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| Adjuvant therapy | (AD-joo-vant) Treatment given to kill undetected cancer cells that may remain in the body after surgery.
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| Anaesthetic | (an-es-THET-ik) A drug that causes numbness or loss of feeling in part(local), a region(spinal or epidural) or all(general) of the body.
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| Basal cells | (BAY-sal) Small, round cells found in the lower part, or base, of the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin. |
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| Benign | (bee-NINE) Not cancer; does not invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body. |
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| Biological response modifiers | (by-o-LOJ-i-kal) Substances that stimulate the body's response to infection and disease. The body naturally produces small amounts of these substances. Scientists can produce some of them in the laboratory in large amounts and use them in cancer treatment. Also called BRMs. |
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| Biological therapy | Treatment that can help the immune system fight disease more effectively. This form of treatment often involves the use of biological response modifiers. Also called immunotherapy or biotherapy. |
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| Biopsy | (BY-op-see) The removal of a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope to check for cancer cells. |
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| Chemotherapy | (kee-mo-THER-a-pee) Treatment with anti cancer drugs. |
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| Clinical trials | Medical research studies conducted with volunteers. Each study is designed to answer scientific questions and to find better ways to prevent or treat cancer. |
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| Cutaneous | (kyoo-TAY-nee-us) Related to the skin. |
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| Dermatologist | (der-ma-TOL-o-jist) A doctor who specialised in the diagnosis and treatment of skin problems. |
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| Dermis | (DER-mis) The lower or inner layer of the two main layers of cells that make up the skin. |
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| Dysplastic | (dis-plas-tic) nevi Atypical moles; moles whose appearance is different from that of common moles. Dysplastic nevi are generally larger than ordinary moles and have irregular borders. Their colour often is not uniform; they usually are flat, but parts may be raised above the skin surface. |
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| Epidermis | (ep-i-DER-mis) The upper or outer layer of the two main layers of cells that make up the skin. |
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| Groin | The area where the thigh meets the hip. |
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| Hair follicles | (Fol-i-koolz) Sacs in the dermis from which hair grows. |
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| Immune system | The body’s front line of defence against invading bacterial infections, viruses and allergens. White blood cells(lymphocytes) are stimulated to create antibodies to defend the body against foreign invaders. Lymph nodes are an important part of the immune system and there is good evidence that the immune system acts against cancer cells. |
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| Infusion | (in-FYOO-shun) A chemotherapy technique that may be used when melanoma occurs on an arm or leg. The flow of blood to and from the limb is stopped for a while with a tourniquet, and anti-cancer drugs are put directly into the blood of the limb. This allows the patient to receive a high dose of drugs in the area where the melanoma occurred. |
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| Interferon | (in-ter-FEER-on) A type of biological response modifier(a substance that can improve the bodys natural response to disease). It slows the rate of growth and division of cancer cells, causing them to become sluggish and die. |
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| Interleukin-2 | (in-ter-LOO-kin) A type of biological response modifier(a substance that can improve the body's natural response to disease). It stimulates the growth of certain blood cells in the immune system that can fight cancer. Also called IL-2. |
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| Intra-ocular Melanoma | Melanoma arising in the eye(uveal melanoma). |
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| Local therapy | Treatment that affects a tumour and the tissue close to it. |
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| Lymph nodes | Small, bean-shaped structures located along the network of lymphatic vessels. The lymph nodes store special cells that can trap bacteria or cancer cells travelling through the body in lymph. Clusters of lymph nodes are found in the underarms, groin, neck, chest, and abdomen. |
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| Lymph/n | (limf) The almost colourless fluid that travels through the lymphatic system and carries cells that help fight infection and disease. |
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| Lymphatic system | The tissues |
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About Melanoma 
