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Metastasis/Metastases

Anne Orchard — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:05:31 +0000

Metastasis is the process of cancer spreading to other parts of the body. This happens because individual cancer cells can travel through the lymphatic system and lodge in distant parts of the body. These stray cells then divide and duplicate themselves, forming new tumours. These are known as metastases or secondary tumours.

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Medical Menopause

Anne Orchard — Wed, 19 May 2010 18:45:27 +0000

A medical menopause is when the menopause is caused by treatments rather than being the natural progression of a woman’s body to the post-childbearing years through gradual changes in hormone production. A medical menopause can be caused by surgery, when a woman’s ovaries are removed during a hysterectomy. Other cancer treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy can also cause a medical menopause.

Menopause

Anne Orchard — Wed, 19 May 2010 12:18:01 +0000

The menopause is the time when a woman’s body becomes incapable of producing children due to the lack of the necessary hormones. Ordinarily the menopause is experienced between the ages of 45 and 55, though some women do undergo the menopause earlier or later. When the menopause happens before its natural time due to surgical removal of the woman’s ovaries or due to other treatments this is known as a /medical menopause.

Malignant

Anne Orchard — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:02:29 +0000

A malignant tumour is a growth that is capable of continuing to grow, of invading nearby tissue and of spreading to other areas of the body if unchecked. Typically this is also what ‘cancer’ means to us. This is in contrast to a benign growth, which is not malignant or ‘cancerous’.

Mammogram

Anne Orchard — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:00:15 +0000

A mammogram is a type of screening using low-dose x-ray pictures of the breasts. These are then examined for evidence of breast cancer, in order to allow early treatment. Mammograms may be carried out in hospital or through mobile screening units in the UK.

Mastectomy

Anne Orchard — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:57:45 +0000

A mastectomy is when a whole breast is removed as treatment for breast cancer. In the case of a simple mastectomy one or more lymph nodes will also be removed to check that the cancer has not spread. In a radical mastectomy all the lymph nodes on the affected side will be removed. In some cases women are given a double mastectomy – either because both breasts are affected or else in order to prevent the possibility of further cancers in the other breast.

Melanoma

Anne Orchard — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:58:07 +0000

Melanoma is a type of cancer that begins in the skin. Sometimes melanoma will develop from a mole, but it can also begin in normal skin. If melanomas are not removed they may become malignant and spread to other parts of the body.