Cancer Dictionary

A bone marrow biopsy is a medical procedure where a small sample of bone marrow, usually from the hip bone, is extracted for testing. It's often used to diagnose a variety of diseases, such as cancer, anemia, and infections. This procedure is generally done under a local anaesthetic to minimize discomfort.

Brachytherapy is a form of cancer treatment where radioactive seeds or pellets are directly inserted into the cancerous tissue, enabling a high radiation dose while reducing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. It's often used for prostate, cervical, and breast cancers.

Breast reconstruction is a type of surgery performed on women who have had all or part of a breast removed. The procedure restores the breast to near normal shape, appearance, symmetry and size following mastectomy or lumpectomy. It's often carried out by a plastic surgeon using either implants or tissue from another area of the body. It plays a significant role in improving the quality of life and self-esteem of women who have undergone breast cancer treatment.

Bronchoscopy is a medical procedure that allows doctors to examine the patient's lungs and airways. It involves passing a thin viewing instrument called a bronchoscope through the patient's nose or mouth, down the throat, into the trachea, and into the bronchi. This procedure helps to diagnose lung diseases, tumors, infections, or blockages. It enables the collection of tissue or mucus samples for further testing.

A colostomy is a surgical procedure where a portion of the large intestine, or colon, is brought through the abdominal wall to create a stoma. It's done in response to various diseases or injuries to bypass a damaged part of the colon. The stoma serves as an alternative exit point for body waste, which is collected in an external pouch.

A core needle biopsy is a medical procedure where a needle is used to extract a small sample of tissue from an organ or mass in the body. The sample is examined under a microscope to diagnose diseases, like cancer. It is generally less invasive and causes less scarring than a surgical biopsy.

Cystoscopy is a medical procedure that allows a doctor to examine the lining of the bladder and the tube that carries urine (urethra). It utilizes a hollow tube equipped with a lens (cystoscope), enabling the doctor to diagnose, monitor, and treat conditions affecting the urinary system. The procedure is typically conducted in a hospital or specialized clinic.

Gamma knife surgery is a type of non-invasive procedure used in neurosurgery. Utilizing targeted radiation beams, it accurately treats small to medium-sized lesions or abnormalities in the brain without any physical incision, hence minimizing collateral damage to the surrounding healthy tissues. It’s commonly used to treat brain tumors, epilepsy, trigeminal neuralgia, and Parkinson's disease.

"Informed consent" is a key principle in healthcare ethics that refers to the patient’s right to make decisions about their treatment. It occurs when a healthcare provider educates the patient about the benefits, risks and alternatives of a proposed procedure or treatment. The patient must comprehend the information, and voluntarily give consent, ensuring their full understanding and agreement to the procedure.

A mastectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove one or both breasts, often used as a treatment for breast cancer. The extent of tissue removal can vary, from partial (removing the cancerous part) to total (removing the entire breast). It is a critical decision usually made after considering other treatment options, risk factors, and personal preferences.

A pathology report is an important medical document that presents findings from laboratory tests conducted on tissue or cell samples. This report is processed by a pathologist and often includes details such as diagnosis, severity, cell details, and suggestions for further treatment if necessary. Pathology reports assist healthcare professionals in providing appropriate disease management strategies.

Flow cytometry is a biophysical technology used in cell counting, cell sorting, biomarker detection, and protein engineering. It allows simultaneous multi-parametric analysis of physical and chemical characteristics of up to thousands of particles per second. This technique is widely used in diagnosing health disorders, especially those related to the immune system and blood.

An excisional biopsy is a medical procedure where an entire lump or suspicious area is removed for diagnostic examination, primarily to rule out or confirm cancer. It is often performed under local anesthesia. The excised tissue is then analyzed by a pathologist for signs of disease.

A "Modified Radical Mastectomy" refers to a surgical procedure for breast cancer treatment, where the entire breast, most underarm lymph nodes, and often the lining over the chest muscles are removed, but the chest muscles themselves are preserved. This procedure has lesser physical impact compared to a radical mastectomy, yet still offers extensive therapy for aggressive breast cancers.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a medical treatment method which uses light-sensitive compounds, activated under specific light to destroy abnormal cells or pathogens. Widely used to tackle cancers and severe skin conditions, the therapy selectively damages the targeted cells while sparing healthy ones.

An echocardiogram is a non-invasive diagnostic test that uses ultrasound waves to create an image of the heart. It allows doctors to see the heart's size, shape, and motion, and evaluate its chambers, valves, and blood flow. This test aids in diagnosing heart diseases and determining treatment courses.

A Pap smear, also known as a Papanicolaou test, is a medical screening procedure for cervical cancer in women. It involves collecting cells from the woman's cervix — the lower, narrow end of the uterus — to check for any cell abnormalities that could possibly evolve into cancerous cells. The test is generally recommended for women between the ages of 21 and 65.

A sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node or group of nodes where cancer cells are most likely to spread from a primary tumor. Doctors commonly examine the sentinel nodes through a procedure called a sentinel lymph node biopsy to determine if cancer has started to metastasize or spread.