CHILDREN'S CANCER - Some Terms Explained |
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| Alopecia Loss of hair Anaesthetic Drugs to put the patient to sleep (general anaesthetic) or to numb a part of the body (local anaesthetic) Antigen A foreign substance that the body recognises and reacts against Benign Not cancerous although may be capable of causing problems Biopsy Small sample of body tissue Blood count The number of cells of different types in the blood Bone marrow The spongy material in the centre of the large bones of the body which makes blood cells; the factory of the blood Carcinogen A cancer causing agent Cardio- To do with the heart Catheter A thin flexible tube used to pass fluid into the body or to drain fluid from the body (for example, urinary catheter, central venous catheter [long line]) Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) The fluid produced within the brain which surrounds the brain and spinal cord Chemotherapy Chemical drug treatment Chronic Long-standing or long-lasting Cyto- To do with cells Dysfunction Not working properly Endocrine To do with hormones Excision Cutting out Genetic Condition caused by abnormal genes (may be inherited) Haematology The study of blood Histopathology The science or study of body tissues Hormone A substance made and secreted by a gland and carried in the bloodstream to parts of the body where it has a specific effect on the way the body works Immunology The science or study of the body's system for fighting infection Immunosuppressive Lowering the body's ability to fight infection Intravenous (iv) Into a vein Lymph Almost colourless liquid, part of the body's defence against infection, carried in a network of vessels Lymphocyte A white blood cell produced by a lymph gland, which fights infection Malignant Cancerous. If a tumour is malignant it grows uncontrollably and can travel to other parts of the body Metastases Tumours that have come from a first (primary) tumour in another part of the body; also known as secondary tumours Microbiology The study of germs Morbidity The state of being diseased; ill effects Nausea Sickness Neuro- To do with the nerves or nervous system Neutropenic Low levels of neutrophils Neutrophils White blood cells which fight infection Oedema Swelling caused by fluid Oncology The study and treatment of cancer Opthalmology The study of the eyes Oral In the mouth Osteo- To do with the bones Paediatric To do with children Platelet Blood cell which helps to prevent bleeding Prognosis The expected outcome of a disease and its treatment Prosthesis An artificial replacement of, for example, a bone Pulmonary To do with the lungs Radiotherapy The use of x-rays to destroy cancer cells Relapse The return of a disease after previous treatment Remission A period of good health when there is no detectable disease Renal To do with the kidneys Sarcoma A tumour of tissue which connects or supports body organs Stem cell Early (immature) blood cell Subcutaneous Under the skin Therapy Treatment Toxic Poisonous; for example, cytotoxic drugs poison cells Tumour An abnormal lump of tissue formed by a collection of cells. It may be benign or malignant. |