Back to Cancer Australia’s website
Search
(clear)
- Naevoid basal cell syndromeAn inherited skin disorder that can increase your risk of developing basal cell skin cancer. Also called Gorlin's syndrome.
- Naevus (naevi)The medical name for a mole – the brown pigment patches that most fair skinned people naturally have on their skin.
- NasoendoscopyA test to examine your upper airways and voice box. A tube is put up your nose and down into your throat. The tube contains a light and a camera so your doctor can see inside. May also be called nasendoscopy.
- Nasogastric tubeA tube put down the nose into the stomach. Can be used to drain fluid from the stomach, or to give liquid food directly into the stomach.
- Nasopharyngeal cancerThis develops in the nasopharynx, an area in the back of the nose toward the base of skull.
- Neck dissectionSurgery to remove lymph nodes in one or both sides of the neck.
- Needle aspirationA type of biopsy. A needle is put into the area to be examined (for example, a breast lump) and some cells are sucked out. The cells are then looked at under the microscope.
- Needle biopsySample of tissue taken with a needle and looked at under a microscope.
- Neoadjuvant therapy (neoadjuvant treatment)Giving chemotherapy before surgery or radiotherapy to try to shrink a cancer and make the surgery or radiotherapy more successful.
- NephrostomyA small tube inserted through the skin into the kidney to drain off urine. The nephrostomy tube is connected to a drainage bag outside the body. A nephrostomy is needed if urine cannot drain out of the kidney and so collects in the kidney.
- Nerve blockA procedure sometimes used to control pain. The nerves causing the pain are 'blocked' by injecting them with a local anaesthetic to numb them or with alcohol to kill them.
- Nerve preservation (nerve sparing)Treatment that aims to avoid damaging important nerves. For example, in newer types of prostatectomy and cystectomy the surgeon tries to use nerve preservation techniques to reduce the risk of impotence after the operation.
- NeuroblastomaNeuroblastoma is a very rare cancer that affects children, mostly under the age of 5 years. It starts in cells of the body that are left behind from a baby's development in the womb.
- Neuroendocrine systemA system of nerve and gland cells that makes hormones and releases them into the bloodstream. There are neuroendocrine cells in the gut, lungs and pancreas. They make different hormones depending on where they are in the body.
- Neuroendocrine tumoursNeuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are rare cancers. The commonest type of NET is carcinoid tumour, which grows most often in the appendix and small bowel, but may occur in other parts of the digestive system, or the lung, pancreas, kidney, ovaries and testicles.
- NeurofibromatosisA condition caused by an inherited faulty gene. There are two types – neurofibromatosis 1 & 2. People with neurofibromatosis 1 have an increased risk of tumours of the optic nerve (the nerve to the eye), the auditory nerve (to the ear) and some other types of brain tumour. People with(...)
- NeutropeniaA drop in the number of white blood cells called neutrophils. This can happen a week to 10 days after having chemotherapy. Your neutrophil count gradually improves over the following days or weeks. Neutropenia can also be spelt as neutropaenia.
- NeutrophilA type of white blood cell that is very important in fighting infection. Your doctor will regularly measure the number of neutrophils in your blood if you are having treatment with cancer drugs that lower the number of neutrophils made by your bone marrow.
- NHMRCThe National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is Australia’s peak body for supporting health and medical research; for developing health advice for the Australian community, health professionals and governments; and for providing advice on ethical behaviour in health care and in the(...)
- Night sweatsHeavy sweating that happens at night for no apparent reason. Can be a symptom of some types of cancer, such as Hodgkin's lymphoma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- Nilutamide (Anandron)Inhibits the action of testosterone. Used in the treatment of prostate cancer.
- NitrosaminesChemicals that are thought to be carcinogenic (cause cancer). Used in curing meats, so found in bacon, ham, salami etc.
- Nodular melanomaA type of malignant melanoma, found most commonly in the skin of the chest or back. Can develop quite quickly and is most common in middle aged people.
- NoduleA small lump or outgrowth.
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)A group of diseases that are cancers of the lymphatic system. There are many different types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- Non small cell lung cancer (non small cell)The name for a group of types of lung cancer: squamous cell, adenocarcinoma and large cell lung cancers. These are grouped together because they all behave in similar ways and respond to roughly the same treatments.
- Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)Drugs that reduce swelling, inflammation, pain and high temperatures (fever).