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Cancer and Leukaemia Terms and Titles
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Displaying 90 terms beginning with "S"
Saline describes a liquid made up of salt dissolved in water.
Saliva, commonly called spit, is made by the salivary glands. It keeps the mouth moist and healthy. Saliva contains an enzyme, which starts the process of digesting food, before it gets to the stomach.
See Specimen.
This is a cancer that has developed in the cells of the body's connective tissues, such as the muscles, bones, cartilage, nerves, blood vessels.
Saturated Fat is found in meat and dairy products. Obesity caused by too much saturated fat in the diet, results in an increased risk for some cancers.
Where it is thought there is something wrong internally, inside the body, one way of checking, is to take a scan using a scanner. Scans allow doctors to see if there is anything wrong from the outside, without carrying out an operation. Examples of scans are: an MRI scan, a CT scan or an ultrasound scan.
A scanner is an electronic machine that allows doctors to build up a picture of what is going on inside a person's body. They are similar to X-rays.
Scapula is the proper name or medical term for the shoulder blade.
Screening is a method used to test the population at large, to pick up the signs of particular diseases. This means early treatment can be given to someone, usually before they have noticed any symptoms. Examples of simple and reliable tests, which can be used in screening, are the cervical smear test or mammogram.
Second Cancer is a cancer caused by previous treatment for a different type of cancer. A second cancer is different to a secondary cancer, which is one which has spread. A second cancer occurs as a result of changes caused by certain cancer treatments. Second cancers can develop several years after that treatment.
Second Line Treatment is cancer treatment which is given, if a first type of treatment has not worked. Where cancer has come back after a period of time, treatment may be referred to as second line.
This is where another doctor gives his view, about the diagnosis a patient has been given or the treatment proposed. A patient may ask for a second opinion, if they are in any way unhappy or unsure about the diagnosis or treatment proposed. A doctor may ask a colleague for a second opinion, if he or she is not certain another about the diagnosis or treatment they propose.
See Metastatic Cancer.
See Metastatic Cancer.
Sedation is the reduction of feeling, sensation, anxiety or distress by using a sedative substance or drug. Sedation is often used, sometimes with an anaesthetic, to carry out certain operations or procedures, to make them less stressful.
This is a drug, used in sedation, to reduce feeling, sensation or anxiety. It calms someone down and makes them sleepy. If some one is sedated, they may be sleepy for a while afterwards and may not remember much about the procedure.
See Curitron.
See Support groups.
This is a doctor who is undergoing specialist training, with a view to becoming a registrar. This training will usually last between 2-3 years.
See Reproductive Organs.
See Mask.
Side effects are the unwanted effects of treatment with drugs (sickness, hair loss etc).
This is a specialised X-ray and scanning machine, which is used in the planning of radiotherapy treatment.
Social means relating to the community.
This is someone who provides or arranges support, care and help for people, for non-medical problems. A social worker could help people with difficulties they are facing in their home-life or at work.
When people have sore mouths, as a side effect of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, they may be put on a soft diet. This consists of easy to swallow foods, which do not need much chewing.
This is a tumour (either benign or cancerous) that has developed in body tissue or an organ. Cancers of the lymphatic system, such as leukaemia or lymphoma or cancers of the blood system are known as non-solid.
See Cells.
This describes advanced or concentrated training in a particular area in the medical field. A specialist is someone who has undergone advanced or concentrated training in a particular area in the medical field.
A specimen, or sample, is a small amount of a liquid or substance taken from a person, for examination. For example, a nurse or doctor may ask someone to give or provide a urine sample or specimen. They do this by peeing into a container known as a specimen bottle. The specimen will then be taken for examination, to see how well the kidneys are working.
These are the male cells produced in the testes that combine with or fertilise the female egg.
Spinal means to do with the spine.
This is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nerves that is an extension of the central nervous system from the brain. It is enclosed in the spine which protects it. Impulses, messages or signals from the brain first travel along the spinal cord before branching off to all parts of the body.
See Ependymoma.
This is the clear liquid produced in the ventricles (otherwise known as cavities or spaces) of the brain which protects the insides of the brain and spinal cord.
Also known as the backbone, is a strong, flexible column of ring-like bones that runs from the base of the head to just below the waist. The spine holds the head and body upright and allows a person to bend or twist their body. It also offers protection to the spinal cord.
This is an organ which stores red blood cells and contains lymph node tissue and many lymphocytes. Part of the lymphatic system, it filters the blood, to remove worn out red blood cells. It may sometimes be removed as part of the treatment for some cancers.
