Medical dictionary

What are chemotherapy side effects? Chemotherapy may lead to potential side effects concerning the mouth, intestine, skin, hair and bone marrow. These side effects do not affect everyone as they depend on which drug was used for the treatment of the cancer, thus varying with each individual case. Generally, these side effects regard those tissues with a rapid cellular replacement rate (h

What are chest wall tumours? The chest cavity is an enclosed space which houses several major organs, including the heart, lungs, and oesophagus. The chest wall is made up of the ribcage and diaphragm, the structures of which are flexible enough to move inwards and outwards to permit breathing, while being strong enough to protect the organs inside. Like any part of the body, the chest wall

What is cholangiocarcinoma?   Cholangiocarcinoma or bile duct cancer is a cancer consisting of mutated epithelial cells originating in one of the ducts that carry bile from the liver to the small intestine. The tumours are usually slow-growing and do not metastasise quickly. However, the majority are well advanced when detected.   Cholangiocarcinoma affects people of both sex

What is chronic lymphocytic leukaemia? Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a type of blood cancer. It affects a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes, which are made in the bone marrow before passing into the bloodstream. These cells are important for fighting disease. The bone marrow starts producing an excess of underdeveloped lymphocytes that don’t work properly. Over time,

What are clinical trials? Clinical trials are medical research studies that test how scientific discoveries can be applied to patients. The test may be on a medical product, a substance, a drug, a diagnostic technique or a therapeutic technique that aims to assess its efficacy and safety, applying it to humans. Clinical trials can also compare a new treatment to one that is already ava

What is colon cancer? Colon cancer is the proliferation of malignant cells in the colon, which, along with the rectum, is in charge of storing faeces which are then expelled through the anus. This type of bowel-affecting cancer can develop due to polyps being being present and manifesting themelves in the bowel.  There are four main stages of colon cancer, and, of course, the earliest p

What is colorectal cancer?Colorectal cancer, which is also known as bowel cancer, is thought to be the third leading cause of death in developed countries, and it is more common in men than in women. The colon and rectum are the last sections of the digestive system where nutrients are broken down, digested and absorbed, and waste is formed before being expelled. The cells of these orga

Electrochemotherapy is a treatment for skin cancer. The treatment involves chemotherapy drugs being injected directly into the cancer cells into the tumour or bloodstream. Following this, a special probe is introduced to the skin to send an electric pulse direct to the tumour, which changes the composition of the cancer cell, allowing the chemotherapy to enter the cell more easily, this part

What is endometrial cancer? Endometrial cancer begins in the layer of the cells that form the lining of the uterus, which is the organ where foetal development (reproduction) occurs. It is sometimes known as uterine cancer. Endometrial cancer is usually detected early because it produces abnormal vaginal bleeding. Currently, the exact cause is not known but it may be related to inc