Carcinogens – any substance that, when exposed to living tissue, may cause cancer.
Carcinoma – a cancer that forms in the tissue that lines the skin and internal
organs (epithelium) of the body.
Cholangiocarcinoma – cancer of the bile ducts.
Gastroenterologist – a doctor who specialises in understanding and treating digestive diseases.
Curative – a treatment which offers a potential cure. Hepatocellular cancer (HCC) –
cancer of the liver cells.
Hepatologist – a doctor who specialises in understanding and treating liver problems.
Jaundice – a condition in which the whites of the eyes go yellow; in severe cases the skin does too. This is caused by the yellow pigment (bilirubin) which is normally disposed of in the liver.
Lymph nodes – glands found all over the body which are connected to form part of the lymphatic system (helps to fight infection). If cancer has spread to the lymph nodes it increases the chance of it spreading to other parts of the body.
Metabolic syndrome – a combination of medical conditions linked with cardiovascular disease including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and also often associated with non alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Metastasis – the distant spread of a malignant tumour from its site of origin.
Oncologist – a doctor who specialises in understanding and treating cancer.
Palliative – treatment which is aimed at reducing symptoms and improving quality of life
but does not offer a cure.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) – an uncommon liver disease that causes the bile ducts (tubes inside and outside your liver that carry the digestive juice called bile to the bowels) to shrink in size. As they shrink, they block the flow of the bile which causes damage to the liver cells, leading to inflammation and scarring to the liver.
Resection – removal of some of a body part by surgery.
Surgeon – a doctor who specialises in treating people by operating on them.
Ulcerative colitis – a condition where ulcers and inflammation form in the rectum and the colon (part of your bowels).