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- Radiation
- In cancer treatment, use of x-rays, gamma rays, and alpha and beta particles to destroy cancer cells.
- Radiation therapy
- The use of x-rays, gamma rays, and alpha and beta particles to destroy cancer cells.
- Radical mastectomy
- Surgical removal of the breast, chest muscles and all of the lymph nodes under the arm to remove cancerous tissue.
- Radical prostatectomy
- a potentially curative treatment for prostate cancer in which the entire prostate, seminal vesicles and some adjacent tissue are surgically removed
- Radical treatment
- Curative treatment that may be quite aggressive.
- Radioisotope scan
- A diagnostic technique that uses a radioactive element (called an isotope) to highlight the structure of an organ. Usually, a low dose of radioactive material is injected into a vein; it flows through the blood to the target organ and settles in the cells. The radiation given off from the isotope is picked up by a scanning device to form a picture of the organ.
- Radioligand binding assay
- use of radioactive-labelled antigens to measure specific unlabelled substances
- Radiologist
- A physician with special training in reading, and interpreting, diagnostic x-rays and other imaging techniques such as ultrasound and CT Scans.
- Radiolucent
- Permitting the penetration of X-rays.
- Radionuclide scanning (radionuclide scintigraphy)
- an imaging technique in which radioactively labelled chemical (technetium-99) is administered and taken up in all areas of increased bone turnover
- Radiotherapy
- The use of radiation therapy to control malignant disease and/or slow down the development of abnormal cells.
- Randomised (clinical trial)
- A clinical trial in which the participants are divided into those undergoing an experimental procedure (i.e. a new drug) and those undergoing either the current standard treatment or a control procedure (i.e. placebo) in a random fashion (determined by chance). This is intended to remove any bias.
- Receptor
- For estrogen to work, it must bind to a specific molecule inside the cell called a receptor. If estrogen binds to its receptors in tumour cells, growth is encouraged and your cancer will increase in size. If estrogen is stopped from binding to its receptors in tumour cells, then your cancer will be prevented from growing.
- Recurrence
- A return of cancer after primary treatment, either at the same site as the original tumour or somewhere else in the body. Local recurrence occurs in the breast where the cancer started. Regional recurrence occurs in the lymph nodes next to the affected breast.
- Recurrent cancer
- Cancer that has returned, at the same site as the original (primary) tumour or in another location, after it had disappeared.
- Registered dietician
- A qualified expert in the field of food and nutrition. They provide people with nutritional assessments and counselling. They also translate scientific information about food and nutrition int opractical advice that people can use in their dailly lives.
- Relapse
- The return of the cancer.
- Remission
- The time when a disease is under control and the person is free from its signs and symptoms.
- Resection
- The surgical removal of any part of the body.
- Resection margin
- The area of normal tissue surrounding a tumour that is removed along with the tumour during surgery in an attempt to eradicate all cancerous cells.
- Retroareolar tissue
- the tissue behind the areolar
- Risk factor
- Something that increases the chance of developing a disease. For example, smoking is a risk factor that increases one's chance of developing cancer.
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