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- Abdominal radiotherapyRadiotherapy given to any part of the abdomen. The abdomen is the area below the ribs and above the hip bones.
- Abdominal side effectsUnwanted effects on the abdomen caused by cancer treatments. May include diarrhoea, wind, bleeding, abdominal cramps or pain. May be caused by abdominal radiotherapy or cancer medicines.
- Abdominoperineal resectionAn operation to remove anal cancer. The surgeon removes the anus, your rectum and part of your colon. They may also remove some lymph nodes. A colostomy is formed during the operation.
- Acinar cellA type of cell in the pancreas that produces the digestive juices of the pancreas. These cells can develop into a type of pancreatic cancer.
- Acitinic keratosisA change in the skin that may be the first warning sign of a skin cancer developing. It shows as an area (lesion) that is usually slightly raised, red or pink and may be scaly. The area is very sensitive to sunlight. It may also be called actinic keratosis.
- Acoustic neuromaSlow growing, benign brain tumour. Grows on the auditory nerve, which is responsible for hearing.
- Acral lentiginous melanomaAn uncommon type of malignant melanoma that most often occurs on the soles of the feet. It can also develop on the skin of the palms of the hands.
- Active drugA term used in drug trials to distinguish between the drug and placebo. The active drug contains actual medicine.
- Acute leukaemiaA quickly developing cancer of the blood forming system. There are 2 main types – acute myeloid leukaemia and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
- AdenocarcinomaA cancer of glandular tissue. Glandular tissue is made up of cells that secrete (make and release) liquids, enzymes, hormones or other chemicals. For example, an adenocarcinoma of the lung is a cancer of the glandular cells lining the airways. Glandular cells lining the airways secrete mucus.
- Adenoid cystic cancerA rare type of cancer of glandular tissue that occurs most often in the salivary glands. It can also occur in the mouth, nose, nasal sinuses, voice box, and very rarely, in the food pipe (oesophagus).
- Adjuvant tamoxifenTamoxifen may be taken after surgery to try to prevent a cancer from coming back.
- Adjuvant therapyA treatment given in addition to the main treatment (for example, chemotherapy as well as surgery) to try to prevent a cancer from coming back.
- Advanced cancerAdvanced cancer usually means a cancer that has spread from where it started to another part of the body. 'Locally advanced' cancer usually means the cancer has grown outside the organ that it started in and into surrounding body tissues.
- Affected lymph nodesUsually means lymph nodes that have cancer cells in them.
- AflatoxinMould found on peanuts that can cause primary liver cancer.
- After loadingDuring internal radiotherapy, the tubes which hold the radioactive source are put in under anaesthetic. The radioactive source is put into the tubes after you are back on the ward, so this is known as ’after loading’.
- AlcoholHeavy drinking is linked to some cancers and can damage your liver. The NHMRC's 2009 Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol recommends that 'for healthy men and women, drinking no more than two standard drinks on any day reduces the lifetime risk of harm from(...)
- Alemtuzumab (MabCampath)A monoclonal antibody directed against the CD52 antigen used in the treatment of B-cell and T-cell leukaemia.
- Alkaline phosphataseThis is a chemical that is normally found in the bloodstream. It is produced by bone cells and liver cells. The level in the blood can be raised in some types of primary and secondary bone cancer and if the liver is damaged.
- Allogeneic transplant (donor transplant)Means a bone marrow or stem cell transplant using bone marrow or stem cells from a donor. The donor must be tested to check that their marrow or stem cells are as close a match as possible to the person receiving them, so that the marrow or stem cells are less likely to be rejected.
- AlopeciaHair loss.
- Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)Substance found in the bloodstream of some men with testicular cancer. The level rises when the cancer is growing and falls when the cancer is shrinking. So a blood test can measure the progress of the disease and success of treatment. AFP can also be elevated in primary liver cancer.
- Alternative therapiesUnproven therapies used instead of or as well as orthodox medical treatment.
- Amino acidsThe building blocks of proteins – proteins are made of long chains of amino acids joined together.
