Adjuvant (treatment) |
Additional treatment given after the primary treatment to reduce the chance of the cancer coming back; usually refers to radiotherapy and/or systemic therapy after surgery |
Biopsy |
A medical procedure in which a small sample of cells or tissue is taken for examination under a microscope |
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 |
Coronavirus |
A group of viruses that cause disease in mammals and birds but may also affect humans |
COVID-19 |
A disease caused by a type of coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 |
Curative (treatment) |
A treatment that is intended to cure the cancer |
Dysplastic naevi syndrome |
A condition in which an individual has a specific type of mole that looks different from a common mole. Dysplastic naevi are usually flat and larger than common moles and have irregular borders. A dysplastic naevus may develop into melanoma, and the more dysplastic naevi a person has, the higher the risk of melanoma |
Invasive (cancer) |
Cancer that has spread beyond the layer of tissue in which it developed and is growing into surrounding, healthy tissues |
Immune system |
The organs and processes of the body that help to prevent and fight off infections |
Immunotherapy |
A type of cancer treatment that stimulates the body’s immune system to fight the cancer |
Immunosuppressive drugs |
Types of drugs that suppress or reduce the strength of the body's immune system |
Ipilimumab |
A type of immunotherapy that blocks a protein called CTLA 4 on the surface of certain immune cells called T cells; this activates the T cells to find and kill cancer cells. It is administered through a drip into a vein in your arm or chest |
Lymph |
The fluid that circulates throughout the lymphatic system; it contains infection-fighting white blood cells |
Lymph nodes |
Small structures throughout the lymphatic system that work as filters for harmful substances, such as cancer cells or bacteria |
Lymphatic system |
A network of tissues and organs that help rid the body of toxins, waste and other unwanted materials. The primary function of the lymphatic system is to transport lymph, a fluid containing infection-fighting white blood cells, throughout the body |
Metastases |
Cancerous tumours that have originated from a primary tumour/growth in another part of the body |
Neoadjuvant therapy |
Treatment given as a first step to shrink a tumour before the main treatment, which is usually surgery |
Nivolumab |
A type of immunotherapy that blocks a protein called PD 1 on the surface of certain immune cells called T cells; this activates the T cells to find and kill cancer cells. It is administered through a drip into a vein in your arm or chest |
Pandemic |
A disease that is prevalent around the world |
Pembrolizumab |
A type of immunotherapy that blocks a protein called PD 1 on the surface of certain immune cells called T cells; this activates the T cells to find and kill cancer cells. It is administered through a drip into a vein in your arm or chest |
Pneumonitis |
Inflammation of the lungs |
Radical lymphadenectomy |
Surgery to remove most or all of the lymph nodes that drain lymph from the area around a tumour |
Radiotherapy |
Treatment involving the use of high-energy radiation, which is commonly used to treat cancer |
Regimen |
Treatment plan |
Resection |
Surgery to remove tissue |
Sentinel lymph node biopsy |
Removal and examination of the sentinel node(s) – the first lymph node(s) to which cancer cells are likely to spread from a primary tumour |
Stereotactic radiotherapy |
A type of external radiotherapy that uses special equipment to position the patient and precisely deliver radiation to a tumour |
Steroid |
A type of drug used to relieve swelling and inflammation. Some steroid drugs also have antitumour effects |
Systemic (therapy) |
Drugs that spread throughout the body to treat cancer cells wherever they may be. They include chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy |
Targeted therapy |
A type of cancer treatment that uses drugs or other substances to precisely identify and attack cancer cells, usually while doing little damage to normal cells |
T cell |
A type of white blood cell |
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 |
Ulcerated (melanoma) |
A breakdown of the skin on top of a melanoma. Ulcerated melanomas are more serious than non-ulcerated ones because they have a greater risk of spreading |
White blood cells |
A type of blood cell that is part of the body’s immune system. White blood cells help the body fight infections |
Wide excision |
A procedure in which an area of healthy skin and tissue from around the melanoma is removed. This helps to reduce the risk of the melanoma coming back |
Adaptations to Melanoma Management Glossary
