Disclaimer: I have put this glossary together from terms that I have come across. No responsibility can be accepted for theaccuracy of the information on this page.
[ABC] [DEF] [GHI] [JKL] [MNO] [PQR] [ST] [UVW] [XYZ]
Adjuvant-Chemotherapy
chemotherapy given as an “add-on” to primary cancer treatment, as in surgery or radiotherapy.
Age-Adjusted-Mortality-Rate
Age is a very important factor in determining mortality, for example people tend to get different cancers at different ages. To compare the mortality rates of two or more populations, differences in the age distributions of the population are removed by using an age-adjusted rate.
Antibody
A molecule produced by lymphocytes in response to stimulation by an antigen. Antibodies bind to antigens, causing the cells bearing the antigens to clump together. These clumps are then destroyed by other blood cells.
Antigen
Any substance capable of stimulating a specific immune response (i.e., a specific antibody) in the body. Antigens are proteins that are present on the surface of all cells and bacteria and viruses. If foreign antigens (such as bacteria, viruses, or grains of pollen) are detected then the body’s immune system will attack them.
Benign
Not cancerous – not spreading, usually a more mild disease. Non-malignant.
Bicalutamide
See Casodex.
Biological-Therapy
Cancer treatment that uses natural substances or substances made in a laboratory to stimulate or restore the ability of the body’s immune system to fight disease. Interferon and interleukin-2 therapies are examples. Therapies such as these are often used in conjunction with other treatments. Also called immunotherapy.
Biopsy
This is the removal of a small section of the tumour, the sample will be analysed by a histopathologist in order to establish a precise diagnosis. Surgical procedure. This may be a needle biopsy, where a very fine needle is used to take a tiny sample of the tumour. Occasionally a surgeon may remove the whole tumour prior to diagnosis; a resection biopsy.
Brachytherapy
A type of radiation therapy is which radioactive materials are placed in direct contact with the tissue being treated.
Cachexia
The rapid loss of weight along with fatigue, weakness, and loss of appetite. This can be a serious problem for patients with advanced cancer.
Cancer
The malignant uncotrolled growth of cells, that left untreated would be fatal. Cancers have the capacity to metastasize, or form secondary tumors at other sites Cancer is not a single disease but a wide range of different diseases of which there well over a hundred types. Cancers can be classified into two broad types: haematological (malignancies of the blood / bonemarrow) or solid tumours. The name of the cancer depends on the type of tissue and/or site it develops from.
Carcinogenesis
The production of cancer
Carcinoma.
A malignant tumour arising from epithelial tissue (cells of the glands and the outer layer of skin that lines blood vessels, hollow organs and the body’s orifices).
Casodex
Casodex has a structure similar to the male sex hormone testosterone. It works by preventing testosterone from attaching (binding) to the receptors on the surface of the prostate cancer cells. Without testosterone the cancer cells either grow more slowly or stop growing altogether. The cancer may shrink in size as a result.
Casodex is also known as Bicalutamide.
Cell-Differentiation
is where normal cells go through physical changes in order to form the different specialised tissues of the body. Malignant cells may range from well-differentiated (closely resembling the tissue of origin) or undifferentiated or anaplastic (bearing little similarity to the tissue of origin). In general it is the undifferentiated or anaplastic histologies which are more aggressive.
Chemotherapy
The treatment of diseases such as cancer with drug therapy Since the 1960′s the development and use of drugs has dramatically improved the prognosis for many types of cancer. Chemo- means chemicals, for most types of cancer chemotherapy will consist of a number of different drugs, this is known as combination chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may be given in a variety of ways; Intravenously (IV) -into a vein is the most common, Intramuscularly (IM) -injection into a muscle, Orally -by mouth, Subcutaneously (SC) -injection under the skin, Intralesionally (IL) -directly into a cancerous area, Intrathecally (IT)-into the fluid around the spine, Topically -medication will be applied onto the skin.
Chronic
Long lasting or slowly progressing.
Clinical-Trial
Research conducted with patients, usually to evaluate a new treatment. Each trial is designed to answer scientific questions and to find better ways to treat individuals with a specific disease. Many times cancer patients can receive new, experimental treatments by participating in a clinical trial.
Computed-Tomography (CT-Scan)
Computed tomography (CT or CAT scan) makes a cross-sectional x-ray picture of a “slice” of the body. The machine rotates around the patient taking x-rays from different angles, the images are then processed by a computer.
Cross-sectional Studies
are studies that are carried out at just one point in time.
Cryotherapy (cryosurgery)
Cryosurgery is also called cryotherapy. This is a way of getting rid of prostate cancer that is completely within the prostate. It uses freezing probes to kill cancerous tissue.
