Page 22 - Family Help

Glossary

CT Scan (CAT Scan) Computer Aided Tomography scan. X-ray scan using a
computer to construct pictures of the body in cross
section and 3D body images.
Diagnosis Identifying a disease in a person’s body or deciding what
is wrong with them.
Dietitian A specialist in nutrition in the field of oncology and
specialist surgery.
Dumping syndrome A condition that occurs when food or liquid moves too
fast into the small intestine. Symptoms include cramps,
nausea, diarrhoea, sweating, weakness and dizziness.
Dysphagia Difficulty or discomfort when swallowing.
Dysplasia Cells that look abnormal under a microscope but are not
yet cancerous. Abnormal cells which, if left untreated,
could develop into cancer.
Endoscopy A procedure that uses an endoscope to examine the
inside of the body. An endoscope is a thin, tube-like
instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also
have a tool to remove tissue to be checked under a
microscope for signs of disease.
ICU Intensive Care Unit.
In situ The earliest stage of cancer, when it has not spread to
any other organ or area of the body.
Jejunostomy tube (Jej tube)
A feeding tube normally inserted during an
oesophagectomy, into the small bowel. This is the tube
which you will be fed through while you cannot eat or
drink. Patients who undergo a gastrectomy will not
usually have a Jej tube inserted as they are likely to get
back to eating and drinking more quickly.
Laparoscopy Procedure using a rigid tube connected to a camera
which is usually inserted through an incision next to your
umbilicus, to look inside the body and to collect sample
tissues.
Lymph nodes Lymph nodes are small masses of tissue found in
clusters which purify the lymph fluid and form
lymphocytes (white blood cells) Small bean-shaped
organs, sometimes called lymph glands, which are part
of the lymphatic system. The nodes are part of the
lymphatic system, which is the body's natural defence
against infection.
Metastasis, metastasise, metastatic
The spread of cancer cells from one part of the body to
another through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
Cells that have metastasised are like those in the
original tumour.
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Scan using magnetism to
build up a picture of the organs inside the body.
Nausea Feeling sick.
Nutrition A healthy diet and the correct intake of vitamins and
minerals. This can be difficult to achieve for some people

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