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Cancer and Leukaemia Terms and Titles
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Displaying 53 terms beginning with "A"
Commonly known as the tummy or stomach, the abdomen is the area of the body that contains the pancreas, the stomach, liver, intestines and other parts of the digestive system.
Abdominal means having to do with the abdomen.
An x-ray showing the condition of the organs inside the abdomen.
Abnormal means not normal. For example, an abnormal lesion or growth may be cancerous, pre-malignant (likely to become cancer) or benign (a growth which is not cancer).
See AIDS.
See AIDS.
Actinomycin (pronounced 'act in o my sin') is a drug used in chemotherapy.
Active Surveillance is the process of closely monitoring or watching a patient's condition. At the same time, treatment is delayed until symptoms appear or change. This process is also known as watchful waiting, expectant management or observation.
In larger children's wards or units, this is someone who is responsible for providing a range of activities (e.g. painting, DVDs or board games) which will help to keep patients occupied and will also help them to express how they are feeling.
Acupuncture is an alternative or complementary therapy, originating in China, which uses very fine needles, put into the body at various points, which it is believed can help control symptoms of cancer, such as pain or sickness.
Acute describes a disease or illness, which comes on very quickly, is serious or severe but is short-lived. Someone with an acute illness may get better quite quickly. This differs from a chronic illness or disease, which is long term and slowly worsens.
A type of leukaemia that tends to affect children and young people. It is a cancer of immature lymphocytes, called lymphoblasts or blast cells. The exact cause of ALL is at present unknown.
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) (pronounced a cute, mile oid, loo key me ur) is a type of leukaemia that tends to affect children and young people. Basically it is the result of an overproduction of immature myeloid white blood cells, also known as blast cells. The exact cause of acute myeloid leukaemia is at present unknown.
Acute Non-lymphocytic Leukemia (pronounced a cute, non limb foe sigh tick, loo key me ur) is a very quick developing disease. It is caused by too many immature white blood cells (not lymphocytes) being found in the bone marrow or blood.
See Craniopharyngiomais.
Adjuvant is a word meaning 'in addition to' or extra. So adjuvant therapy or adjuvant treatment is additional to a person's main treatment. An example of this is where someone has had an operation to remove a cancerous growth (which is the main treatment) and they are then prescribed, given to take, hormone therapy in order to deal with any stray cancer cells not removed in the operation (this would be adjuvant therapy or treatment).
See Alpha-fetoprotein.
AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is a set of symptoms and infections resulting from the damage to the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
See Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome.
Alertness means the state of being aware or alert.
Alexander Technique is an alternative or complementary therapy, designed to improve a persons muscles and posture, so that they can stand or move more easily.
See Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.
Alleviate means to lessen or reduce something, such as pain or the discomfort caused by symptoms.
This is a stem cell or bone marrow transplant using a donor.
Alopecia is the term used when someone loses their hair. This can be the hair on your head or any other body hair, including eyelashes or eyebrows. Alopecia could be caused by chemotherapy, where some or all of a person's hair is lost, as a result of the treatment.
AFP (Alpha-fetoprotein) is a protein found in the blood, the level of which will indicate whether cancer of the testicles is present and the extent of it.
See Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.
Amputation is an operation to remove a part of the body, such as an arm or a leg.
Amsacrine (pronounced am sack rine) is a drug used in chemotherapy.
Anaemia is where the number of red blood cells in a person's blood is below normal levels. As a result of anaemia, a person can feel fatigued or tired, this is because the red blood cells carry oxygen around the body.
A drug that causes a temporary loss of sensation or feeling of pain, with or without the loss of consciousness, in order that an operation or procedure can be carried out. This can be a local anaesthetic, which only makes a part of the body numb but the person remains conscious, fully awake and alert. With a general anaesthetic, the person is put to sleep, loses consciousness, whilst the operation is carried out.
This is a doctor who gives or administers an anaesthetic and who is also an expert on pain control.
See Pain-killers.
Drugs that stop the blood vessels from growing are called antiangiogenic.
See Antibiotics.
Antibiotics or Antibiotic Drugs are chemicals used to fight infections caused by bacteria. They are produced naturally by the body but are often made artificially. Artificial antibiotics are given in tablet form or by injection, to help the body fight infection.
Acting as the body's army, antibodies, generally found in the blood, detect and destroy invaders, such as harmful bacteria and viruses.
Anti-cancer means a substance or treatment which fights cancer.
Anticoagulants are drugs which prevent the blood from clotting.
Anticonvulsant Drugs are drugs which help to prevent and control fits.
Antiemetic Drugs are chemicals to combat nausea or sickness.
Antigens are any substances (such as toxins or enzymes) that cause an immune response in the body (especially the production of antibodies).
Anti-hormones are drugs which are used in hormone therapy. They stop hormones from developing and so stop the cancer from growing.
This is a substance which kills off micro-organisms, such as bacteria. An antiseptic could be used in sterilisation.
This is the person who shows patients how to fit equipment, fitments or prostheses and items such as stockings, collars, wigs etc.
An appointment is an arranged time, date and place for someone to attend a hospital or clinic. This could be for diagnosis or treatment.
See Marketing Authorisation.
Aromatherapy is an alternative or complementary treatment where someone is massaged, using natural oils from flowers, roots or leaves, to aid relaxation.
This is the person who organises art therapy and to whom the patient can talk about the feelings they are trying to express through art.
Art Therapy is an alternative or complementary therapy which uses art as a means of helping someone relax or express their feelings, through activities such as painting or drawing.
An artery is a blood vessel which carries the blood from the heart to the tissues and organs. A vein carries blood back to the heart from the tissues and organs.
Artificial, not natural, manufactured or made. An artificial limb may replace one that has been cut off by amputation.
Autologous transplants are stem cell or bone marrow transplants using the person's own stem cells or bone marrow.
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