Glossary
Retina: Light sensitive membrane at the back of the eye. Light is focused onto this membrane and the retina then transmits this information to the brain as impulses which the brain interprets as sight.Implant: A small container of radioactive material placed in or near a cancer.
Dental implant: A small metal pin placed inside the jawbone to mimic the root of a tooth. Dental implants can be used to help anchor a false tooth or teeth, or a crown or bridge.
Scar tissue: A mark left on damaged tissue after it has healed. It can form on the skin or on internal wounds.
Heart attack: Descriptive term for a myocardial infarction: a painful, and sometimes fatal, incident caused by the blockage of one or more of the coronary arteries resulting in interruption of blood flow to a part of the heart.
Heart failure: Condition caused when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body; also characterized by fluid collecting in various parts of the body (such as legs, lungs, liver).
Vaccine: A substance or group of substances meant to cause the immune system to respond to a tumor or to microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses.
