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C
- Cancer
- A disease that occurs when the body's cells get out of control, multiply and spread. See general cancer information section.
- Carcinogen
- A substance that can cause cancer. Tobacco contains a number of carcinogens, for instance.
- Carcinoid tumour
- This is the most common type of neuroendocrine tumour (NET). NETs are slow-growing cancers that affect the neuroendocrine system - a network of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream. NETs usually start in the bowel but they can affect other parts of the body too, such as the lungs and pancreas. See NET section.
- Carcinoma
- A cancer that starts on the surface or lining of a body organ.
- CAT scan
- Computerised tomography (CT or CAT scan) is a type of x-ray that produces cross-section pictures of the body. To have the scan you lie on a couch while it passes through a large, hollow ring. See computerised tomography section.
- Central line
- Sometimes, chemotherapy drugs are given through a central line. A long, thin plastic tube (the line) is put into a vein in the chest. Drugs can be given through the line, and blood samples taken. This avoids the need for frequent injections. See chemotherapy section.
- Cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN)
- The name given to abnormal but non-cancerous cells found in the cervix. If left untreated, CIN may turn into cancer. See cervical cancer section.
- Cervical smear
- A test in which a sample of cells is scraped from the surface of the cervix, to be looked at under a microscope. See cervical smears section.
- Cervix
- The entrance to the uterus (womb). See cervical cancer section.
- Chemoembolisation
- A way of blocking the blood supply to a tumour so that it can't grow. To block the blood supply, special drugs are injected through a fine tube.
- Chemotherapy
- A treatment that uses special drugs to kill cancer cells.
For most chemotherapy treatments, the drugs get into the bloodstream and move around the body, reaching the cancer cells wherever they are. For a few treatments the drugs are put straight into the bladder, abdomen or chest, to work directly on the cancer.
See chemotherapy section.
- Cholangiocarcinoma
- Cancer that starts in the cells lining the bile duct. The bile ducts are the tubes that link the liver and gall bladder to the small intestine.
- Cholecystectomy
- the surgical removal of the gall bladder.
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
- CLL is a type of leukaemia that is most common in the over 50s. It affects the white lymphocyte blood cells. See leukaemia section.
- Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
- CML is a type of leukaemia that can affect all age groups. It is a disease of the white myeloid blood cells. See leukaemia section.
- CIN
- CIN stands for cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia. It is the name given to abnormal but non-cancerous cells found in the cervix. If left untreated, CIN may turn into cancer. See cervical cancer section.
- Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
- A qualified nurse who specialises in a particular illness or treatment, or in supporting a particular type of patient.
- Clinical oncologist
- A doctor who specialises in treating cancer with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
- Clinical trial
- A study to find out whether a new type of care is better than the best standard care currently available. See clinical trials section.
- CML
- CML stands for chronic myeloid leukaemia. It is a disease of the white myeloid blood cells, and can affect all age groups. See leukaemia section.
- Coelio schauta
- A way of carrying out a hysterectomy operation through the vagina, rather than by making a cut in the abdomen.
- Colectomy
- An operation to remove part, or all, of the colon.
- Colon
- The main part of the large bowel within the digestive system. It is a long folding muscular tube that removes water and salts from waste food. This makes a solid mass of waste, ready to be stored in the rectum until it is passed out through the anus.
- Colonoscope
- A long, flexible instrument used during a colonoscopy examination. See colonoscopy section.
- Colonoscopy
- An examination of the lining of the bowel (the colon or large intestine) with a long, flexible instrument called a colonoscope. X-rays and samples of tissue (biopsies) can also be taken. See colonoscopy section.
- Colorectal cancer
- Another name for large bowel cancer. it is a disease that starts in the colon or rectum. Together the colon and rectum form a long muscular tube called the large intestine.
- Colostomy
- An operation to make a new opening (a stoma) for the bowel. After the operation, the bowel will open onto the wall of the abdomen (belly).
- Colposcope
- A magnifying instrument that can be placed into the vagina to look at the cervix (the entrance to the womb).
- Colposcopy
- A test to look at the cervix (neck of the womb) to see if it is healthy. A magnifying instrument called a colposcope is used for this.
- Complementary therapy
- A complementary therapy is one that is used alongside a conventional treatment, not instead of it.
Popular complementary therapies include massage, aromatherapy, reiki and relaxation. Complementary therapies cannot cure cancer, but many patients use them as a way of coping with their illness and treatment. They may help to relieve pain or stress, for instance. See complementary therapies section.
- Computerised tomography
- Computerised tomography (CT or CAT scan) is a type of x-ray that produces cross-section pictures of the body. To have the scan, you lie on a couch while it passes through a large, hollow ring. See computerised tomography section.
- Consent
- Your health care team must seek your permission (your consent) before you have an examination or treatment. See giving your consent section.
- CT scan
- Computerised tomography (CT or CAT scan) is a type of x-ray that produces cross-section pictures of the body. To have the scan, you lie on a couch while it passes through a large, hollow ring. See computerised tomography section.
- Cure
- Cancer is said to be cured when there is no sign of the disease and there is no chance of the cancer coming back.
- Curettage and cautery
- Curettage is the scraping of the skin or an internal body surface to remove tissue using a curette. It is usually done to remove diseased tissue or to obtain a sample for testing. Afterwards, the wound may be sealed with heat (cautery).
- Curette
- A spoon-shaped surgical instrument with a sharp edge. It is used to scrape tissue from the skin or from an internal body surface.
- Cystectomy
- An operation to remove the bladder.
- Cystoscope
- A long, flexible telescopic instrument used to look at the bladder and to take tissue samples. It is passed through the urethra and into the bladder.
- Cystoscopy
- An examination of the bladder using a long, flexible telescopic instrument called a cystoscope.
- Cytology [cf histology]
- The study of the form and working of cells.
