Radiation Therapy Glossary
Written by Mystic on Monday, August 04, 2008Benign | A growth that is not cancerous. |
Caesium | A radioactive substance used for internal radiation. |
Carcinoma | Medical term for cancer. |
CT Scanner | Cumputerised tomography. |
Chemotherapy | The use of drugst to kill cancer cells. |
Electrons | A type of radiation used for treating cancers which lie close to the skin's surface. |
Field | The area of the body to be treated. |
Follow up | Visits to your doctor following treatment. |
Fraction | A daily treatment of radiation. |
Gray | Dose unit of radiation. |
Implants | These are forms of internal radiation treatment. |
Laser | A light source that is used to help position you accurately for treatment. |
Linear accelerator | A high-energy x-ray machine used for external radiation treatment. |
Malignant | A cancerous growth with the ability to spread to other parts of the body. |
Metastases | Secondary cancers or growths which have spread to other body parts. |
Nuclear Medicine | A branch of medicine using radioisotopes to diagnose diseases. |
MRI [Magnetic Resonance Imaging] | A technique using magnetic fields to produce images of body organs. |
Oncology | The study of cancer. |
Primary | The site at which the cancer originated. |
Radiation Oncologist | A specialist skilled in the use of radiation. |
RADS | Radiation measurements - the term GRAY is now used. |
Radioisotopes | Radioacitve substances. |
Radiation Therapist | A health profesional trained to plan and administer radiation treatment. |
Radiologist | A specialist doctor who uses x-rays to diagnose disease. |
Secondaries | See metastases. |