Cytotoxic
A substance which kills or damage cells.
DNA
This abbreviation stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. DNA is the component of the chromosomes that carries the genetic code
Dose-Intensity
In chemotherapy, the total amount of drug delivered in a one-week period. Can be given all at once or over a period of several days.
DRE
Digital Rectal Examination (follow this link for more info).
Drug-Resistance
Is where tumour cells become resistant to chemotherapy. Some tumour cells will be chemo-sensitive and are killed by anticancer drugs; the cells that remain are likely to be more resistant. Thus by selection it is the most resistant cells survive and divide, they may be resistant to a particular drug, a class of drugs, or all drugs.
Epidemiology
The study of the distribution and causes of diseases in a population.
Five-Year-Survival
A term commonly used as the statistical basis for successful treatment. A patient with cancer is generally considered cured after five or more years without recurrence of the disease
Flutamide
An oral antiandrogen drug primarily used to treat prostate cancer. It competes with testosterone and its powerful metabolite, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) for binding to androgen receptors in the prostate gland. By doing so, it prevents them from stimulating the prostate cancer cells to grow.
Follow-up
When treatment is complete the periodic visits to the physician are needed to monitor the patient and ensure there has been no recurrence of the disease.
Fractions (RT)
The radiotherapy dose is divided into a number of smaller doses (known as fractions) to reduce the risk of side effects. There is normally one fraction per day.
Gene
Hereditary unit. Each gene carries the genetic code, or blue print, for a specific protein. Each human cell has about 80,000 genes, but most of these are not active in a given type of cell
HIFU
High INtensity Frequency Unltrasound. High frequency sound waves can be used to heat up and kill cancer cells. To use this as a cancer treatment, the specialist targets the area containing the cancer. Because the prostate is deep within the pelvis, you have HIFU for prostate cancer by putting an ultrasound probe into your back passage (rectum). Doctors call this a transrectal probe. From that position, the ultrasound can direct beams more accurately at the prostate.
Hormone Therapy Drugs
There are a wide range of hormone therapies available for prostate cancer:
- Bicalutamide (Casodex®)
- Buserelin (Suprefact®)
- Cyproterone acetate (Cyprostat®)
- Diethylstilbestrol (Stilboestrol®)
- Flutamide (Drogenil®)
- Goserelin (Zoladex®)
- Leuprorelin acetate (Prostap® SR, Prostap® 3)
- Triptorelin (Decapeptyl® SR, Gonapeptyl Depot®)
Hot flushes
They are the same as the hot flushes women friends and relatives may have had when going through menopause. The flushes are caused by your testosterone levels dropping. Hot flushes are most likely with pituitary down regulators because these drugs cut off testosterone production altogether.
Hyperfractionated-Radiotherapy
is where more than one radiotheray fraction is given per day.
Immune-System
The body system, made up of many organs and cells, that defends the body against infection, disease, and foreign substances. The immune system is often stimulated in specific ways to fight cancer cells.
Immunosuppression
The prevention or supression of the immune system. For example some drugs may have the side effect of dampening the immune system making the patient prone to infections.
Immunotherapy
Treatment of disease by stimulating the body’s own immune system. This is a type of therapy currently being researched as a treatment for cancer.
In-Situ
In place; localised and confined to one area. In situ tumours are at an early stage of development, when the cancer cells are still confined to one layer of tissue. In situ cancers tend to have a high cure rate
Incidence
The number of occurrences of a given disease within a population. Cancer incidence is the number of new cases of cancer diagnosed in one year. Data on the incidence of cancer are kept by regional and national cancer registries.
Incidence-Rate
Calculated by dividing the number of new cases of a particular cancer during a given period of time by the number of people known to be at risk
Intravenous
(IV) means into a vein.
Laparoscopic prostatectomy (keyhole surgery)
A radical prostatectomy using keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery. A tube with a light and eyepiece is used to look inside the body. The surgeon uses carbon dioxide gas to fill (inflate) the abdomen so they can see the prostate clearly. A tiny video camera gives a magnified view of the prostate gland on a video screen. The prostate gland is cut away from surrounding tissues and put in a small bag before being removed through one of the cuts in the abdomen.
Localised
An invasive neoplasm confined entirely to the organ of origin
Longitudanal Studies
are studies where individuals are followed over time. A fixed population (cohort) may be monitored over a number of years.
Lymph-Nodes
These are small, bean-shaped organs that supply lymphoctyes (a type of white blood cell) to the bloodstream. They also filter out bacteria and other foreign substances from the lymph fluid that contains white blood cells. Lymph nodes (also called lymph glands) are located throughout the body.
