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- CHART (Continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy)A way of giving radiotherapy in which more than one treatment (fraction) per day is given.
- Check up (check ups)Medical appointments after treatment has finished, to see how you are. These appointments are sometimes called 'follow up'.
- ChemoradiationChemotherapy and radiotherapy given together. You may have chemotherapy through a pump during part of your course of radiotherapy. Or you may have one treatment 'sandwiched' between the other – for example, chemotherapy, then your radiotherapy, then more chemotherapy.
- ChemotherapyDrug treatment. In cancer care the term is used to mean anti-cancer drugs. There are many types of cancer chemotherapy drugs and they are divided into groups - alkylating agents, nitrosoureas, antimetabolites, anthracyclines, topoisomerase inhibitors and mitotic inhibitors. These drugs may(...)
- Chemotherapy course (course of chemotherapy)A series of anti-cancer drug treatments. Chemotherapy is normally given in cycles – where the drugs are given and then there is a break to allow the body to recover before the drugs are given again. A course of treatment is made up of a number of cycles of treatment. So, a course of treatment(...)
- Chemotherapy pump (infusion pump)Machine which controls how fast anti-cancer drugs are given. Some types of pump are attached to a drip. Other types are small, portable pumps which hold their own syringe or bag of drugs. The portable pumps can be used at home, with trips to the hospital only to change the syringe or bag.
- Chemotherapy regimenA plan for giving chemotherapy treatment. It may include only one chemotherapy drug or a combination of drugs. The regime describes the names of the drugs, the dose of each drug, how often you have them and how many doses you will have. If a cancer continues to grow or comes back after a(...)
- Chemotherapy side effectsUnwanted effects of treatment with anti-cancer drugs (sickness, hair loss etc).
- Chemotherapy tabletsChemotherapy that can be taken by mouth. Most chemotherapy drugs cannot be given as tablets, either because the drug is too toxic to the stomach, or because the digestive juices destroy it. But some can be taken as tablets, for example, chlorambucil, hydroxycarbamide (used to be called(...)
- Chemotherapy trialResearch study looking at a particular chemotherapy treatment. Usually compares the new treatment with existing treatment to see which works best and find out the benefits and drawbacks.
- Chest cavityThe space in the chest that contains the heart and lungs. The medical name for this is the thorax.
- Chest wallMuscle covering the chest, including behind the breast tissue.
- Chest X-ray (chest X-rays)Picture of the inside of the chest, taken using X-rays. Most often used to show the lungs.
- Chi squared testStatistical test that helps to show if there is a real difference between different treatments being tested in a controlled clinical trial.
- ChickenpoxInfectious disease caused by a virus called herpes zoster. This can be dangerous to people who have had chemotherapy, especially high dose for bone marrow or stem cell transplant. The virus can also cause a painful condition called shingles.
- Chlorambucil (Leukeran)An oral chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and low grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
- CholangiocarcinomaBile duct cancer.
- CholangiographyX-rays of the bile ducts using a dye.
- CholecystectomyOperation to remove the gall bladder. Also called a simple cholecystectomy.
- CholecystojejunostomySurgery to relieve (bypass) a blocked bile duct. The gall bladder is reconnected directly to the gut.
- Choledochal cystsAn abnormal condition in which small sacs form along the bile duct and fill with bile. This condition increases the risk of gall bladder cancer.
- CholedochoenterostomyType of bypass surgery to relieve a blocked bile duct. The bile duct is cut above the blockage and reconnected to the gut.
- ChondrosarcomaA type of primary bone cancer that makes cartilage. Cartilage is the smooth, shiny tissue that normally covers the ends of long bones.
- ChoriocarcinomaA type of germ cell cancer. Germ cells are the cells that form sperm or eggs. Choriocarcinomas can develop in the womb after a 'molar pregnancy'. This is when the sperm and egg cells have joined but a baby does not develop. Occasionally choriocarcinomas can grow in other parts of the body.
- ChoroidOne of the layers lining the eyeball. This layer contains lots of pigment to stop light coming into the eye from being reflected around the inside of the eyeball and so interfering with your eyesight. The cells that produce this pigment can develop into malignant melanoma in very rare cases.
- ChromiumA metal used in the dyeing and leather tanning industries. Also used to cover other metals for decoration and to protect them from rusting. Thought to be a factor in the cause of some cancers.
