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Cancer and Leukaemia Terms and Titles
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Displaying 71 terms beginning with "R"
Radiation or Radioactivity is energy that is radiated or transmitted in the form of gamma rays or waves or alpha or beta particles from a radioactive source. It also means using radioactivity as a means of treatment for cancer.
See Radioactive Source.
Radical Radiotherapy consists of an intensive course of radiotherapy, given in an attempt to cure a cancer.
Radical Surgery is where surgery is carried out to try and completely remove any body tissue, which may be affected by a particular cancer.
Radical Treatment is treatment which is aimed to completely remove a cancer.
A substance or object is said to be radioactive if it is a substance, which gives off a small amount of radiation, which will show up during some types of scans.
Radioactive Beads are small beads, which are made of gold or iodine isotopes, which give off radiation. They are put inside the body, as near as possible to where the cancer is, during radiotherapy. They give high doses of radiotherapy to the cancer itself but low doses to healthy parts of the body.
Radioactive Drink is where internal radiotherapy is given in liquid form, as a drink, to treat cancer.
Radioactive Dye or Radioactive Liquid is a substance, which gives off a small amount of radiation, which will show up during some types of scans.
See Radiotherapy Implant.
This is an injection of a very small amount of a substance, which gives off radiation, which will show up during some types of scans. Some substances such as radioactive phosphorous (P32) can also be used to treat some types of cancer.
See Radioactive Dye.
See Radioactive Substance.
Radioactive Source or Radiation Source is the object or substance, which gives off or emits radiation. Radioactive, wires, implants or small metal balls can be used in internal radiotherapy as sources of radiation. Radiotherapy machines can also contain sources of radiation.
Radioactive Substance or Radioactive Material is something which gives off a small amount of radiation, which will show up during some types of scans.
See Radiation.
Radioembolisation is where radioactive material is used to block blood vessels, effectively cutting off the blood supply to a cancer. This means the amount of nutrients and oxygen getting to the cancer is reduced. As a result, the cancer may shrink.
Radiographers are medically qualified persons, trained to take x-rays or give radiotherapy. Diagnostic radiographers take x-rays to diagnose illness. Therapy radiographers carry out radiotherapy, using x-rays.
Radiologists are doctors who carry out scans and other specialist x-ray techniques. They also specialise in reading or interpreting the results of x-rays and scans.
Radiotherapists are doctors who specialise in using radiotherapy to treat patients.
Radiotherapy is a form of treatment, which uses high energy waves similar to x-rays, to kill cancer cells.
This is the department of the hospital which plans and carries out radiotherapy.
Radiotherapy Field is the name given to the area of the body which is being treated by radiotherapy. In external radiotherapy, several 'beams' are used, which overlap at the part of the body, where the cancer has been found.
Radiotherapy Implant or Radioactive Implant is a radioactive source, such as wires or small metal balls, used in internal radiotherapy as sources of radiation.
This is the maximum amount of radiotherapy that can be given to any one person or to any one part of the body. As some organs are more sensitive to radiotherapy than others, each body organ has its own radiotherapy limit.
This is the piece of equipment, which is used to give external radiotherapy.
This is a nurse, who works in the radiotherapy department and advises patients about how to manage or cope with radiotherapy and its side effects.
Radiotherapy Planning is the way in which a person's course of radiotherapy is worked out.
The unwanted effects on the body of radiotherapy. These can include tiredness. More often than not, side effects are not immediate. They can take a while to build up and usually only occur in the area of the body being treated. They usually slowly disappear shortly after treatment is finished, though this may take a number of weeks.
Radium is a naturally occurring radioactive metal. It was the first radioactive substance, which was used to treat cancer.
Radon Gas is naturally occurring radioactive gas given off or emitted by the earth. It is one of the causes of lung cancer. It may also contribute to causing other cancers. The amount of radon emitted, varies from place to place. Areas where there is a lot of granite in the ground, such as Cornwall, Derbyshire, Devon, Northamptonshire and Somerset tend to have higher levels of radon emitted.
Random simply means by chance.
Randomisation is a way of putting people into groups by chance, usually having been selected by a computer. In clinical trials, this ensures there are no other factors which could effect the results.
This is a trial, in which people are put into groups by chance. One group is then given a recognised form of treatment, sometimes a drug which is being tried out. Another group is then given a placebo. The progress of both groups is then watched or monitored and the results compared. This gives an indication of the effectiveness of the treatment, compared to the placebo.
