- T -
Tail of the pancreas: The thin tip of gland in the left part of abdomen, near the spleen.
Targeted Therapy: A type of treatment that attacks unique aspects of cancer cells with
potentially little harm to healthy cells.
Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is
synonymous with treatment.
Thromboplebitis: An inflammation of the veins accompanied by thrombus formation. It is
sometimes referred to as Trousseau's sign.
Thrombus: A
clot within the cardiovascular system. It may occlude (block) the vessel or may
be attached to the wall of the vessel without blocking the blood flow.
Tomography: The process for generating a
tomogram, a two-dimensional image of a slice or section through a
three-dimensional object. Tomography achieves this remarkable result by simply
moving an X-ray source in one direction as the X-ray film is moved in the
opposite direction during the exposure to sharpen structures in the focal
plane, while structures in other planes appear blurred. The tomogram is the
picture; the tomograph is the apparatus; and tomography is the process.
Total Pancreatectomy: Surgical
removal of entire pancreas.
Toxicity: The degree to which a substance (a
toxin or poison) can harm humans or animals. Acute toxicity involves harmful
effects in an organism through a single or short-term exposure. Subchronic
toxicity is the ability of a toxic substance to cause effects for more than one
year but less than the lifetime of the exposed organism. Chronic toxicity is
the ability of a substance or mixture of substances to cause harmful effects
over an extended period, usually upon repeated or continuous exposure,
sometimes lasting for the entire life of the exposed organism.
Treatment port: The place on the body at which the
radiation beam is aimed.
Trypsin: An enzyme of pancreatic juice that
hydrolyzes proteins into smaller polypeptide units.
Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue. Tumors are
a classic sign of inflammation, and can be benign or malignant (cancerous).
There are dozens of different types of tumors. Their names usually reflect the
kind of tissue they arise in, and may also tell you something about their shape
or how they grow. For example, a medulloblastoma is a tumor that arises from
embryonic cells (a blastoma) in the inner part of the brain (the medulla).
Diagnosis depends on the type and location of the tumor. Tumor marker tests and
imaging may be used; some tumors can be seen (for example, tumors on the
exterior of the skin) or felt (palpated with the hands).
Tumor debulking: Surgically removing as much of
the tumor as possible.
Tumor marker: A substance detectable in the blood
or urine that suggests the presence of cancer.
- U –
Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves.
Ultra-sound waves can be bounced off tissues by using special devices. The
echoes are then converted into a picture called a sonogram. Ultrasound imaging
allows an inside view of soft tissues and body cavities without the use of
invasive techniques.
Ultrasound probe: Ultrasound is a technique
doctors use to create images of the organs in your body. An ultrasound probe is
a device that lets the ultrasound machine focus on an area of your body. The
ultrasound machine can then sends out high-frequency sound waves, which reflect
off parts of your body to create a picture.
Uncinate process of the pancreas: The part of the gland that bends backwards
and underneath the body of the pancreas. Two very important blood vessels, the
superior mesenteric artery and vein, cross in front of this process.
Unresectable: Unable to be removed (resected)
by surgery.
Urine: Liquid waste produced by the kidneys.
Urine is a clear, transparent fluid that normally has an amber color. The
average amount of urine excreted in 24 hours is between 5 to 8 cups or 40 and
60 ounces. Chemically, urine is mainly a watery solution of salt and substances
called urea and uric acid. Normally, it contains about 960 parts water to 40
parts solid matter. Abnormally, it may contain sugar (in diabetes), albumin (a
protein, as in some forms of kidney disease), bile pigments (as in jaundice),
or abnormal quantities of one or another of its normal components.
Urea: Main waste material in urine.
- V –
Vaccination: A vaccination is an injection a
doctor can give you to protect you from getting an infectious illness (an
illness that spreads between people).
Vaccine therapy: This is a new type of treatment, largely still experimental. It is a
medication made of killed or weakened cells, organisms or manufactured
materials, which is used to boost the body's immune system. Ideally, this will
allow the body to fight and kill the cancer cells more effectively. Vaccines
include whole killed cancer cells or specific proteins from the cancer.
Vital: Necessary to maintain life. For
example, breathing is a vital function.
- W –
Weight loss: Weight loss is a decrease in
body weight resulting from either voluntary (diet, exercise) or involuntary
(illness) circumstances. Most instances of weight loss arise due to the loss of
body fat, but in cases of extreme or severe weight loss, protein and other
substances in the body can also be depleted. Examples of involuntary weight
loss include the weight loss associated with cancer, malabsorption (such as
from chronic diarrhea), and chronic inflammation (such as with rheumatoid
arthritis).
Whipple procedure: A type of surgery that is
used to treat pancreatic cancer and was devised by the US surgeon Allen
Whipple. The head of the pancreas, the duodenum, a portion of the stomach, and
other nearby tissues are removed.
White blood cells: Cells produced by the bone
marrow and lymph nodes. They help the body fight infection.
- X –
X-ray: High-energy radiation with waves
shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used in low doses to make images
that help to diagnose diseases and in high doses to treat cancer.
