If you don’t understand the words a doctor or nurse uses at any time, don’t feel embarrassed to ask them to explain them to you.
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Platelet
A type of blood cell that helps the blood to clot
Prognosis
The expected outcome of a disease and its treatment
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
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
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