Understanding Medical Jargon

Medical jargon is often very confusing especially when a lot of information is given at a time when you are anxious to understand and remember exactly what is being said by nurses and doctors. If you are unsure just ask, even if you have asked before nurses and doctors will usually be happy to explain again they realise that it is difficult to understand especially when you are stressed.

Anaesthetic
Can be local or general

Local Anaesthetic
Is a medical term used to describe how a cream or injection can be used to cause temporary numbness in a specific area of the body during certain tests or procedures.

General Anaesthetic
Is a medical term used to describe how specialist doctors use drugs to put you to sleep during an operation.

Biopsy
A biopsy involves the removal of a piece of tissue or fluid. It is generally obtained at the time of surgery. Once removed, cancer experts microscopically examine the tissue or fluid. This is how experts make a clear diagnosis.

Cancer
Is a general term used to describe many malignant growths, in many part of the body.

Chemotherapy
Is a general term used to describe a large group of cancer killing drugs.  These will be prescribed by a Cancer Specialist and will be specific to you alone.

Consent
Before certain investigations or treatments, you and your parents will be asked to give written or verbal agreement.

Cytology
Refers to the microscopic examination of abnormal cells.  This process allows scientists to identify the type and extent of the cancer involved.

Diagnosis
Is the medical term given to any illness that has been identified following a full medical investigation of symptoms and specific test results.

Tumour
Is a medical term used to describe a lump or growth that may or may not be a cancer?  Doctors describe tumours as being as either malignant or benign.

A Malignant Tumour
Is a lump or growth that following investigation is considered by experts to be life threatening cancers.

A Benign Tumour
Describes a lump or growth that following investigation is proven to be non threatening – therefore not cancer.

Prognosis
Is a medical term used by Specialists to describe how your cancer is most likely to affect you in the future?

Protocol
Is the term given to a cancer treatment plan specific to you.

Primary Cancer
Is a term used to describe the original site or location of cancer cells.

Secondary Cancer
Is a term used to describe a cancer that has spread from the original site to other areas of the body.

Infertility
The inability to get pregnant or make a women pregnant

Sperm Banking
The process by which human sperm is reserved and frozen for future use.

Egg Freezing
The process by which women can have eggs surgically removed and frozen for future use.