Medical dictionary

What is a bone marrow transplant? A bone marrow transplant is a therapeutic procedure that aims to replace damaged bone marrow with healthy marrow in order to treat certain types of blood disorders. The transplant is carried out by injecting haematopoietic stem cells that turn into healthy platelets, red and white blood cells. A bone marrow transplant will be carried out by a specialist haem

What is bone metastases?Metastasis is a process wherein cancer spreads from one part of the body to the other, affecting one or more organs.In bone metastasis, the cancer spreads from the original cancer site to the bones. This process does not result in bone cancer, which is where the cancer originates in the bone.If the cancer starts in the breast, and metastises to the bone, then it is called m

What is bone reconstruction? Bone reconstruction is the regeneration of lost bone. Dentists use this technique after a tooth extraction, to fill bone defects caused by periodontitis or when inserting dental implants in an area without enough bone to firmly hold the titanium root. How is bone reconstruction done? There are three methods most commonly used in bone reconstruction: grafts

What is borderline personality disorder? Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health disorder that affects the way someone thinks, feels and relates to others which can create problems in everyday life. BPD is thought to be the most common of personality disorders.     What are the symptoms? The symptoms of borderline personality disorder generally start t

What is botulinum toxin (Botox™)? Botulinum toxin, more commonly known as Botox™, is a neurotoxin that is used to treat various medical conditions. It is also used as a cosmetic treatment and is administered via injection. Botulinum toxin was the first drug developed to use botulinum toxin, but others have also been developed. What is botulinum toxin used for? Th

What is this treatment?    Botulinum toxin is a treatment that is most commonly known as Botox. It is quite often used to achieve a more rejuvenated look. Wrinkles appear over time and for some people this is a real concern. Botox is the trademark name for botulinum toxin. It is a neurotoxic protein that is injected under the skin in order to remove wrinkles that appear on the fa

What is it? Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, originates from the development of tumour cells in the mucosa of the bowel. Given that the colon and the rectum are connected, the cancer often develops in one area and spreads to the other: that is why it is also called colorectal cancer. It has been estimated that this type of cancer is the third largest cause of death in developed

What is bowel incontinence? Bowel incontinence, also referred to as fecal incontinence, describes an inability to control bowel movements, leading to an involuntary leakage of stool from the rectum. It can range from occasional leakage of small amounts of stool to a complete loss of bowel control. It is thought that as many as one in ten people will experience some degree of bowel inconti

What is a colectomy (bowel surgery)? Colectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of all, or the partial sectioning, of the large intestine (colon). The colon is a long tube-shaped organ at the end of the digestive tract. A colectomy may be required to treat or prevent diseases and conditions that affect the colon. Bowel surgery will be carried out by a specialist surgeon