| Ablation |
Removal
or separation of something. |
| |
|
| Adrenal
glands |
Small
glands lying on top of the kidneys which produce a small amount
of male hormone.
|
| |
|
| Androgens |
Male
hormones.The most active male hormone, testosterone, is produced by
the testicles. Other male hormones are produced by the adrenal glands.
(See information sheet number 5) |
| |
|
| Anti-androgens |
Drugs
which block the effects of male hormones. (See information sheet number
5) |
| |
|
| Asymptomatic |
Not
having symptoms, symptom-free. |
| |
|
| Benign |
Non-cancerous
(not cancer). |
| |
|
| Benign
prostate enlargement |
Non-cancerous
enlargement of the prostate. (See information sheet numbers 1 and
2) |
| |
|
| BPH |
Stands
for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. A condition causing non-cancerous
enlargement of the prostate. |
| |
|
| Biopsy
of the prostate |
Removal
of small pieces of tissue, in this case, from the prostate gland.
Tissue samples are taken from different areas of the prostate, and
then examined under the microscope to see if they are cancerous. (See
information sheet number 3) |
| |
|
| Brachytherapy |
A
type of radiotherapy of the prostate - involves the insertion of radioactive
seeds directly into the prostate. (See information sheet number 3) |
| |
|
| CAT
(CT) scan |
CAT
stands for Computerised Axial Tomography. A series of x-ray pictures
are taken in a circle around the body which are processed by a computer |
| |
|
| Chemotherapy |
Usually
refers to the killing of cancer cells with cytotoxic chemicals (cytotoxic
means toxic to cells.) |
| |
|
| Cystitis |
Inflammation
of the bladder, often caused by infection. |
| |
|
| Cystoscope |
A
tiny tube with a lighted end which slides along the urethra and is
used to examine the bladder. |
| |
|
| Digital
Rectal Examination (DRE) |
An
examination of the prostate through the wall of the rectum. The doctor
inserts a finger in the rectum and feels the shape of the prostate.
Irregularities may be caused by cancer. |
| |
|
| Dry
ejaculation |
Also called reverse or retrograde ejaculation. After surgery
on the prostate, a man may achieve orgasm, but produce no ejaculate.
This is because of either the removal of a muscular valve which prevents
the ejaculate from going backwards into the bladder (in the case of
surgery called a TURP), or because the glands which produce much of
the fluid in the ejaculate are also removed (in the case of a radical
prostatectomy). |
| |
|
| Ejaculate |
Fluid
produced at ejaculation which contains sperm and secretions from glands
such as the prostate, seminal vesicles and testicles. |
| |
|
| Gleason
score |
A
way of grading cancer cells. Low grade cancers (Gleason score 2,3,4)
are slower growing than high grade (Gleason scores 8,9,10) cancers.
(See information sheet number 3) |
| |
|
| Grade |
A way of describing how abnormal the cancer cells look,
and consequently how aggressive or fast-growing the cancer is likely
to be. The most commonly used grading system is the Gleason score,
which ranges from 2-10. (See information sheet number 3) |
| |
|
| Hot flush |
A
sudden rush of heat to the face, neck, sometimes chest and back. It
can be associated with hormonal therapy for prostate cancer. |
| |
|
| Hormone
resistance |
Prostate
cancer cells are dependent on testosterone or male hormone for growth.
Withdrawal of male hormone by surgery or by means of drugs is therefore
a means of controlling its growth. However cancer cells may develop
which do not need testosterone for growth. The cancer is then said
to be `hormone resistant'. (See information sheet number 5) |
| |
|
| Hyperthermia |
Higher
than normal temperature. In the case of prostate cancer, a way of
destroying tissue by heating. |
| |
|
| Impotence |
Inability
to achieve an erection. |
| |
|
| Indolent |
Means
`lazy', usually referring to the type of cancer cells which grow only
slowly. |
| |
|
| Incontinence |
Inability
to hold urine or control the loss of urine. |
| |
|
| Lymph
nodes |
Small
glands which filter tissue fluid before it returns to the blood stream.
