Glossary Terms

Radical surgery

Surgery to remove all areas of disease to include areas of lymphatic drainage around the cancer. It may involve the total removal of an organ (e.g. bladder or kidney) or mass of tissue (e.g. the breast).

Radiographer

An allied health professional who takes x-rays and scans or gives radiotherapy.

Radiologist

A doctor who specialises in reading scans and x-rays.

Radiology

The use of radiation in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Radiotherapist

A doctor who specialises in the treatment of cancer with radiation.

Radiotherapy

Treatment of cancer using radiation to kill cancerous cells and reduce the tumour size.

Recessive

A recessive condition is not expressed unless the affecting gene is carried by each of the pair of a particular chromosome.

Rectosigmoid junction

The part of the intestine where the colon becomes the rectum.

Rectum

The final part of the intestines which ends at the anus.

Referral

This is the process where the GP arranges for further specialist assessment of your complaint.

Rehabilitation

Refers to the process for returning to a state of health and useful activity.

Renal

Of the kidneys.

Resected Specimen

The tissue removed from the body during an operation.

Resection

A procedure that uses surgery to remove tissue or part or all of an organ.