Adaptations to Endometrial Cancer Glossary

Adjuvant (treatment)

Additional treatment given after the primary treatment to reduce the chance of the cancer coming back

Atypical hyperplasia (AH)

A precancerous condition that can develop in the lining of the uterus known as the endometrium

Benign

Not cancerous

Bowel perforation

A hole in the wall of part of the gastrointestinal tract

Brachytherapy

A type of radiation therapy used to treat cancer

Chemotherapy

A type of cancer treatment using medicine that kills the cancer cells by damaging them, so that they cannot reproduce and spread

Clinical trial

A study that compares the effects of one treatment with another

Endocrine (treatment)

A treatment that adds, blocks or removes hormones from the body

External beam radiotherapy (EBRT)

A type of radiotherapy that uses a machine to aim high energy rays at the cancer from outside of the body

Fertility-preserving treatment

Treatment that is designed to allow women to retain their childbearing potential

First-line (treatment)

The initial treatment(s) given to a patient

Fistula

An abnormal connection between two hollow spaces such as blood vessels, intestines or other hollow organs

Gastrointestinal system

The system of organs responsible for getting food into and out of the body and for making use of food to keep the body healthy – includes the oesophagus, stomach and intestines

Hysterectomy

An operation to remove a woman's uterus

Intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN)

A precancerous lesion of the uterine lining that increases the risk of subsequent development of endometrial cancer

Metastatic

A cancer that has spread from its site of origin to different parts of the body

Perforated bowel

A hole or tear in the bowel

Peritoneum

The tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers and supports most of the abdominal organs

Peritonitis

An inflammation of the peritoneum, the tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers and supports most of the abdominal organs

Pelvis

A basin-shaped complex of bones that connects the trunk and the legs

Postmenopausal

A woman who has not experienced menstruation (a period) for at least one year

Precancerous

A condition or lesion involving abnormal cells which are associated with an increased risk of developing into cancer

Radiotherapy

Treatment involving the use of high-energy radiation, which is commonly used to treat cancer

Recurrent (cancer)

A cancer that comes back after a period of remission

Second-line (treatment)

The second treatment given to a patient once the initial (first-line) therapy has not worked or has been stopped because of the occurrence of side effects or other concerns

Tumour

A lump or growth of abnormal cells. Tumours may be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). In this guide, the term ‘tumour’ refers to a cancerous growth, unless otherwise stated

Vagina

A muscular canal with a soft, flexible lining that connects the uterus to the outside world