Back to Cancer Australia’s website
Search
(clear)
- Bladder calculi (bladder stones)Stones in the bladder. Having multiple stones in the bladder for many years can give a higher risk of a type of bladder cancer called squamous cell bladder cancer.
- Bladder irrigationFlushing out the bladder. A tube called a urinary catheter is put into the bladder through the urethra. The catheter is connected to a bag of sterile water or salt solution which flushes out any clots of blood after surgery.
- Bladder reconstructionAn operation to make a 'new' bladder if you have to have your bladder removed.
- Bleomycin (Blenamax, Blenoxane)A chemotherapy drug used to treat a number of cancers including testicular cancer and lymphoma.
- Blind trialA type of clinical trial where the patient does not know whether they are having the treatment that is being tested, or a fake inactive treatment (placebo) that appears to be the same.
- Blocked lineA blocked drip or central line. It can sometimes be unblocked, but may have to be taken out and a new line put in (re-sited).
- Blomsinger valveA type of valve that can help you to speak after you have had your voice box (larynx) removed (a laryngectomy).
- Blood brain barrierA membrane that surrounds and protects the brain. It prevents harmful substances passing into the brain from the blood.
- Blood cells (blood cell)There are three types of blood cells: white cells which fight infection; red cells which carry oxygen around the body; and platelets which help the blood to clot.
- Blood cholesterolA type of fat in the blood. People with high levels of cholesterol are thought more likely to have heart attacks.
- Blood count (blood cell count)Blood test to count how many of each type of blood cell there are in the blood.
- Blood pressureThe pressure in the circulatory system. Blood pressure is measured with two numbers, one on top of the other. The maximum pressure is when the heart is pumping blood through, and the minimum pressure is when it is resting between beats.
- Blood sugarThe amount of sugar in the blood. If the blood sugar is too high, this could be a sign of diabetes. The normal range is between 2.5 – 4.7 mmol/l although it can be higher after a meal.
- Blood tests (blood test)Tests on samples of blood to check general health or to look for specific substances (for example, PSA, HCG and AFP levels).
- Blood transfusionGiving extra blood through a drip into a vein. Can be your own blood collected earlier and stored, or more usually blood donated by someone else.
- Blood vessels (artery, arteries, blood vessel, capillary, capillaries, vein(s)Tubes which carry blood around the body: arteries which carry blood containing oxygen; veins which carry blood back to the heart to pick up more oxygen; and capillaries, the smallest blood vessels, which connect arteries to veins.
- Body imageHow we imagine ourselves physically. After surgery that changes body appearance, it can be some time before we get used to seeing ourselves differently.
- Bone densityThickness and strength of bone. Tests for this are called ‘bone mineral density scan’s (BMD).
- Bone graftA piece of bone, taken from another part of the body and used to replace bone that has to be removed due to either injury or disease.
- Bone marrowThe spongy substance in the centre of the bones where red and white blood cells and platelets are made.
- Bone marrow harvestCollecting bone marrow for transplanting later on. It is done under general anaesthetic and usually means an overnight stay in hospital. Up to six punctures are made over the hip bones (and less usually, the chest bone). The marrow is sucked out of the puncture sites into a syringe. For(...)
- Bone marrow sample (bone marrow biopsy, bone marrow test, sample of bone marrow)Taking a small amount of bone marrow to see if it is healthy. It can show if the bone marrow contains cancer cells. A local anaesthetic is put into the skin over the hip bone. A needle is put into the hip and a small amount of bone marrow sucked out. This is examined under a microscope. The(...)
- Bone marrow transplant (BMT, bone marrow transplants)Treatment for cancer and some other illnesses. Very high doses of chemotherapy (and sometimes radiotherapy) are given to kill the cancer cells. This also kills the bone marrow, so a drip (transfusion) containing bone marrow needs to be given afterwards. This can be the patient's own marrow(...)
- Bone metastases (bone secondaries)Cancer that has spread to the bones from a cancer somewhere else in the body.
- Bone scanScan which looks for damage to bone. A small dose of a radioactive substance is injected into the bloodstream, gets into the bones and is then photographed with a gamma camera. Damaged bone shows up as a 'hot spot' on the scan.
