A test where a thin tube with a tiny light and camera is put into your bladder where wee comes out.

(computerised tomography): A special type of X-ray that provides a three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body.

Coloured liquid is swallowed or put into the body with a needle – it is a type of dye to help some things be seen more clearly. Pictures are taken using other tests such as a CT scan or an MRI scan or PET scans.

An operation where the colon is attached to an opening on the stomach.

A test where a tube with a tiny light and camera attached to it is put gently into through the bottom to have a look at the bowel.

Research conducted with the patient’s permission, which usually involves a comparison of two or more treatments or diagnostic methods. The aim is to gain better understanding of the underlying disease process and/or methods to treat it. A clinical trial is conducted with a rigorous scientific method for determining the effectiveness of a proposed treatment.

A simple procedure to check the health of the cervix. It looks for HPV (human papilloma virus) which can lead to cell changes in the cervix.

The firm part between your vagina and your womb. The cervix is sometimes called the neck of the womb.

The building blocks of the body. A human is made of millions of cells, which are adapted for different functions. Cells can reproduce themselves exactly or can change as they multiply and become abnormal or damaged, as cancer cells do.

A hollow, flexible tube through which fluids can be passed into the body or drained from it.