- Aminoglutethimide (Cytadren)A drug that blocks the aromatase enzyme which blocks the production of oestrogens and other steroid hormones used in the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma. It was previously used in the treatment of breast cancer but now more specific aromatase inhibitors are used instead.
- AmputationOperation to remove part of the body. Usually used to refer to removing an arm or leg.
- AmyloidosisAbormal plasma cells make a protein called amyloid which collects in the body organs, such as the kidney or heart. Amyloidosis is rare, but about 10 to 15 out of every 100 people (10–15%) with myeloma either have, or develop, amyloidosis. Treatment is usually chemotherapy with the same drugs(...)
- AnaemiaA low number of red blood cells. Blood cells contain haemoglobin, and so the level of haemoglobin is also low. Red blood cell and haemoglobin levels can be measured by blood test.
- AnaestheticDrug which stops feeling, especially pain. A general anaesthetic will also make you unconscious. A local anaesthetic just stops feeling in part of the body.
- AnaesthetistA doctor who specialises in giving all types of anaesthetic. This includes general anaesthetics, anaesthetics to specific parts of the body (local or regional) and spinal blocks.
- Anagrelide (Agrylin)A drug that inhibits the production of platelets. It is used in haematological cancers which cause too many platelets to be produced.
- Anal cancerThe anus is the opening to the outside of the body at the end of the bowel. There are several different types of anal cancer. Most are squamous cell cancers, sometimes called epidermoid cancers.
- AnastomosisRe-connecting or joining together. For example, in bowel surgery, part of the bowel can be cut out and the two cut ends joined together (anastomosed).
- Anastrozole (Arimidex)Decreases the synthesis of oestrogen by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme. It is used in the treatment of breast cancer.
- Anecdotal evidenceEvidence based on personal experience that hasn't been scientifically tested. Usually means observations and reports that are passed on by word of mouth.
- AngiogenesisCreation of blood vessels. Growing cancers can attract new blood vessels to grow towards them so that they can get their own blood supply.
- Angiogenic factorsChemicals given off by cells that make new blood vessels grow.
- AngiogramAn X-ray test that uses dye to look at blood vessels. The doctor injects dye into an artery. As the dye passes through your blood vessels, the doctor can see them on an X-ray screen. This test can show the blood supply to cancers or to any part of the body.
- AngiographyX-rays of the blood vessels using a dye.
- AngiosarcomaType of cancer that develops from the cells making up the walls of blood or lymph vessels. These cancers are called either haemangiosarcomas (blood vessels) or lymphangiosarcomas (lymph vessels).
- Anomalous pancreatobiliary duct junctionAn abnormal join between the bile duct and the pancreas. This means that pancreatic juices and enzymes can go back up into the common bile duct. This causes inflammation and weakens the bile duct wall.
- AnthracyclineAnthracyclines are a group of chemotherapy drugs. They are a type of cytotoxic antibiotic. This group of drugs includes aclarubicin, daunorubicin, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), epirubicin and idarubicin. Mitoxantrone (used to be called mitozantrone) is made from anthracyclines, so is sometimes(...)
- Anti-androgen (anti-androgens)Androgen is a type of male sex hormone. An anti-androgen is a drug that stops androgens from being produced or stops them working.
- Anti idiotype vaccinesA vaccine that stimulates the body to make antibodies against cancer cells.
- Antiangiogenic drugsDrugs that can stop cancers from forming their own blood supply. Research is going on into developing these drugs.
- AntibioticsDrugs which fight bacterial infections.
- AntibodiesBlood proteins produced by white blood cells when the body recognises that something foreign (unfamiliar) has got in, for example bacteria. The antibodies attach themselves to the invading bacteria or viruses, which are then destroyed.
- Antiemetic drugsMedicines that reduce or stop nausea and being sick.
- Antigen vaccinesVaccines made from special proteins (antigens) in cancer cells. They aim to stimulate the patient's immune system to attack the cancer. Scientists have recently worked out the genetic codes of many of these cancer cell proteins, so they can make them in the lab in large quantities.