A-Z terminology
A
Adenoma: a tumour or polyp which is benign but
can change over time to become cancerous
Adjuvant chemotherapy: treatment given to
patients after surgery has removed their primary tumour
Anaemia: a reduced number of red blood cells
and/or levels of haemoglobin (the pigment in the blood which
carries oxygen)
Anus: the opening at the lower end of the bowel
through which stools are passed
B
Barium enema: a radio-opaque fluid given in enema
form and used to outline the colon by x-ray
Biopsy: small piece of tissue taken from the area
concerned to be examined under a microscope
Blood test: a small amount of blood drawn from
the patient for analysis which can help detect a wide range of
health problems
Bolus injection: the administration of a drug in
a single large injection. Chemotherapy is sometimes administered
with a bolus injection
Bowels: another name for the intestines - the
small bowel (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) and the large bowel
(colon and rectum)
C
Cancer: abnormal and uncontrolled division of
cells that invade and destroy surrounding tissue
Chemoembolisation: a medical procedure where the
supply of blood to a tumour is blocked. This process starves the
tumour of oxygen and nutrients, and allows a high concentration of
anticancer drugs to be in direct contact with it
Chemotherapy: the treatment of cancer by drugs
which stop cancer cells from dividing and spreading
Central Venous Catheter: a catheter placed into a
large vein in the neck or chest used to administer medication,
fluids or to take blood samples
Colectomy: removal of the colon by surgery.
Partial colectomy is the removal of a portion of the colon
Colon: part of the large bowel which has the role
of absorbing water and salts from digesting food. It is the final
pathway for the removal of waste products from the body
Colectomy: removal of the colon by surgery.
Partial colectomy is the removal of a portion of the colon
Colonoscopy: the passing of a long, flexible,
narrow tube through the anus to inspect the lining of the rectum
and colon (bowel)
Colostomy: the end of the colon is brought to the
skin surface on the abdomen to form an external channel for the
passage of stools into a colostomy bag
Colorectal Nurse Specialist: a nurse who has
received specialist training and is experienced in all aspects of
bowel cancer
Constipation: incomplete or infrequent bowel
motions. This can cause straining and discomfort when passing a
stool
Cryotherapy: an alternative form of cancer
treatment where needles are used to apply freezing gases to
cancerous cells in order to destroy them
CT scan: (computerised tomography) a high quality
x-ray with the ability to examine soft tissue, i.e. not solid
material like bone, by giving a cross sectional image of 'slices'
of the body
D
Diarrhoea: an excessive number of loose and
watery stools which are often passed frequently and with
urgency
Digital rectal examination: a gloved finger is
used to feel for any abnormalities in the back passage
(rectum)
Dukes' staging: a system devised by Cuthbert
Dukes that describes the spread of the tumour and forms the main
component in identifying the 'stage' of bowel cancer
E
Enema: the passing of a small tube through the
anus to allow the introduction of a quantity of fluid into the
rectum. This is used to relieve constipation or to empty the
bowel
F
Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOB Test): a kit to
test for traces of hidden (occult) blood in the stools. Forms part
of the national screening programme
Faeces: bowel motions; stools; also called
'waste' and poo
Family Cancer Genetics Clinic: a specialist
clinic where people with suspected family history can be screened
and given specific genetic advice
Fibre: a substance found in foods that come from
plants, fruits and vegetables. Fibre helps to aid digestion
Flatus: gas in the stomach or intestine commonly
referred to as 'wind' when passed through the rectum
Flexible sigmoidoscopy: a short, flexible lighted
tube passed through the anus into the rectum to inspect the lining
of the lower part of the colon and rectum
G
Gastroenterologist: a physician specially
trained in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the gastro
intestinal tract
Gene (genetic makeup): the inherited
characteristics of an individual; the blueprint of life
Genetics: the study of inherited genes
Gut: the word commonly used for the digestive
tract
H
Haemorrhoids(piles): enlargement of the normal
spongy blood-filled cushions in the wall of the anus
Hemicolectomy: surgical removal of about half of
the (generally) right side of the colon with subsequent joining of
the remaining colon
Hickman line: a fine plastic tube inserted into a
large vein through the chest wall generally for people who are
receiving long-term chemotherapy
Histopathology: the examination of tissue from
the body under a microscope to spot the signs and characteristics
of disease
I
Ileocaecal valve: the valve at the junction of
the small bowel and large bowel which controls the back flow of
waste products
Ileostomy: an opening into the ileum, part of the
small intestine, from the outside of the body. An ileostomy
provides a new exit for waste material
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): a general term
for chronic inflammatory disorders affecting the small and/or large
