Medical Glossary

Immune-modulating agents are a type of immunotherapy that enhance the body’s immune response against cancer.

A Spitz naevus is a kind of mole that sometimes looks like melanoma. It’s more common in children and teens, but it can also be seen in adults. These tumours are typically benign and don’t spread. But sometimes doctors have trouble telling Spitz nevi from true melanomas, even when looking at them under a microscope. Therefore, they are often removed, just to be safe.

Lympho-vascular invasion happens when cancer cells break into the lymph channels. This increases the risk of the cancer traveling outside the primary site or coming back in the future.

This is the scientific term for a mole and is a type of melanocytic lesion that contains naevus cells and usually harmless.

Relating to, similar to, containing, or dissolved in water; watery⁵.

A tube through which the blood circulates in the body. Blood vessels include a network of arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins¹. 

The transparent part of the eye that covers the iris and the pupil and allows light to enter the inside¹.

A hormone made by the adrenal cortex (the outer layer of the adrenal gland). Cortisol made in the laboratory is called hydrocortisone. It is used to treat many conditions, including inflammation, allergies, and some cancers. Cortisol is a type of glucocorticoid hormone¹.

A doctor who has special training to diagnose and treat skin problems¹.

The process of identifying a disease, condition, or injury from its signs and symptoms. A health history, physical exam, and tests, such as blood tests, imaging tests, and biopsies, may be used to help make a diagnosis¹.

Any of the small brownish spots in the skin due to augmented melanin production that increase in number and intensity on exposure to sunlight⁹.

An organ that makes one or more substances, such as hormones, digestive juices, sweat, tears, saliva, or milk. Endocrine glands release the substances directly into the bloodstream. Exocrine glands release the substances into a duct or opening to the inside or outside of the body¹.

A shaft or opening on the surface of the skin through which hair grows¹. 

In medicine, describes the passing of genetic information from parent to child through the genes in sperm and egg cells. Also termed inheritable¹.

Relating to the study of the structure of cells and tissue seen under a microscope⁶.

Hydrophobic substances cannot be mixed with or dissolved in water⁶.

One of many substances made by glands in the body. Hormones circulate in the bloodstream and control the actions of certain cells or organs. Some hormones can also be made in the laboratory¹.

A type of therapy that uses substances to stimulate the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection, and other diseases. Some types of immunotherapy only target certain cells of the immune system. Others affect the immune system in a general way. Types of immunotherapy include cytokines, vaccines, bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), and some monoclonal antibodies¹.