Glossary Terms
Palliative care
Palliative care refers to maintaining high quality of life for those living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on comfort and provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms. Palliative care also concerns end-of-life care, rather than curing a disease.
Paraneoplastic syndrome
Paraneoplastic syndrome is a condition that develops as an effect of having a cancer, but is not caused directly by the tumor. It is often caused by the body's immune response against the cancer.
Parkinson's disease
PD is a brain disorder associated with a loss of dopamine producing nerve cells deep in the brain. Because dopamine is associated with the planning, initiation and control of movement, PD affects function, mobility, balance and walking. Current research in PD is beginning to demonstrate that Parkinson's symptoms extend to non-motor functions like depression and apathy. Although there is no cure for PD, management of symptoms through medication and exercise is appearing to improve the quality of life of those living with the disease.
Partial response
Usually described as a 50% reduction in the size of a tumor after treatment.
Pelvic floor muscles
Pelvic floor muscles are the group of muscles surrounding the opening of the bladder and urethra that help with bladder support and closure.
Penectomy
A penectomy is a surgery that removes part or all of the penis. It is usually used to treat penile cancer.
Penile injection therapy
Penile injection therapy is the use of special medication that creates an erection when injected (with a fine gauge needle) into the side of a man's penis before beginning sexual activity.
Penile suppository
A penile suppository is a very small pill that, when inserted in a man's urinary tube, can cause an erection. It contains the same medication (prostaglandin E1) used in penile injection therapy. The man urinates and then uses a plastic applicator to place the suppository inside his urinary tube where it melts and gets into the spongy tissue inside the penis.
Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE-5 inhibitors)
PDE-5 inhibitors are medicines like Viagra, Levitra or Cialis that can help men get erections by increasing the levels of certain chemicals in the tissues inside the penis. They promote blood flow. In women, PDE-5 inhibitors might help with vaginal lubrication and swelling, especially for women who have low estrogen and do not want to take replacement hormones.
Physical therapist
A physical therapist can help you adjust to the physical changes in your body by teaching you exercises and physical activities that can help condition your muscles and restore strength and movement.
Pituitary gland
The pituitary gland is a small gland at the base of the brain. It is controlled by the hypothalamus, and in turn sends out messenger hormones that control sperm production in the testicles.
Premature menopause
Premature menopause is defined as menopause that happens in women before the age of 45. Some chemotherapy medicines, radiation to the ovaries, or surgery to remove both ovaries can put a young woman into sudden, early menopause. Premature menopause can be temporary or permanent. Women in premature menopause due to cancer treatment tend to have more severe hot flashes and vaginal dryness than women who experience a gradual, natural menopause.
Primordial follicle
Immature follicles that make up your ovarian reserve.
Proprioception
Proprioception is the ability to sense the location of one joint in relation to another, which is essential for balance and coordinated movement.
Prostate
The prostate is the gland that surrounds the neck of the bladder and urethra in men. It supplies seminal fluid, the milky liquid that contains sperm, for ejaculation.
Puberty
The stage of growth when adult sexual body parts mature and fertility becomes possible.