This is a trial where people are put into groups by chance, usually having been selected by computer. Different treatments are then given to each group. The progress of both groups is then watched or monitored and the results compared. In this way, the effectiveness of both the treatments can be compared.
See Craniopharyngiomais.
Receptors are structures on the surface of cells to which specific proteins attach. When the proteins attach they trigger or start a reaction in the cell. There are many different receptors, which each trigger different reactions. Some receptors cause cells to stop growing or die, others make cells grow and divide into new cells. Where cancer cells have more receptors than normal cells, this may result in the number of cancer cells growing.
(rHu) TPO or Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin is a laboratory produced, artificial form of thrombopoietin or TPO.
This is where, by putting a finger into a patient's rectum or back passage, a doctor may be able to feel if there is anything abnormal.
The rectum or back passage, is the end of the bowel. This is where faeces are stored before they are passed.
Recur simply means a cancer has come back, after it has been first treated.
Red Blood Cells, are one of the three types of blood cells. They carry or transport oxygen round the body. The body uses oxygen to make energy which is essential for all cells to live and remain active. If you have insufficient red blood cells, you are said to have a condition known as anaemia.
See Telangiectasia.
Reddening is where the skin becomes redder. This may occur following radiotherapy or as a result of some cancer treatments.
Reflexology is complementary therapy, where the therapist uses pressure points on the feet, to discover blockages of energy in the body. They then use foot-massage to unblock these areas.
Refractory means a condition is resistant to treatment.
Regional Chemotherapy is chemotherapy applied to only one point of the body.
Regional Limb Perfusion is where chemotherapy is given to an arm or a leg. It is an experimental technique, carried out under general anaesthetic. Extra oxygen and chemotherapy are circulated through the arm or leg, for up to an hour.
See Marketing Authorisation.
This is a doctor who has received advanced training in a specialist field.
This is where an illness, that appeared to have got better or to have been cured, returns or becomes worse.
Relaxation CDs or Relaxation Tapes can help people learn to relax. They usually consist of someone talking through various relaxation exercises or techniques, often with a background of soothing music.
Relaxation Exercises or Relaxation Techniques are different ways people can be taught to relax. They may consist of learning to breathe better or to relax groups of muscles in turn.
See Relaxation CDs.
See Relaxation Exercises.
Remission is where, after examination and testing, no sign of cancer can be found. Doctors say someone is in remission, rather than cured, because they can not be sure all cancerous cells have disappeared or are unlikely to come back again. As a general rule, the longer the period of remission, the less likely it is that cancer will return.
Renal means to do with the kidneys.
Reproductive Organs or Sex Organs are the organs which are involved in sexual reproduction, 'making a baby'. They include the testes in men and the ovaries in women.
Research is where something is studied in great detail, to find out new facts about it, in order to gain a fuller scientific knowledge or understanding about it. Research into cancer could include learning new facts about the disease or finding ways to treat or prevent it.
When a clinical trial is being carried out, it needs to have been properly thought out and prepared. A research ethics committee, which usually includes, nurses, doctors, legal experts and members of the public ensures this has been done. They also ensure that patients' best interests have been considered.
Someone who carries out research.
Part of the body (usually a growth or part of a diseased organ) which is cut away or removed during an operation.
Through its immune system, the body works to destroy any infection that enters. This is known as resistance to infection. A person's resistance to infection can be affected by some cancer treatments, which can temporarily lower their white blood cell count.
Resistant means that a condition, such as cancer, is not responding to treatment. For example, where a cancer has become resistant to chemotherapy, it means the treatment is no longer controlling or shrinking it.
Respirator or Ventilator is a machine which helps a patient to breath.
Rhabdoid Tumour is a rare and highly malignant tumour. It is only found in children aged two to thirteen years. Although, usually found in the brain, it can also occur anywhere in the central nervous system, including the spinal cord.
Rhabdomyosarcoma (pronounced rab doe my oh tsar co ma) is a type of cancer which starts in the cells of muscles, that are used to control movement, such as in the arms and legs.
See Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin.
Risk Factors are things which make it more likely that someone will develop a particular illness, disease or condition. Exposure to too much sun is a risk factor for skin cancer. Smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer.
If basal skin carcinoma is left untreated it can develop into a rodent ulcer. This is a deep ulcer or hole in the skin, which has spread into and then damaged surrounding body tissue.
Rubella is an infectious disease, which is caused by a virus. For people whose immune system is weak, say from having chemotherapy, rubella can be a dangerous infection. Those having chemotherapy should not have the vaccination, as it contains the live virus.
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