intestine. e.g Crohn's disease, Ulcerative Colitis
Intravenous Infusion: the introduction of a
solution (such as various chemotherapy treatments) into the body
via a vein
L
Laparoscopic Surgery: commonly called 'keyhole
surgery'. Several small incisions are made in the abdomen allowing
a laparoscope (a small viewing camera) and specialised surgical
instruments to view and operate on the tumour
Laparotomy: a surgical incision into the
abdominal cavity to examine abdominal organs
Large bowel: the colon and rectum
Laser Therapy: a surgical procedure whereby a
narrow beam of light called a laser is used to remove cancerous
cells
Lesion: an area in a tissue or organ that has
suffered damage
Liver Biopsy: a medical procedure to obtain a
small piece of liver tissue for diagnostic testing
Lymph nodes: a network of vessels which transport
fluid from body tissue to the blood stream, acting as the body's
drainage system
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): a sophisticated
X-ray machine that takes detailed pictures of internal organs,
including the pelvis
Malignant: a cancerous tumour which can invade
and destroy surrounding tissue and spread to other sites in the
body
Margin: used in medical terms to describe a
healthy section of tissue surrounding a tumour
Melaena: black tarry faeces (stool) due to the
presence of partly digested blood from higher up the digestive
tract
Metastases: secondary deposits of cancer cells
that have travelled from the primary tumour site to other organs of
the body
Metastasis/metastatic: a spread of cancer from
the original site of the disease via the blood vessels or lymph
channels
Monocolonal Antibodies: a form of biological
therapy used with chemotherapy to treat metastatic bowel
cancer
Mucosa: the name given to the lining of the bowel
which produces mucus
Mucosal Lining: a membrane or lining of the bowel
which contains mucus-secreting glands
Mucus: clear 'jelly like' substance which
lubricates the lining of the bowel to ease the passage of stools.
Excessive amounts are produced when bowel cancer is present
MDT: Multi-disciplinary team - a team made up of
various health professionals who work together to discuss a
patient's case and how best to manage treatment and care
N
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy: chemotherapy given
before treatment to remove the primary tumour with the aim of
improving the results of surgery
O
Occult blood: non-visible blood in the stools,
which can be detected by a simple laboratory test known as a faecal
occult blood (FOB) test
Oncologist: a physician who specialises in the
diagnosis and treatment of cancer
P
Palliative: Medication, treatment or care given
for late stage cancer which can help alleviate symptoms but will
not 'cure' the cancer
PET Scan: Positron Emission Tomography. It can
show how body tissues are working as well as what they look
like
Polyp: a cluster of cells which project as a
growth, usually on a stalk, from the mucosal lining of the
bowel
Proctoscope: a thin tube containing a light and
camera which, when inserted into the rectum, allows visual
inspection
Prognosis: a prediction of what might happen in
the future i.e. the progress of the disease
R
Radiologist: a healthcare professional who
specialises in X-ray, ultrasound and other similar
examinations
Radiotherapy: the treatment of cancer by deep
X-rays. Often given for rectal cancer before or after surgery
Rectum: the lowest part of the large bowel
nearest the anus
S
Secondaries: cancer that has spread from the
original site to other organs. Also known as metasteses
Scan: data or image obtained from the examination
of an organ or area of the body. An X-ray is a common example,
producing photographs of the internal organs of the body
Screening: Aims to detect bowel cancer at an
early stage in people with no symptoms, when treatment is more
likely to be effective
Selective Internal Radioaction Therapy (SIRT or
SIR-Spheres): a non-surgical therapy that uses radioactive
microspheres called Selective Internal Radiation Spheres
(SIR-Spheres) to deliver radiation to cancer tumours
Sigmoidoscopy: a short, lighted tube passed
through the anus into the rectum to inspect the lining of the lower
part of the colon and rectum
Sterile Alcohol Therapy: a surgical procedure
where sterile alcohol is injected directly into a tumour. This
procedure is only suitable for tumours smaller than four to five
centimetres in length
Stoma: the opening made through the abdomen for
the passage of stools into a colostomy bag
Stoma Nurse: a specialist nurse who has been
highly trained in the care of patients who have had a stoma, their
carers and families
Stools: motions, faeces, waste, poo
T
TNM: a system of staging of the disease. T=size
of tumour; N=number of lymph nodes affected; M=spread of cancer to
other organs i.e. metastatic spread
Total Mesorectal Excision (TME): a surgical
procedure which removes the tumour and surrounding tissue in order
to help prevent the recurrence of bowel cancer
U
Ultrasound (ultrasonic waves): inaudible sound
waves which are used to examine the structure of the inside of the
body
V
Virtual Colonoscopy (CT Colonoscopy): a non
invasive scan looking at external and internal surface of the large
bowel
X
X-Ray: a scan which produces data or images of
internal bones and organs
