Palliative care: is treatment that is given to help improve quality of life when the cancer cannot be cured.
Palliative treatment: aims to meet the physical, spiritual, psychological and social needs of a person with cancer.
Pathology: is the study and diagnosis of disease.
PET scan (positron emission tomography scan): is a test that measures the activity of cells in different parts of the body. It can be used to find out more about cancer and see if it has spread to other parts of the body.
PICC line: is a long, thin, flexible tube. It is put into a vein just above the bend in your elbow. It is used to give chemotherapy or other treatments. It usually stays in until treatment finishes.
Platelet: is a type of cell found in your blood. Platelets help your blood to clot to help stop bleeding. Chemotherapy can reduce the number of platelets in your blood for a time, making you more likely to have bleeding and bruising.
Portacath: is a long thin tube that is put under the skin to give chemotherapy and other drugs. The tube is connected to a small box under the skin. Positive result means something has been found. For example, a positive lymph node biopsy means that cancer cells were found in the lymph nodes.
Primary cancer: is a cancer that starts in one area of the body. Most cancers are primary cancers.
Primary care: Primary care services provide the first point of contact in the healthcare system, acting as the ‘front door’ of the NHS. Primary care includes general practice, community pharmacy, dental, and optometry (eye health) services.
Prognosis: is the likely outcome of a disease. The prognosis gives an idea of how long a person might live.Progression (or progressed) means that the cancer is still growing, or has continued to spread
Prosthesis: is an artificial body part. A prosthesis is used if that part of the body has been removed. It helps with mobility and appearance.
Pump: is something that may be used to give you chemotherapy or fluids. The pump makes sure that the right amounts are given over the right amount of time. Some pumps are small and can be taken home, so that you do not have to stay in hospital.
Radiology: is the use of imaging such as x-rays and scans to help diagnose cancer
Radiotherapy: use of high-energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells
Recurrence: is when the cancer has come back. If it comes back in the same area of the body, it is called local recurrence. If it has spread to other parts of the body, it is called distant recurrence.
Remission: is when treatment is controlling the cancer or has made it temporarily disappear, but it may not have been cured.
