|
Hair
follicles (FOL-i-kuls): The sacs in the scalp from
which hair grows.
Hairy cell leukemia: A rare type of chronic leukemia
in which the abnormal white blood cells appear to be
covered with tiny hairs.
Helicobacter pylori (HEEL-i-ko-BAK-ter pie-LOR-ee):
Bacteria that cause inflammation and ulcers in the stomach.
Hematogenous: Orginating in the blood, or disseminated
by the circulation or through the bloodstream.
Hematologist (hee-ma-TOL-o-jist): A doctor who
specializes in treating diseases of the blood.
Hepatitis (hep-a-TYE-tis): Inflammation of the
liver.
Hepatitis B: A type of hepatitis that is carried
and passed on through the blood. It can be passed on
through sexual contact or through the use of "dirty"
(bloody) needles.
Hepatoblastoma (HEP-a-to-blas-TO-ma): A type
of liver tumor that occurs in infants and children.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HEP-a-to-SEL-yoo-ler
kar-si-NO-ma): The most common type of primary liver
cancer.
Hepatocyte (HEP-a-to-site): A liver cell.
Hepatoma (HEP-a-TO-ma): A liver tumor.
Hereditary mutation: A gene change in the body's
reproductive cells (egg or sperm) that becomes incorporated
into the DNA of every cell in the body of offspring;
hereditary mutations are passed on from parents to offspring.
Herpes virus (HER-peez-VY-rus): A member of the
herpes family of viruses. One type of herpesvirus is
sexually transmitted and causes sores on the genitals.
HER-2/neu: Oncogene found in some breast and
ovarian cancer patients that is associated with a poor
prognosis.
Hormonal therapy: Treatment of cancer by removing,
blocking, or adding hormones.
Hormone receptor test: A test to measure the
amount of certain proteins, called hormone recptors,
in breast cancer tissue. Hormones can attach to these
proteins. A high level of hormone receptors means hormones
probably help the cancer grow.
Hormone therapy: Treatment that prevents certain
cancer cells form getting the hormones they need to
grow.
Hormones: Chemicals produced by glands in the
body and circulate in the bloodstream. Hormones control
the actions of certain cells or organs.
Human papillomaviruses (pap-i-LOW-ma VY-rus-ez):
Viruses that generally cause warts. Some papillomaviruses
are sexually transmitted. Some of these sexually transmitted
viruses cause wartlike growths on the genitals, and
some are thought to cause abnormal changes in cells
of the cervix.
Humidifier (hyoo-MID-ih-fye-er): A machine that
puts moisture in the air.
Hydrocephalus (hy-dro-SEF-uh-lus): The abnormal
buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of
the brain.
Hypercalcemia (hy-per-kal-SEE-mee-a): A higher-than-normal
level of calcium in the blood. This condition can cause
a number of symptoms, including loss of appetite, nausea,
thirst, fatigue, muscle weakness, restlessness, and
confusion.
Hyperfractionation: A way of giving radiation
therapy in smaller-than-usual doses two or three times
a day.
Hyperplasia (hye-per-PLAY-zha): A precancerous
condition in which there is an increase in the number
of normal cells lining the uterus.
Hyperthermia (hy-per-THER-mee-a): Treatment that
involves heating a tumor.
Hypothalamus (hy-po-THAL-uh-mus): The area of
the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, and
thirst.
Hysterectomy (hiss-ter-EK-to-mee): An operation
in which the uterus and cervix are removed. |