Lymphatic-System
The tissues and organs that produce and store the white blood cells used to fight infection. This includes the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes.
Lymphoma
A general term form for any disease of the lymphatic tissue characterized by abnormal, uncontrolled cell growth. Hodgkin’s disease is a type of lymphoma.
Magnetic-Resonance-Imaging (MRI)
A technique used to image internal stuctures of the body, particularly the soft tissues (muscles,organs, tendons, etc.). An MRI image is often superior to a normal X-ray image.
Malignancy
The tendency of certain diseases to become progressively worse. A malignancy is often resistant to treatment and can result in death.
Malignant
Cancerous, spreading
Meta-Analysis
is where data from a number of studies are lumped together in order to provide evidence for or against a hypothesis.
Metastasis
Where the cancer has spread to other parts of the body beyond the primary site. Metastatic sites (secondaries) my be regional or distant from the original tumour.
Morbidity
Any departure, subjective or objective, from a state of physiological or psychological well-being. In this sense, sickness, illness, and a morbid condition are synonymous.
Mortality
Looking at the death rates caused by a disease.
Mortality rate: Calculated by dividing the number of people who have died of a particular cancer during a given period of time by the total population at risk.
MUSE
MUSE stands for “medicated urethral system for erections.” The medicine is a small pellet that is inserted inside the opening at the end of the penis (urethra). The applicator has a thin tube that contains the pellet of medicine. The tube is inserted into the urethra. By pressing a button on the applicator, you release the pellet. The medicine is absorbed through the membrane that lines the inside of the urethra. An erection develops in about 10 minutes and lasts at least 30 minutes, but usually less than 60 minutes (diagram here).
Neoplasm
A new growth of tissue serving no physiological function
Nephrotoxicity
Some anti cancer drugs may have the side effect of damaging the kidneys, for example ifosfamide and cisplatin are known to be nephrotoxic. There are two categories; glomerular and tubular toxicity relating to the two main areas of the nephron. In studies of ifosfamide the degree of nephrotoxicity is thought to be related to the cumulative dose, but there is a good deal of variability between patients.
Oncologist
A physician who, after extensive training, specializes in cancer treatment.
Oncology
A science dealing with the physical, chemical, and biologic properties and features of cancer, including causes and the disease process.
Orchidectomy
An orchidectomy (also called orchiectomy) is an operation to remove your testicles (testes). Prostate cancer needs testosterone in order to grow. Testosterone is the male sex hormone produced by the testicles, or testes. If the testicles are removed, the level of testosterone in your blood will fall dramatically. And in 9 out of 10 cases (90%) the prostate cancer will stop growing and start to shrink.
Osteoporosis
reduction in bone mass = prone to fractures
Palliative-treatment
treatment which relieves the symptoms and pain.
Papaverine hydrochloride
A chemical used as a penile injection for impotence. Papaverine dilates arteries by working on the muscle cells present in the arterial walls. With the relaxation of the muscle wall, dilation of the artery occurs, resulting in increased blood flow into the penis.
Pathologist
A doctor who specializes in the nature, structure, and identification of disease.
Pathology
The branch of medicine concerned with disease, especially its structure and its functional effects on the body.
Phase-I Clinical Trial
Tests new types of treatment and aim to define a safe dose that will be used for further studies. This is usually the first testing of a treatment on humans after extensive laboratory work. Recruitment for Phase I trials are usually from patients for whom no other effective therapy is known.
Phase-II Clinical Trial
Test the anti-cancer effects of the new treatment, and include very detailed toxicity investigations. If there is effective antitumour activity, it may be incorporated in a future phase III study.
Phase-III Clinical Trial
Compare one or more treatments of proven efficacy. Often patients will be randomised between an established ‘standard’ treatment and a new ‘experimental’ treatment – it is not known which is the better treatment.
Phentolamine (Regitine)
A chemical used as a penile injection for impotence. Phentolamine blocks the nerves signaling arterial muscle wall contraction. Thus, when these nerves are blocked, the muscle cells in the arterial wall relax and the artery dilates. This action compliments the action of papaverine. For this reason, papaverine and Phenotolamine are often mixed together prior to injection.
Priapism
A painful, sustained, prolonged erection (lasting longer than 4 hours), normally as a result of injecting in the penis for impotence.
Prognosis
is the expected outcome of a disease. This may be influenced by a variety of factors such as stage, age, site etc. depending on the particular type of cancer. For example, in general a patient with localised disease may have a more favourable prognosis compared to a patient with widespread disease which may be less favourable.
Prostaglandin E1.
