Guide to medical words
Biopsy
A small amount of tissue or cells is removed from the body for examination and to help decide if there is an abnormality.
Cancer
Cancer is a disease caused by normal
cells changing so that they grow in an uncontrolled way.
Cells
These make up the tissues of the body. Individual cells may be more or less specialised for particular functions.
Cervical
Referring to the cervix.
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is cancer of the
cervix (the ‘neck’ of the womb)
Cervix
The lower part of the uterus‚ that opens into the vagina or ‘neck of the womb’
Chemotherapy
It literally means 'drug treatment'. In cancer treatment, the word chemotherapy means treatment with drugs that kill cells
Colposcope
A powerful, illuminated microscope used to examine the vagina and
cervix more closely.
Colposcopy
Detailed examination of the vagina and
cervix using a
colposcope.
HPV (Human Papilloma Virus)
Is a very common virus - there are around 100 different HPV types of which approximately 40 can infect the genital tract. These 40 can be classified as non-cancer-causing types and cancer-causing types. The non-cancer-causing types are known to cause genital warts. The cancer-causing types, of which there are approximately 15, could cause the growth of abnormal cells on a woman’s cervix which if left undetected and untreated could go on to develop into cervical cancer.
Infection
When germs attack the body and keep on increasing in number, causing disease. The germs may be bacteria, viruses, yeast or fungi.
Immune system
The immune system is the body’s defence system, which helps protect it from infection and disease.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy means the use of 'radiation', usually X-rays, to treat illness.
Screening
Cervical screening is the process of collecting
cells from a woman’s
cervix. Cells are collected and then checked to ensure that they are healthy and normal. (See also smear test)
Side-effects
Side effects are symptoms/problems eg headache or dizziness caused by a medicine/treatment that you are taking.
Smear test
A procedure in which
cells are brushed or wiped from the surface of the
cervix by using a special soft brush that is then stored in a small pot of liquid for later analysis under the microscope. Cervical smear tests are used to find out early on whether there are any cell changes in the cervix.
Surgery
Surgery is when tissue is cut away from the body. It is one of the main treatments for cancer. Surgery is a local treatment – it only treats the part of the body operated on. So it may cure cancer that is completely contained in one area and has not spread. Usually, the earlier a cancer is found the easier it is to remove it.
Tissue
A group or layer of
cells that work together to perform a specific function.
Tumour
An abnormal mass of tissue that is the result of cells growing and dividing in an uncontrolled manner. Tumours may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Uterus (also called the womb)
The small‚ hollow‚ pear–shaped organ in which a foetus develops during pregnancy. The lower end of the uterus (which opens into the vagina) is called the cervix.
Vaccination
Vaccination or immunisation is usually given by an injection that activates the body's
immune system to produce antibodies that will protect against a particular infectious disease.
Virus
Viruses are found everywhere. They are very very small - micro organisms that can infect cells and may cause disease.