Spread is the term doctors use, when cancer cells have started to move into other parts of the body. Local spread is where the cancer has moved into an area next to or adjacent, to where it began to grow. Secondary cancer or metastasis is where the cancer has moved to other parts of the body, further away from where it started to grow.
Squamous Cell Cancer or Squamous Cell Carcinoma is a cancer that develops from squamous cells.
See Squamous Cell Cancer.
Squamous cells are a type of flat skin cell that cover the outer layer of the skin. They are also known as Keratinocytes. Squamous cell cancers are some of the most common forms of cancer. Squamous cells are found in the skin and also the membranes that line some body cavities, such as the airways in the lungs.
See Metastron.
Stable is a word a doctor or researcher might use to describe a cancer which is staying the same size, getting neither better nor worse.
Doctors took about the stage of a cancer. They may say it is 'stage one' or 'stage three'. The stage a cancer has reached, indicates its size and how far it has spread. Usually cancers have four stages, though some cancers have different staging systems. With a four stage system, these go from stage one, the smallest cancer to stage four. Stage four means the cancer has metasised or spread from where it started, to another part of the body. Once a doctor knows the stage a cancer has reached, they will be able to decide the best type of treatment.
Staging is the process of deciding what stage a cancer has reached.
Standard Treatment is the usual treatment which is given to treat a particular cancer. In research, if a clinical trial is carried out, new treatments may be compared with standard treatment.
This is a specialist who would work on trial results, to find out whether something happened by chance, or whether one treatment is actually better than another. A statistician might also decide how many people might be needed to take part in a trial and put them into groups at random.
Statistics are the information which is collected or gathered about the numbers of people, instances or items involved in something. For example, statistics could be collected about the number or percentages of smokers who suffer from lung cancer. Statistics are used to compare things or find patterns in research or trial results.
Stem Cell Collecting Machine or Blood Cell Separator or Cell Separator separates out blood cells and removes them from the blood. This is done by putting a drip into a vein in both arms. It can also be done by one of the drips being attached to a central line. The blood is then carried from one drip and circulated through the machine. The machine filters out the blood cells and returns the blood to the body, through the other drip. This process usually lasts for three to four hours.
Stem Cell Collection or Stem Cell Harvest is a process in which blood stem cells are collected from the blood, ready for a stem cell transplant. It is usual for injections of growth factors to be given, to help stem cell development. If a person's white blood cell count is high enough, stem cells are collected using a stem cell collecting machine.
See Stem Cell Collection.
Stem Cell Transplant is a treatment used for some forms of cancer, leukaemia or lymphoma. Stem cells are collected from the blood of a patient or donor, using a stem cell collecting machine. The patient is then given very high doses of chemotherapy or whole body radiotherapy in some cases. This kills off cancerous cells that are present. Once this is complete, the collected stem cells are returned to the patient, through a drip. Finding their way back into the bone marrow, they start producing blood cells again.
Stem Cells, Blood Stem Cells, Peripheral Blood Stem Cells are cells which can divide and develop into specialist cells, such as platelets or red or white blood cells. Stem cells can be collected from the blood of a patient or donor, to be used, through a stem cell transplant to treat some forms of cancer, leukaemia or lymphoma.
Stereostatic Radiosurgery is a procedure doctors use to treat people with brain tumours, which are inoperable, not able to be operated on. Stereotatic radiosurgery involves giving someone a single high dose of stereotatic radiotherapy, using a stereotatic radiotherapy machine.
Stereotatic describes pinpointing or very precisely locating a tumour or part of the body. This is done by using a computer and scanner to create a three dimensional picture of it.
Stereotatic Radiotherapy is treatment very precisely applying a high dose of radiotherapy to a tumour. The tumour is pinpointed or very precisely located, using a computer and scanner to create a three dimensional picture of it. Once this is done, multiple beams of radiotherapy are aimed at the tumour from different directions. These beams all meet at the location pinpointed. As each individual beam consists of only a small amount of radiotherapy, the surrounding, healthy or normal tissue around the tumour, only receives a small dose of radiotherapy.
Stereotatic Radiotherapy Machine is a machine, especially developed, to carry out stereotatic radiosurgery. Such machines include a Gamma Knife, an X-knife, a CyberKnife or a Clinac.
Sterile means something has been thoroughly cleaned by sterilisation. It can also mean a woman can not have children or a man can not make a woman pregnant.
Sterilisation means to kill off any bacteria that might exist on something. This is done by thoroughly cleaning it with something such as an antiseptic or by subjecting it to extremely high temperatures.
