see if the cancer inside the abdomen has gone, or shrunk.
- Second opinionGetting another view on diagnosis or treatment from another doctor.
- Secondary brain tumour (metastatic brain tumour)Cancer which has spread to the brain from somewhere else in the body. The cells in the brain tumour look like the cells from the part of the body the cancer has come from, rather than like brain cells. For example, if the cancer has spread from the lung, the cancer cells in the brain will look(...)
- Secondary breast cancerCancer that has spread from the breast to another part of the body, for example, the liver or bone.
- Secondary cancer (secondaries)Cancer that has spread from where it started in the body to another part of the body.
- Secondary lung cancerLung cancer that has spread from the lungs to another part of the body, such as the liver.
- Secondary prostate cancerProstate cancer that has spread from the prostate to another part of the body, for example, the bones.
- SedationMaking someone calm and sleepy by giving them a drug called a sedative. You may have this for some medical procedures to make it less stressful. If you have sedation, you may not remember much about the procedure afterwards.
- SedativeA drug which reduces anxiety, calms you and makes you sleepy. Doctors may give you this sort of drug before certain medical procedures to make them less stressful. If you have a sedative you may be sleepy for a while afterwards and may not remember much about the procedure.
- SegmentectomyAn operation to remove a segment of a body organ, for example a segment of a lung.
- Selectron (curitron)A machine used in internal radiotherapy treatment.