Medical Dictionary

Alopecia
Hair loss

Anaemia
A reduced number of red blood cells

Anaesthetic
Drugs that put a person to sleep (general anaesthetic) or that numb a part of the body (local anaesthetic) while they have an operation or procedure

ANC (absolute neutrophil count)
An absolute neutrophil count measures how many neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, are present in the blood. ANCs are used to check for infection, inflammation, leukemia, or other conditions. Chemotherapy may reduce ANC levels. Lower ANC levels increases the risk of getting an infection.

Benign
Describes a tumour or growth that is not cancerous but may still be capable of causing problems

Biopsy
A small sample of tissue taken from the body to make a diagnosis

Blast cell
An immature blood cell that grows into a red blood cell, white blood cell, or platelet.

Blood count
A blood test to check the number of different cells in the blood (sometimes called a full blood count or FBC)

Bone marrow
The spongy material in the centre of the large bones of the body, which makes blood cells

Bone marrow transplant (BMT)
A bone marrow transplant is a procedure that replaces damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy blood stem cells. A bone marrow transplant may be used to safely allow high doses of chemotherapy or radiation, replace damaged marrow caused by treatment, or provide new stem cells which can help kill cancer directly.

Cardio
To do with the heart

Catheter
A thin, flexible tube used to give fluid into the body or to drain fluid from the body (for example, a urinary catheter or a central venous catheter)

Central line
A central line is a tube placed in a large vein in the neck used to put medicines, nutrients, or fluids right into the patient’s blood. They are often used to give chemotherapy treatment.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Fluid produced in the brain that surrounds the brain and spinal cord

Chemotherapy
Drug treatment that kills cancer cells

Chromosome
Structure in the nucleus of the cell that contains the genes

Congenital
Any condition existing at birth

CT scan
A CT scan uses special x-rays to obtain images from different angles around the body. The information is processed to show a cross-section view of body tissue and organs. This type of imaging can show bones and surrounding tissues such as muscles and blood vessels with great clarity.

Cytogenetics
The study of chromosomes in cells

Electrolytes
The minerals and salts in the body – for example, sodium, potassium and calcium

Endocrine
To do with hormones

Excision
Cutting out

Gene
Sections or segments of DNA that are carried on the chromosomes and determine specific human characteristics, such as height or hair colour.

Genetic
A condition caused by abnormal genes (may be inherited)

Haematology
The study of blood and blood disorders

Haemoglobin
The substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body

Histopathology
The 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

Immune system
The body’s defence against infection, disease and foreign substances. This includes white blood cells and lymph nodes.

Immunology
The study of the body’s immune system, which fights infection.

Immunophenotyping
A test to identify particular proteins in the cells to help find out which type of cell has become cancerous.

Immunosuppressive
Lowering the body’s ability to fight infection.

Intravenous (IV)
Into a vein.

Leukemia
Cancer of the white blood cells, which are also referred to as leukocytes or WBCs.

Leukocyte
Another word for white blood cell. There are many types of white blood cells, including neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes.

Lumbar puncture
A procedure in which a small amount of fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (the cerebrospinal fluid) is removed and examined. See also spinal tap.

Lymph
A clear fluid that’s part of the body’s defence against infection. It’s carried around the body in a network of lymphatic vessels.

Lymphocyte
A type of white blood cell that fights infection.

Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer that begins in white blood cells, called lymphocytes. These cells can be found in the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, and bone marrow.

Malignant
Describes a tumour or growth that is cancerous. If a tumour is malignant it grows uncontrollably and can travel to other parts of the body

Metastases
Tumours that have spread from the first (primary) tumour into another part of the body. Also known as secondary tumours

Microbiology
The study of germs

MRI
MRI scans provide highly detailed pictures of soft tissue within the body, such as muscles and ligaments.

Myelogram
A medical test that uses X-rays to examine the spinal cord and the space around it.

Nausea
Feeling sick

Neuro
To do with the nerves or nervous system

Neutropenia or neutropenic
Low levels of neutrophils

Neutrophils
White blood cells that fight infection

NG tube (nasogastric tube)
A nasogastric tube is a thin, plastic tube that goes through the nostril, down the esophagus, into the stomach. The tube is used to give food and medication or remove contents from the stomach.

Oncology
The study and treatment of cancer

Opthalmology
The study of the eyes

Oral
To do with the mouth

Osteo
To do with the bones

Paediatric
To do with children

Palliative
Relief of a symptom (for example, pain) rather than cure of the disease. End of life care.

PET scan
A PET scan is an imaging technique that uses a small amount of a radioactive tracer to produce images showing how the body is functioning. A non-harmful tracer is injected into the patient the collects in active areas inside the body, such as cancer cells. PET scans are most useful for providing information on the many stages of the cancer process from diagnosis to treatment evaluation.

Plasma
A yellowish liquid that carries nutrients, hormones, and proteins throughout the body.

Platelet
A type of blood cell that helps the blood to clot

Port (or treatment port)
A medical device inserted under the skin and attached to a vein that allows medications, blood products, and nutrients to be given intravenously. A port eliminates the need for repeated needle sticks to start an IV line or draw blood.

Prognosis
The expected outcome of a disease and its treatment.

Protocol
A method or plan; in this case, the medicines and treatments a patient will receive to help fight cancer.

Proton beam therapy
Proton beam therapy is a type of radiation therapy that uses protons rather than x-rays to treat cancer. A machine is used to deliver high-energy protons through the skin and give a targeted radiation dose to the tumor. Since proton beam therapy is more targeted, it does less damage to the surrounding healthy tissue.

Prosthesis
An artificial replacement of something – for example, a bone

Pulmonary
To do with the lungs

Radiotherapy
The use of high-energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells

Refractory
Resistant to treatment

Relapse / Recurrence
The return of a disease after previous treatment

Remission
There is no evidence of the disease using the available tests

Renal
To do with the kidneys

Sarcoma
Sarcoma refers to the cancer of connective tissue in the body, including fat, muscles, blood vessels, deep skin tissues, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.

Side effects
Unwanted reactions or effects to medicine or therapy. In cancer treatment, common side effects include hair loss and fatigue (extreme tiredness).

Spinal tap
A procedure in which a small amount of fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (the cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF) is removed and examined. Also known as a lumbar puncture.

Stem cell
Early (immature) blood cell from which other blood cells are made

Subcutaneous
Under the skin

Therapy
Treatment

Thrombocytopaenia
Low levels of platelets in the blood

White blood cells
Also called leukocytes or WBCs, these cells, part of the germ-fighting immune system, attack invaders such as viruses and bacteria. Each type of WBC — including neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes — has its own role in fighting different kinds of germs.