Sterility is the inability of a woman to have children or the inability of a man to make a woman pregnant.
Sternum is the medical name for the chest bone, the bone at the front of the chest, where the ribs join. During a bone marrow harvest, bone marrow may be taken from the sternum.
Steroid Replacement Therapy is carried out when the body is not produced enough steroids naturally. It is treatment where artificial steroids (usually in the form of tablets) are given to a patient. Unwanted side effects of steroid replacement therapy include, sleeping difficulties, increased appetite and water retention.
Steroids are substances which are naturally produced by the body. They affect the way in which the body works or functions. In cancer treatment, where the body is not producing sufficient steroids, artificial steroids can be given in the form of tablets or injections. This is known as steroid replacement therapy.
This is the largest organ of the digestive system. Its job or function, is to digest food and absorb water.
Stools, commonly called 'poo', are the normally solid brown lumps that you pass when going to the toilet.
See Metastron.
Subcutaneous means below the outer layers of the skin.
Subcutaneous Injection or an Injection Given Subcutaneously, is an injection into the layer of fat, just below the outer layers of the skin.
Subcutaneous Tissue, means the tissue just below the outer layers of the skin.
See Subcutaneous Injection.
An injection is given straight into a blood vessel, a subcutaneous injection.
Superficial Spreading Melanoma are the most common form of malignant melanoma. If they are caught in their early or radial phase and treated, by being removed, they are unlikely to recur. In the early or radial phase, a superficial spreading melanoma spreads outwards across the skin, rather than downwards, into the skin.
Support groups or Self Help Groups are groups of people (usually non-professionals) who meet together to help one another cope with common difficulties or problems they are facing. By meeting together and talking about their experiences, they can find ways of helping themselves, whilst providing support for one another. It could be a group of patients or families or friends who are affected in some way by cancer.
Supportive Care is physical care and treatment, which is given to patients, to control cancer symptoms and/or reduce the side effects of the main cancer treatment. The purpose of supportive care is to give patients the best possible, quality of life and is therefore also known as best supportive care. Social and/or psychological care and/or spiritual support, may be included in some doctor's and researcher's definition of supportive care.
Suppressor T Cells, part of the body's immune system, they are a specialised type of white blood cell. They 'tell' B cells when to stop making antibiotics.
A surgeon is a doctor, who carries out or performs an operation.
Surgery is either an operation or a building from which a doctor, or group of doctors, provide help in the community.
Surgical Biopsy is the surgical procedure to remove a piece of tissue for microscopic examination.
See Operation.
Doctors keep patients under surveillance, by watching to see whether they are showing signs of cancer before they experience symptoms. They may also do this: 1. If an early stage cancer is starting to grow 2. There is an increased risk of someone developing certain types of cancer 3. A patient has had cancer or a precancerous condition in the past.
See Symptomatic Control.
Symptomatic Control or Symptom Control is giving treatment to manage or control the effects or symptoms of a disease or illness. Symptom Control Teams are teams of medical, nursing and health workers, who specialise in symptomatic control or symptom control.
Symptoms are the signs, noticed by a patient, which indicate that something is wrong. Symptoms can help a doctor to diagnose a particular disease or illness.
Synovial means 'to do with the tissues lining the joints.
Synovial Fluid is the fluid inside a joint.
Synovial Sarcoma is a form of cancer that starts to develop in the cells inside a joint.
This is a device consisting of a syringe and a battery operated or clockwork pump. Its purpose is to provide a patient with a continuous dose of a drug(s) dissolved in water. It does this by means of the pump slowly pushing the drug out of the syringe, through a soft plastic tube. At the other end of the tube, is a tiny needle, that goes in just under the skin and is held in place by a see-through plastic dressing. The syringe driver is small enough for it to be carried around easily. For this reason it can be used while a patient is back at home, although a nurse would need to recharge the syringe, every 24 or 48 hours.
Where results of several trials, testing a particular drug, therapy or treatment have been published, they may be looked at together to draw a conclusion. This is known as a systematic review.
Systemic Diseases are diseases which affect the whole body. The blood and the lymphatic system run throughout the body, therefore leukaemia, which affects the blood system and lymphomas, which affect the lymphatic system are examples of systemic diseases.
Systemic Treatment is given to treat the whole body. Chemotherapy, which circulates round the whole body, through the blood stream, is an example of systemic treatment. Where cancers have already spread or metasised, or it is thought they might spread in the future, a course of systemic treatment may be given. Where surgery or radiotherapy are carried out, these only affect a particular part of the body and are therefore referred to us local or localised treatment.
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