A chemical used as a penile injection for impotence. Prostaglandin E1 occurs naturally in the human body. It was discovered approximately 30 years ago. Prostaglandin E1 is a very potent vasodilator. It will also relax the muscle cells of the arteries of the penis resulting in an erection.
Prostate-Gland
A gland in men that surrounds the neck of the bladder and urethra. The prostate contributes to the production of seminal fluid.
Prostate-Specific-Antigen test
(PSA) test. A simple blood test used to detect prostate cancer in men. The test measures a specific antigen normally secreted by the prostate. If cancer is developing, the prostate secretes greater amounts of PSA. This test is recommended for men with an enlarged prostate and an increased risk of prostate cancer.
Prostatitis
Prostatitis is the general term used to describe prostate inflammation.
Radiation-Enteritis
functional disorder of the large and small bowel that occurs during or following a course of radiotherapy to the abdomen, pelvis, or rectum.
Radiotherapy
Cancer treatments which utilize high-energy waves or particles of radiation.
Radical prostatectomy
A radical prostatectomy is a common operation for treating prostate cancer. It uses surgery to remove all of the prostate gland through a cut in your abdomen or the area between the testicles and the back passage (perineum). The aim of this type of surgery is to cure the cancer.
Radiology
The branch of medicine dealing with radioactive substances including the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Radiotherapy-Field
the area towards which the radiotherapy was directed.
Refractory
This is where the cancer is resistant to treatment.
Regional
A tumour that has extended beyond the limits of the organ where it started, growing directly into surrounding organs or tissues, but has not spread to distant parts of the body.
Relapse
This is when the disease reoccurs after a period in remission.
Remission
is where the symptoms of cancer are no longer present. There is no longer any evidence of the disease using the available investigations.
Resection
Surgical removal of an area of tissue or of an entire organ. The surgical specimen may be examined by a pathologist to determine if it is likely to have removed all of the tumour. If there is any tumour left after surgery this may be macroscopic (visible to the eye) or microscopic, in either case radiotherapy may be needed to kill the remaining tumour cells.
Risk Factors
Anything that has been identified as increasing an individual’s chance of getting a disease.
Sarcoma
A cancerous growth of the bone, muscle, or connective tissues, usually appearing first as a painless swelling.
Screening
Tests that sort out apparently well persons who probably have a disease from those who probably do not. If positive, they would be referred to a physician for diagnosis.
Stage
Staging is where the disease is categorised as to how far it has spread. The precise staging system used will depend on the type of cancer the patient has. In general low stage patients are those with localised tumours that are easily resectable, whilst high stage patients are those with widespread metastases. The treatment given may largely depend upon which stage the patient is at diagnosis.
Surgery
An operation
Surgical-Oncology
Treatment of cancer using surgery, usually to remove cancerous tumors and tissue.
Toxicity
Side effects of treatment.
Tumor
An abnormal mass of tissue that is not inflammatory, arises from cells of pre-existent tissues, and serves no useful purpose. (UK spelling: Tumour)
Tumour-Marker
A substance in the body that may indicate the presence of cancer. Markers may be secreted by the tumour itself or produced by the body in response to the cancer. Tumour markers may aid diagnosis or give an indicator of how treatment is progressing. These markers are usually specific to certain types of cancer. For example neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is associated with a number of types of cancers, in particular neuroblastoma. Also alphafetoprotein (AFP) levels are often abnormally high in patients with Germ cell tumours.
TURP
TransUrethral Resection of the Prostate – link here.
Ultrasound
The use of sound waves to image the underlying structures of the body. Ultrasonic waves are reflected differently depending on the type of tissue they pass through, aiding the detection of abnormal tissues.
Vacuum pumps
Vacuum pumps can be used to gain an erection. The pump fits over the penis and draws blood into the penis to form the erection. You then put a soft plastic ring called a constriction ring around the base of your penis. This keeps the erection for as long as is needed.
VED
Vacuum Erection Device – see Vacuum Pumps
X-Ray
(1) Low dose radiation used to make images of internal body structures; or (2) High dose radiation used to treat cancer.
Zoladex
Also know as goserelin. Zoladex implant contains the active ingredient goserelin acetate, which is a type of medicine known as a gonadorelin (LHRH) analogue. It acts on the pituitary gland in the brain reducing the levels of sex hormone sin the body. The growth of prostate cancers is stimulated by testosterone. Because it is sensitive to testosterone, goserelin can be used in their treatment. Reducing the body’s levels of these hormones causes the tumours to shrink. This treatment does not provide a cure, but rather improves quality of life and increases life expectancy.
The Zoladex implant is injected under the skin of the abdomen, from where it steadily releases the goserelin into the bloodstream over a four week period. An implant is injected every 28 days.
