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- Dacarbazine (DTIC)A chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of melanoma, soft tissue sarcoma an Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
- Dactinomycin (Actinomycin D)A chemotherapy drug used for the treatment of gestational trophoblastic neoplasms, Wilms’ tumour, childhood rhabdomyosarcoma an Ewing’s sarcoma.
- Darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp)Stimulates the production of red blood cells. It is used for the treatment of anaemia.
- Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB)An independent committee, composed of community representatives and clinical research experts, that reviews data while a clinical trial is in progress to ensure that participants are not exposed to undue risk. A DSMB may recommend that a trial be stopped if there are safety concerns or if the(...)
- Daughter cellsThe two identical cells that are formed when a cell reproduces itself by splitting into two.
- De-bulkingOperation to remove as much of a large tumour as possible. This makes it easier to treat the cancer that is left.
- Decision aidsThese aim to help people become involved with decisions about their health care with the goal that each patient’s decision is informed and consistent with his or her values.
- DecorticationOperation to remove part of the outside layer of an organ, such as the brain, kidney or lung.
- Delayed reconstructionFormation of a new breast (reconstruction) carried out some time after the operation to remove the breast.
- Dendritic cell vaccinesDendritic cells help the immune system recognise and attack abnormal cells, such as cancer cells. To make the vaccine, scientists grow dendritic cells alongside cancer cells in the lab. The vaccine then stimulates the patient's immune system to attack the cancer.
- DepressionLow mood. A strong feeling of unhappiness that lasts for more than a few weeks. Can cause physical and emotional changes.
- DermatofibromaA small red or brown, non cancerous lump on the skin.
- Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberansA rare type of soft tissue sarcoma that affects the skin
- DermatologistA doctor who specialises in skin conditions.
- Desmoid tumourA tumour made of fibrous tissue. It has some features of a benign fibrous growth (fibroma) and some of a cancerous fibrous growth (fibrosarcoma). These tumours do not spread around the body but they can spread into tissues nearby.
- DEXA scan (DXA scan)DEXA or DXA scan stands for dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. You have x-rays (usually of your hip and your lower spine) and a machine detects how much of the x-ray is absorbed and how much passes through. This shows the density of your bones. If the bone is not very dense, it is weaker and(...)
- DiabetesA disease caused by the pancreas not producing enough insulin. Can be a feature of pancreatic cancer. Can also be caused by some types of surgery for cancer of the pancreas.
- DiagnosisIdentifying a person as having a particular illness or condition, when this term is used in health care.
- Diathermy (loop diathermy)A method of destroying abnormal pre-cancerous cells on the cervix. The abnormal cells are destroyed by a small electric current which the surgeon passes through the area.
- DieticianA person trained to give advice on diet during illness and using diet to manage symptoms.
- Diffuse large cellA type of lymphoma. The lymphocyte cells appear large under the microscope and are spread out rather than clumped together. This is a high grade lymphoma.
- Diffuse mixed cellA type of lymphoma. Under the microscope the cells are mixed small and large lymphocytes and are spread out rather than clumped together. This is a high grade lymphoma.
- Diffuse small cleavedA type of lymphoma. Under the microscope the lymphocytes appear small and have a split in them (cleaved). They are spread out rather than clumped together. This is a high grade lymphoma.
- Diffuse typeDiffuse means spread out. Some lymphomas are described as diffuse and the cells are spread out
- DimplingUsed in relation to breast cancer to mean obvious dips and puckering in the skin over the breast. Can be a sign of breast cancer.
- Diptheria (diptheria vaccine)An infectious disease. You can have a vaccination against diptheria if you are having chemotherapy.
- Disease free survivalThe percentage of people that are alive and cancer free after a specified number of years (usually 5 years.)
- Disease progressionThis is when the cancer continues to increase in size even when you are having treatment, or a new secondary cancer is found.
