Glossary Terms

De-bulking surgery

Surgery that removes as much of a tumour as possible. Tumor debulking may increase the chance that chemotherapy or radiation therapy will kill all the tumor cells. It may also be done to relieve symptoms or help the patient live longer.

Deletion mutation

This is where genetic material is lost from a chromosome or gene.

Desmin

A protein that forms the intermediate filaments of muscle cells.

Diagnosis

The medical term given to any illness that has been identified following a full medical investigation of symptoms and/or specific test results.

Dietitian

A health professional who can advise on how to eat sensibly to help you live with cancer and its treatments.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

An acid present in the chromosomes of all plants and animal cells by which all hereditary characteristics are passed from parent to offspring

Dominant inheritance

A case where the person displaying symptoms of a condition has only one pair of affected chromosomes.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Caused by an error in a gene called dystrophin and usually affects only boys, although there are rare cases in girls. A lack of dystrophin protein results in muscle cells breaking down, causing progressive muscle weakness. It affects the muscles of the pelvis and thighs first, causing difficulty in walking between the ages of one and three.

Dysphagia

Difficulty in swallowing.

Dystrophy

Any disorder arising from defective or faulty taking in and metabolism of nutrients.