- Booster doseAn extra dose. This term is often used to mean an extra dose of radiotherapy given to a part of the radiotherapy field at the end of a course of treatment.
- BorderlineIn cancer, means a tumour that has cells that are only just malignant. The cells look more like normal cells than in a more malignant cancer. Borderline tumours are less likely to grow quickly or spread to other parts of the body.
- Bortezomib (Velcade)Bortezomib causes cancer cells to undergo cell death by interfering with cell proteins. It is used to treat multiple myeloma.
- Bowel cancerCancer of the colon or rectum. Also called colorectal cancer.
- Bowel habitsHow often you normally open your bowels (go to the toilet).
- Bowel motionThe solid waste left over from digested food and passed out of the body through the back passage.
- Bowel obstruction (blocked bowel)Blockage in the bowel so stools cannot pass through. The bowel may be completely or partly blocked.
- Bowel preparationPreparing the bowel for tests or surgery. May mean an enema or suppositories or several days of laxatives followed by a washout of the bowel, depending on the test or operation that is to be done.
- Bowel soundsThe normal noises your bowel makes. After any abdominal surgery your doctor will listen for bowel sounds. When they return, this means your bowel has begun to work normally again and you can start eating and drinking.
- Bowel washoutCleaning out the inside of the bowel. A tube is put into the bowel through the anus. Clean or sterile water is flushed through the tube and allowed to drain out again. This is repeated until the water is clean. It is usually done before major surgery to the bowel to lower the risk of(...)
- Bowen’s diseaseA very early form of non melanoma skin cancer. It is sometimes called carcinoma in situ.
- BrachytherapyThe medical word for internal radiotherapy. This is radiotherapy given by putting a source of radiation inside the body. For example, radioactive seeds put into the prostate or a radioactive iodine drink for thyroid cancer. Radioactive seeds or needles may also be called interstitial radiotherapy.
- Brain tumour (brain tumours)Benign tumour or malignant tumour (cancer) of part of the brain. There are many different types of brain tumour and they are named depending on which type of brain cells are affected.
- BRCA1 (breast cancer gene, cancer gene, ovarian cancer gene)Gene that increases the risk of getting breast, ovarian, bowel or prostate cancer. Out of every 100 women who have a faulty version of this gene, between 80 and 85 will develop breast cancer at some point in their life. So they have a lifetime risk of 80–85%. Ovarian cancer lifetime risk is(...)
- BRCA2 (breast cancer gene, cancer gene)Gene that increases the risk of getting breast and ovarian cancer in women and breast and prostate cancer in men. Out of every 100 women who have a faulty version of this gene, between 80 and 85 will develop breast cancer at some point in their life (80–85% lifetime risk). Ovarian cancer(...)
- Breast cancerCancer of the breast, usually in women, but does occur rarely in men.
- Breast enhancer (breast enhancers)Partial artificial breast used by women who have had an operation to remove part of the breast (called a segmentectomy).
- Breast examinationMedical examination of the breasts to look for anything wrong, including lumps. The examination can be done by a doctor or breast care nurse.
- Breast implant (breast implants)An artificial breast shape put under the skin or muscle during an operation. Used to replace a breast that has had to be removed for medical reasons. Can also be used for cosmetic reasons to make the breast look bigger.
- Breast lump (breast lumps)Lump in the breast that may or may not be cancerous. Nine out of ten breast lumps are not cancer.
- Breast–ovarian cancer (BOC)This term refers to families in which individuals have suffered from breast cancer and ovarian cancer (either one individual suffered from both, or several individuals in the pedigree suffered from one or the other disease).
- Breast prostheses (breast prosthesis)Artificial breasts. Can be external (worn outside the body in a bra) or internal (put in during an operation).
- Breast reconstructionOperation to make a new breast after one has been removed. Can be done by putting in a breast implant or by using muscle and skin from the back or abdomen.
- Breast screeningExamining healthy women to see if breast cancer can be picked up early – usually before there are any symptoms.
- Breast self awarenessBeing aware of how one's breasts normally look and feel so that any abnormal changes will be noticed as soon as possible.