This means that they often capture cancer cells which have escaped
from the main tumour and have started to spread to other parts of
the body. |
| |
|
| LHRH |
Stands for Luteinising Hormone Releasing Hormone. It is produced by the hypothalamus in the brain
and stimulates the pituitary (another part of the brain) to produce LH (Luteinising Hormone). This, in turn
causes cells in the testicles to produce testosterone, the male hormone.
|
| |
|
| LHRH agnostics |
Drugs which interfere with the production of LH (see above) by the pituitary. (See information sheet no. 5)
|
| |
|
| Libido |
Sex
drive. |
| |
|
| Margin-positive |
See
surgical margins. (See information sheet number 4) |
| |
|
| Metastasis |
A
piece of cancer which has broken off from the main cancer and become
established in a different part of the body. Prostate cancer metastases
often occur in lymph glands, bone or in the lungs. |
| |
|
| MRI |
Stands
for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. A way of imaging the inside of the
body without using X-rays. |
| |
|
| Nodules |
Small
lumps. |
| |
|
| Oncologist |
A
doctor who specialises in treating cancer. |
| |
|
| Orchidectomy |
(Also
Orchiectomy) A type of operation which removes the testicles, but
usually leaves the scrotal sac or scrotum. |
| |
|
| Pelvis/pelvic |
The
area of the body below the waist and surrounded by the hip and pubic
bones. |
| |
|
| Pituitary |
Part
of the brain which produces hormones which stimulate the testicles
to produce testosterone (male hormone) and other hormones. |
| |
|
| Prostatitis |
Inflammation
of the prostate. It can be caused by bacteria. |
| |
|
| Prostatectomy |
An
operation to remove all or part of the prostate. |
| |
|
| PSA |
Prostate
Specific Antigen (See information sheet number 1 and 2). It can be
used as a test for prostate cancer or to monitor its recurrence. |
| |
|
| Radical
prostatectomy |
An operation which removes the prostate and the seminal
vesicles. This may be done through a cut in the abdomen or the perineum
(the area of skin between the rectum and the scrotum). |
| |
|
| Rectum |
The
last part of the bowel, leading to the anus, and through which stool
passes |
| |
|
| Retrograde
ejaculation |
Also
called reverse ejaculation. This may occur after surgery for benign
enlargement of the prostate. The ejaculate travels back into the bladder
instead of exiting out through the penis. This means a man is infertile,
but he can still achieve orgasm. |
| |
|
| Scrotum |
A
pouch of skin which contains the testicles and some other parts of
the male repoductive system. It hangs outside the body and below the
penis. |
| |
|
| Seminal
vesicles |
Glands
which lie very close to the prostate and produce secretions which
form part of the ejaculate. |
| |
|
| Staging |
A
way of describing how far the cancer has spread. (See information
sheet number 3) |
| |
|
| Stricture |
Scar
tissue which obstructs fluid flow; in the case of a urethral stricture,
urine flow is obstructed. |
| |
|
| Surgical
margins |
After
a radical prostatectomy, the edges of the tissue which has been removed
are examined to see if cancer cells are present. If they are not (negative
surgical margins) the chance is higher that all of the cancer has
been removed. (See information sheet number 4) |
| |
|
| Testicles |
Glands
which produce sperm and the male hormone, testosterone. They are found
in the scrotum. |
| |
|
| Testosterone |
The
major male hormone. It is produced by the testicles. (See information
sheet number 5) |
| |
|
| TRUS |
Stands
for Trans-Rectal Ultra-Sound. A means of imaging the prostate in order
to locate cancer. The ultrasound probe is placed in the rectum. |
| |
|
| TURP |
Stands
for Trans-Urethral Resection of the Prostate. An instrument is inserted,
under anaesthetic, along the urethra (urine tube) and removes prostate
tissue which may be blocking the flow of urine. It is a common operation
for benign enlargement of the prostate, but only occasionally used
to treat prostate cancer. |
| |
|
| Urethra |
Tube
which carries urine and ejaculate along the length of the penis and
to the outside. |