- Chromogranin A (CgA)Chromogranin is a protein made by some neuroendocrine tumours including carcinoid. It is also made by some other types of cancer, such as small cell lung cancer and neuroblastoma. A higher than normal level of CgA in the blood is a marker for these tumours. Doctors use CgA to diagnose and(...)
- ChromosomeFound in the nucleus (centre) of all human cells, the chromosomes are made of millions of genes. The genes are codes that control the cell. One set of chromosomes is inherited from each parent through the egg and sperm that join together when an egg is fertilised during conception.
- Chronic eosinophilic leukaemiaA type of leukaemia where the bone marrow gradually overproduces one type of white blood cell - the eosinophils. The eosinophils build up in the bone marrow, blood and other body tissues.
- Ciliary bodyThis is the muscle in the eyeball that controls the shape of the lens and so focuses your eyes. Very rarely, malignant melanoma can develop in the ciliary body.
- CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, CIN 1, CIN 2, CIN 3)CIN stands for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, which means pre-cancerous cells found on the surface of the cervix. The cells are found by cervical screening with either a cervical smear test or liquid based cytology. The cell changes can be classed as CIN 1, 2, or 3. The higher the number,(...)
- Circulation (circulatory system)The flow of blood through the body. The blood flows from the right side of the heart to the lungs where it picks up oxygen. It goes back to the left side of the heart and is then pumped around the body. After it has travelled around the body, it goes back to the right side of the heart.
- CisplatinA chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of a number of cancers including testis, ovary, endometrial, cervical, bladder, head and neck, gastrointestinal and lung cancers. It is also used to treat soft tissue and bone sarcomas and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
- Cladribine (Leustatin, Litak)A chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of hairy cell leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia.
- ClassificationGrouping diseases with similar characteristics. Different varieties of a type of cancer can be classified according to how the cells look under the microscope. Doctors use classifications to help them decide how best to treat a particular cancer.
- Cleaning the marrow (purging)This means removing any cancer cells that may still be in marrow that has been harvested for autologous bone marrow transplant.
- Clear marginsA border of tissue around a removed tumour that contains no cancer cells. Removing this border along with the cancer helps to make sure that all the cancer has been taken out and lowers the risk of the cancer coming back.
- Clinical trialCarefully designed research studies that investigate a new test, treatment or medical procedure in people. Trials may look at whether a treatment is safe, its side effects or how well a treatment or procedure works. Some trials look at how well treatments control symptoms or whether they(...)
- Closed clinical trialsThis means the trial is not recruiting participants.
- ClottingNormal way the body stops bleeding. Some of the blood will thicken and form a clot. This blocks the bleeding point or wound.
- Clotting timeBlood test to see how fast the blood clots. This test is often used for people having chemotherapy. If the clotting time is too slow bleeding can happen inside the body.
- Cobalt (cobalt 60)A radioactive metal which gives off gamma rays (radiation) and is used to give radiotherapy.
- Coeliac plexusA network of nerves at the back of the abdomen. Pressure on the nerves from a tumour can cause pain, which can be relieved by a procedure called a nerve block.
- Cold capUsed to try to prevent hair falling out during chemotherapy treatment. Is worn as the treatment is given and makes the skin of the head very cold. This slows the blood flow through the scalp and reduces the amount of anti-cancer drugs reaching the hair follicles. Can help to prevent hair loss,(...)
- Cold coagulationMethod of treating abnormal cells on the cervix to prevent them developing into cervical cancer. Despite the name, a hot probe is actually used to burn off the abnormal cells so that normal ones can grow back in their place.
- Colon (bowel, large bowel, large intestine)Also called the large bowel, large intestine, or the bowel. Waste left from digested food passes from the small bowel to the colon, where fluid and some nutrients are absorbed. The waste then goes through to the rectum (back passage) and then through the anus to the outside of the body.
- Colonoscopy (colonoscope)Examination of the colon (large bowel) using a long, thin bendy tube (colonoscope) put up into the colon through the anus. The doctor can see inside the bowel and take biopsies (samples of tissue) to examine under a microscope.
- Colorectal cancerCancers of the colon and rectum (large bowel). These are grouped together and called colorectal cancer.
- ColostomyOpening of the bowel onto the surface of the abdomen (tummy). A bag is worn to collect the waste matter from digestion that would normally be passed from the body as a bowel motion.
- Colostomy bag (colostomy pouch)Bag that is made to use with a colostomy. Most commonly a soft, flat, plastic disc (flange) is stuck over the stoma with a special glue and the bag attaches to that. There are many different designs and your stoma nurse will help find the right one for you.