- District nurse (community nurse)A nurse specially trained to visit and treat people in their own homes. They can dress wounds, remove stitches and look after central lines. Some also take blood and give drug treatment at home.
- DNAStands for DeoxyriboNucleic Acid. Genes are made of DNA. DNA is the 'genetic code' that controls how the body's cells behave by controlling the type of protein they make. We inherit half our DNA code from our mother and half from our father.
- DNA vaccinesVaccines made with bits of DNA from cancer cells. They can be injected into the body to make the cells of the immune system better at responding to and destroying cancer cells.
- Dose of radiotherapyAmount of radiation in your treatment. The total dose is the amount you have over a complete radiotherapy course. This is broken down into a number of treatments called fractions. Usually you have one fraction per day.
- Double blind trialTrial where neither the doctor nor the patient knows which treatment the patient is having. This is done to try to prevent bias affecting the trial results.
- Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)A chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of breast, bladder, liver, lung, prostate, stomach and thyroid cancers. It is also used in the treatment of bone and soft tissue sarcoma, lymphoma, leukaemia, multiple myeloma and childhood tumours (Wilms’ tumour, neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma).
- Doxorubicin, liposomal (Doxil, Caelyx)A chemotherapy drug which has a longer duration of action than doxorubicin. It is used in the treatment of ovarian cancer, multiple myeloma and Kaposi’s sarcoma.
- Drug licensingWhen the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) gives a pharmaceutical company the go ahead to market a drug, the drug is 'licensed'. The TGA is The federal government body that approves drugs and treatments before they can be prescribed.
- Duct (ducts)A tube or channel which carries liquid or chemicals from one part of the body to another. For example, ducts in the breasts carry milk to the nipple.
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)A type of early breast cancer affecting the ducts of the breast. Means the cancer cells are all inside the ducts (channels) of the breast and have not spread into the surrounding breast tissue. This is important as it means the chance of the cancer cells having spread anywhere else in the body(...)
- Dukes' AStage of bowel cancer. Means the cancer is just in the lining of the bowel and has not grown into the wall of the bowel.
- Dukes' BStage of bowel cancer. Means the cancer is growing into the wall of the bowel. But there is no cancer in any of the lymph nodes around the bowel.
- Dukes' CStage of bowel cancer. Means that at least one of the lymph nodes near the bowel contains cancer cells.
- Dukes' systemWay of classifying bowel cancer according to stage. There are four groups, Dukes' A to Dukes' D. 'A' is the earliest cancer and 'D' a cancer that has spread.
- Dumping (dumping syndrome)Faintness and dizziness that comes on after eating. Caused by the stomach contents moving into the bowel too quickly. Can be a side effect of stomach surgery.
- DuodenumThe first part of the small intestine, which lies between the stomach and the rest of the small intestine. The bile duct and pancreatic duct both open into the duodenum. .
- DurationHow long something lasts. Duration of treatment is the length of time your treatment lasts. Duration of response to a treatment means the time between having the treatment and the cancer beginning to grow again.
- Duration of responseThe time it takes for the cancer to come back or start growing again.
- DyskaryosisWord used to describe abnormal cells. Means the nucleus of a cell looks abnormal. Mild, moderate and severe dyskaryosis are three levels of abnormality. They are not cancer. They are all phases of pre-cancerous cells which could go on to develop into cancer if left untreated.
- DyspareuniaPain on having sex. Can be a symptom of cervical cancer or cancer of the womb.
- DysplasticThis means 'abnormal growth'. It can be used about cells - dysplastic cells are abnormal cells. You may also hear dysplastic cells called 'dysplasia'. Sometimes 'dysplastic cells' can be used to mean cells that are not quite normal, but not so abnormal to be classed as cancer cells.
- Dysplastic naevus syndrome (familial dysplastic naevus syndrome)A condition where the affected person has a large number of abnormal moles and a higher than average risk of developing malignant melanoma. If it runs in a family it is called familial dysplastic naevus syndrome.