| kangri cancer | A carcinoma of the skin of the thigh or abdomen in certain Indian or Chinese workers; thought to result from irritation by heat from a hot brick oven (kang) or fire basket (kangri). Synonym: kangri burn carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| familial breast cancer | <oncology> A number of factors have been identified that increase the risk of breast cancer. One of the strongest of these risk factors is the history of breast cancer in a relative. About15-20% of women with breast cancer have such a family history of the disease, clearly reflecting the participation of inherited (genetic) components in the development of some breast cancers. Dominant breast cancer suceptibility genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, appear responsible for about 5% of all breast cancer. See related entries to: Breast cancer susceptibility genes; BRCA1; BRCA2. There are 2 genes; BRCA1 and BRCA2 which are susceptibility genes for breast cancer. They are inherited factors that predispose to breast cancer. Put otherwise, these genes make one more susceptible to the disease and so increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Two of these genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, have been identified (and prominently publicised). Several other genes (those for the li-fraumeni syndrome, cowden disease, muir-torre syndrome, and ataxia-telangiectasia) are also known to predispose to breast cancer. However, since all of these known breast cancer susceptibility genes together do not account for more than a minor fraction (1/5th at most) of breast cancer that clusters in families, it is clear that more breast cancer genes remain to be discovered. (12 Dec 1998) |
| familial cancer | <oncology> One occurring in families more frequently than would be expected by chance. (09 Oct 1997) |
| uterine cancer | A malignant growth of the uterus (womb). A common symptom includes the onset of vaginal bleeding after menopause. (27 Sep 1997) |
| follicular cancer of the thyroid | <oncology, tumour> A cancer of the thyroid gland that occurs with increased frequency in those who have had radiation exposure to the neck. Other risk factors include a family history of thyroid disease and history for goitre. Follicular carcinoma constitutes about 30% of all thyroid cancers. It has a greater rate of recurrence and metastasis than that of papillary carcinoma (the most common form of thyroid cancer). Symptoms include enlargement of the thyroid gland or neck swelling, change in voice, cough (occasionally bloody) and diarrhoea. (12 Nov 1997) |
| laryngeal cancer | A malignant (cancerous) tumour of the larynx. Presentation includes a progressively hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing and weight loss. Risk factors include smoking and heavy alcohol consumption. (27 Sep 1997) |
| Li-Fraumeni cancer syndrome | <syndrome> Familial breast cancer in young women, with soft-tissue sarcomas in children and other cancers in close relatives. (05 Mar 2000) |
| liver cancer | <oncology, tumour> A tumour of the liver. most cancer involving the liver is spread (metastatic) from other areas (colon, breast or lung). See: hepatoma. (27 Sep 1997) |
| localised cancer | A cancer still confined to its site of origin. (09 Oct 1997) |
| lung cancer | A cancerous growth in lung tissue. Lung cancer may be metastatic from another source (colon) or may be primary (tumour is of lung cell origin). Classification is based on the type of cell the lung cancer originates from (adenocarcinoma, alveolar cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell and small cell carcinomas). (27 Sep 1997) |
| acupuncture therapy | Treatment of disease by inserting needles along specific pathways or meridians. The placement varies with the disease being treated. Heat or moxibustion and acupressure may be used in conjunction. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adjuvant therapy | <oncology, pharmacology> Treatment that is added to increase the effectiveness of a primary treatment. In cancer, adjuvant treatment usually refers to chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or radiation therapy after surgery to increase the likelihood of killing all cancer cells. (14 May 1997) |
| alternative therapy | A term given to nonconventional therapy usually given by persons who do not have a medical qualification. (16 Dec 1997) |
| analytic therapy | Short term for psychoanalytic therapy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Antibody Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy | <pharmacology> A method for targeting a drug to a specific tissue, in which the targeting agent and the drug are administered separately. The drug is designed to be inactive (a prodrug) until it is converted by an enzyme, which is the targeting agent. The enzyme is coupled to an antibody that directs it to the tissue of interest. When the enzyme arrives at the tissue, the prodrug is activated only at that site, sparing other tissues from potentially toxic side effects. Acronym: ADEPT (14 Nov 1997) |