Medical dictionary

What is breast-conserving surgery? Breast conserving surgery is a procedure that some breast cancer patients undergo. It is where an area of cancer is removed from the breast. Some of the surrounding breast tissue is removed but as much normal tissue as possible is left behind. However, removal of some of the chest wall lining could take place if the cancer is close to it.   It

What are breast lumps? A breast lump is a mass in the breast that can vary in size and texture. They are sometimes painful and can feel like a knot, bulge, or swelling around the breast or armpit area. Most of the time, breast lumps are benign (non-cancerous). It is normal for breast tissue to feel lumpy, but if you notice any new lumps, or ones that stay after a menstrual period, it&rs

What is breast pain? Breast pain, also known as mastalgia, is pain or tenderness around the breast area. It’s a common complaint among women and can appear as a dull, heavy andaching pain or a sharp burning pain. It can range from mild to severe and the duration varies. Pain may appear: Just before your period - two to three days before you may experience some form of mild to moder

Index:  What is cancer? What are the different groups of cancer? What are the symptoms? What is cancer staging? What are the most common types of cancer? How is cancer treated? Are cancerous lumps hard or painful? Is cancer genetic? What happens if cancer recurs? What is cancer? Cancer occurs when cells, which are the building blocks of the

What is cancer of unknown primary? Cancers of unknown primary are when doctors find secondary cancer, i.e. cancer cells that have spread from another part of the body, but cannot find the original site of the cancer (the primary tumour). Cancer is caused when a cell mutates in such a way that it no longer does its job inside the body, but continues to grow and multiply, eventually formin

What is cancer pain? Cancer pain has different causes and there are different types. It can be dull, aching, sharp or the sensation of burning. There are different levels too, it can be constant, intermittent, mild, moderate or severe. How much pain is felt depends on the type of cancer, how advanced the cancer is, where it is situated and how tolerant a person is to pain. Cancer pain can be ac

What are CAR-T cells? CAR-T cells are genetically modified T-cells used as an immunotherapeutic treatment of certain cancers, specifically blood cancers like leukaemia and lymphoma.     T cells are a type of lymphocyte, a white blood cell that is part of the body’s immune system. T cells travel throughout the body inside the b

What is cervical cancer? Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix, which is the lowest part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Most cases of cervical cancer are as a result of an infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can be passed on through sexual contact with a man or a woman.  There are more than 100 strains of HPV but two

What is chemotherapy? Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses chemical substances that are administered intravenously or orally to get rid of cancerous cells. It is very common to combine the treatment with other kinds of chemotherapy to fight the cancerous disease from all angles.   Why is chemotherapy used? Chemotherapy is used for different reasons. The main reasons why it is