Cancer Dictionary...
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Primary cancer | Primary cancer refers to the location of original cancer. Breast cancer is cancer that starts in the breast, bowel cancer starts in the bowel, and so on. When a cancer spreads to other parts of the body it does not become a new cancer. So, if your bowel cancer spreads to your liver, it does not become liver cancer. It is still bowel cancer. |
| Secondary cancer | Secondary cancer is the same type of cancer as the original (primary) cancer - it has migrated to other parts of the body. The medical term used for this is metastatic (pronounced meta-static). |
| Metastatic cancer | Metastatic cancer, in most cases, is NOT curable. Treatment can slow tumour growth and ease many of the symptoms. It's possible to live for several years with some types of cancer, even after metastasis. Metastatic cancer has the same name as the primary cancer. For example, breast cancer that spreads to the lung is called metastatic breast cancer, not lung cancer. It is treated as stage 4 breast cancer, not as lung cancer. |
| Silent tumour | A silent tumour, also known as an asymptomatic or silent cancer. It is a cancerous growth that does not cause noticeable symptoms until it progresses to later stages. These tumours can remain undetected for years, making early diagnosis and treatment challenging. Example types of silent cancer include certain breast, prostate, thyroid, ovarian, pancreatic, and lung cancers. |
| Benign / Malignant tumour | A tumour is a swelling or mass of abnormal tissue that forms when cells grow uncontrollably. Tumours can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), with malignant tumours having the potential to invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body. |
| 5-year survival rate | Cancer 5-year survival rates refer to the percentage of people who are still alive five years after their diagnosis. These rates vary widely depending on the type of cancer, its stage at diagnosis, and available treatments. |