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- HaemangioblastomaA rare, slow growing type of brain tumour. Develops from blood vessel cells in the brain. Is almost always benign.
- Haematological malignanciesLeukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma are haematological malignancies. These are cancers of the bone marrow or lymphatic system, where blood cells are made. Normally, blood cells are produced in a controlled way. In these cancers, too many blood cells are made and the cells don't work properly.
- Haematological responseThis is a way of describing how well your treatment has worked for some types of blood cancer. It means that following treatment your blood counts have gone back to more normal levels.
- HaematomaA swelling where blood has collected under the skin.
- Haematopoietic tissueThe tissue where the blood cells are made. The bone marrow in adults.
- HaemoglobinA pigment containing iron. It is found in red blood cells and carries oxygen around the body.
- Haemorrhagic cystitisInflammation of the bladder with severe bleeding.
- Hair follicle (hair follicles)The sac in which the hair grows in the scalp. The hair follicles are damaged by some chemotherapy drugs. This is why chemotherapy often causes hair loss.
- Hand-foot syndromeThis is a side effect of some cancer treatments, including chemotherapy with capecitabine tablets or continuous 5FU. 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. It is also called(...)
- Head and neck cancer (head and neck)A term used by doctors to mean cancer affecting the lip, mouth, nose etc. Does not usually mean cancers of the oesophagus (gullet) or larynx (voice box).
- HeartThe organ which pumps blood around the body.
- Helicobacter pyloriBacteria which can infect the stomach. Stomach infection with HP has been shown to be a cause of a rare type of lymphoma of the stomach. It also possibly increases the risk of the most common type of stomach cancer, (adenocarcinoma of the stomach), but this has not been conclusively proved.
- Helper T cellsType of white blood cell. Helper T cells stimulate B cells to make antibodies as part of the immune response.
- Hemibody irradiationRadiotherapy treatment of half the body at a time. It is most commonly used to treat secondary bone cancer.
- HeparinA drug which stops the blood from clotting. People sometimes describe this as ’thinning the blood’.
- Hepatic arteryThe main blood vessel carrying blood to the liver.
- Hepatic artery infusional chemotherapy (hepatic artery pump)Chemotherapy that is given straight into the main blood vessel to the liver. It is most commonly used to treat secondary bowel cancer in the liver.
- Hepatitis A (hepatitis A vaccine)An infectious disease. You can have a vaccination against hepatitis A if you are having chemotherapy.
- HepatopancreatoduodenectomyAn operation to remove some of the liver tissue, the pancreas and some of the small bowel (intestine).
- HER2HER2 stands for human epidermal growth factor receptor. It is a protein found in small amounts on normal breast cells. It is one of the proteins involved in cell growth. About a quarter of breast cancers have too much of this protein - they are said to be HER2 positive.
- HER2/neuThis gene makes cells produce HER2 protein.
- Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancerThis is a type of inherited cancer of the digestive tract, particularly the colon large intestine and rectum.
- HeredityThe passing on of characteristics to the next generation via the genes. You can inherit physical or mental characteristics or the tendency to develop particular illnesses. Half your chromosomes (and so half your genes) come from your mother and half from your father.
- High dose chemotherapyAnti-cancer drug treatment using very high drug doses. It often needs to be followed by a transfusion of bone marrow or stem cells.
- High gradeMeans the cells look very different to normal cells. So the cancer may grow more quickly and be more likely to spread than low grade cancer.
- High grade: lymphomas (high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma)High grade lymphomas are faster growing and more acute diseases than low grade. They are usually treated with more intensive chemotherapy treatment than low grade, but if treated at an early stage, may just be treated with radiotherapy.
- High grade: solid tumoursMeans the cells look quite similar to normal cells. So the cancer may grow slowly and is not so likely to spread as high grade cancers.
- HistiocyteA type of immune system cell called a macrophage that is found in the body's soft tissues.
- HistologyThe study of body tissues and cells. When a biopsy is 'sent for histology' it is looked at under a microscope to find the type of body tissue it is. If it is a cancer the laboratory does tests to see which type of cancer it is.
- HNPCC (Hereditary non polyposis colorectal cancer)Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is also known as Lynch syndrome. People with HNPCC have inherited faulty genes that give them a high risk of developing bowel cancer. They also have a higher risk of womb cancer, ovarian cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer and bladder(...)
- Hoarse voiceThe voice sounds husky and croaking. Can be a symptom of lung cancer or other head and neck cancers but may also be caused by other medical conditions.
- Hodgkin's diseaseA cancer of the lymphatic system. It is a type of lymphoma. There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin's disease and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- Holter test (Holter monitor)A test that records the electrical activity of your heart over a period of time. You have to wear a small device about the size of a mobile phone or a walkman on your belt. 4 to 6 electrical leads from the device are attached to your chest by sticky pads. You wear this for between 24 hours and(...)
- Hormone dependent (hormone sensitive)A hormone dependent cancer is one that is stimulated to grow by the presence of a particular hormone. Breast cancer and prostate cancer can be hormone dependent cancers.
- Hormone (hormones)Natural chemicals made in one part of the body which travel in the bloodstream and make things happen in another part of the body. Some cancers are stimulated to grow by hormones, including the sex hormones (testosterone in men and oestrogen in women).
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)Treatment with sex hormones to replace those no longer being produced. Women may take oestrogen alone, or more usually, oestrogen and progesterone after natural or early menopause. Men may take testosterone after having both testicles removed during cancer treatment. HRT should not be taken(...)
- Hormone therapy (hormone treatment)Treating a disease with hormones, or by blocking the action of hormones.
- HospiceA place people where can go for treatment and relief of symptoms from their cancer. Hospices aim to maintain the best possible quality of life for as long as possible. They usually offer day patient and in-patient care.
- Hospital attendanceHow often you have to go to the hospital and for how long.
- Hot flushesA sudden feeling of being very hot. You may also go red in the face and sweat. It usually lasts for a few minutes. These effects occur in women going through the menopause or 'change of life'. They may also be caused by some cancer treatments in women and men.
- Hot spotsAn area which shows up on a bone scan. Means there is damage to bone. This could be arthritis, an old fracture or cancer in the bones.
- Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG)A hormone made by the body in early pregnancy. This hormone may also be produced by some types of cancer, mainly choriocarcinoma and some testicular cancers.
- Human papilloma virusA group of viruses. There are more than 100 different types of HPV. Some cause wart-like growths on the skin. Some types of HPV are a factor in the development of cancers of the cervix, anus and head and neck.
- Human Research Ethics CommitteeA group of people who look at trial plans to see whether they have been properly thought out and prepared. Usually includes doctors, nurses, lawyers and members of the public. They are responsible for checking that the best interests of patients have been considered.
- Hydroxyurea (Hydrea)An oral chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of leukaemia, essential thrombocythaemia, polycythaemia rubra vera and for the prevention of the retinoic acid syndrome in acute promyelocytic leukaemia.
- HypercalcaemiaToo much calcium in the blood. This causes drowsiness and sickness at first and unconsciousness if it is not treated. Often caused by cancer affecting the bones.
- Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES)A group of disorders in which the bone marrow produces too many eosinophils – one type of white blood cell. The eosinophils gradually build up in body tissues and damage body organs.
- HyperplasiaMeans increased growth of cells, but the cells are normal.
- Hysterectomy (salpingo-oophorectomy, TAH, TAHBSO)An operation to remove the womb. TAH stands for total abdominal hysterectomy. BSO stands for bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which means removing both ovaries and fallopian tubes as well.