My Breakthrough
Glossary
Terms starting with "A"
ablation
Complete destruction or removal. For example, surgery or radiotherapy is sometimes used to ablate the ovaries in pre-menopausal women with breast cancer.
Complete destruction or removal. For example, surgery or radiotherapy is sometimes used to ablate the ovaries in pre-menopausal women with breast cancer.
active treatment
Treatment for cancer that has the aim of cure or control of the cancer. Compare to palliative treatment.
Treatment for cancer that has the aim of cure or control of the cancer. Compare to palliative treatment.
adjuvant
A treatment that is added to increase the response to treatment or the cure rate. An example is the addition of chemotherapy after surgery to improve the chance of controlling the cancer.
A treatment that is added to increase the response to treatment or the cure rate. An example is the addition of chemotherapy after surgery to improve the chance of controlling the cancer.
alopecia
Loss of hair
Loss of hair
ambulatory
Treatment given in an outpatient setting. Treatment continues while the patient is able to resume many of their normal activities.
Treatment given in an outpatient setting. Treatment continues while the patient is able to resume many of their normal activities.
anaemia
Anaemia is when the haemoglobin on the blood is low. If the haemoglobin is low, you may begin to feel very tired and may look pale. The red blood cells contain haemoglobin (Hb), which is a protein that carries oxygen around the body.
Anaemia is when the haemoglobin on the blood is low. If the haemoglobin is low, you may begin to feel very tired and may look pale. The red blood cells contain haemoglobin (Hb), which is a protein that carries oxygen around the body.
analgesic
Treatment (usually a drug) to reduce pain.
Treatment (usually a drug) to reduce pain.
angiogenesis
Formation of blood vessels. Cancer tissues are able to encourage blood vessel formation. Experimental treatments (anti-angiogenesis) have been developed that try to reverse the blood vessel formation to cancer tissues.
Formation of blood vessels. Cancer tissues are able to encourage blood vessel formation. Experimental treatments (anti-angiogenesis) have been developed that try to reverse the blood vessel formation to cancer tissues.
antigen / antibody
Antigens are generally foreign substances such as toxins or bacteria that cause the body to react with an immune system response. Antibodies are formed in response to antigens and will make the immune system try to remove the foreign substance. Antigens and antibodies act as pairs with specific antigens causing a reaction and response in specific antibodies.
Antigens are generally foreign substances such as toxins or bacteria that cause the body to react with an immune system response. Antibodies are formed in response to antigens and will make the immune system try to remove the foreign substance. Antigens and antibodies act as pairs with specific antigens causing a reaction and response in specific antibodies.
asymptomatic
A disease process that does not have symptoms. This can make it more difficult to detect problems, as there may be no indication of a problem. For example, breast screening can pick up breast cancers that are undetectable by the woman herself, and these are said to be asymptomatic.
A disease process that does not have symptoms. This can make it more difficult to detect problems, as there may be no indication of a problem. For example, breast screening can pick up breast cancers that are undetectable by the woman herself, and these are said to be asymptomatic.
