Chronic myelogenous leukemia, also called CML, is an uncommon type of cancer of the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made. CML causes an increased number of white blood cells in the blood. The term “chronic” in chronic myelogenous leukemia means this cancer tends to progress more slowly than severe forms of leukemia. The term …

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of blood cancer. It’s the most common form of leukemia in adults. It happens when healthy white blood cells (lymphocytes) in your bone marrow mutate, or change, into cancerous cells that multiply and crowd out healthy blood cells and platelets. CLL typically affects people aged 65 and older, but it can affect people starting at age …

Cervical cancer is cancer that begins on the surface of your cervix. It happens when the cells on your cervix start to change to precancerous cells. HPV (human papillomavirus) infection causes almost all cases of cervical cancer. HPV is a virus that spreads through sexual contact. You can lower your risk of cervical cancer by getting regular cervical cancer screenings (like a Pap smear) and receiving …

A lung carcinoid tumor is a type of cancerous tumor that starts in the neuroendocrine cells in your lungs. Neuroendocrine cells help regulate many of your body’s functions, like moving food through your digestive tract and air through your lungs. Typical lung carcinoid tumors — the most common kind — grow slowly and rarely spread (metastasize) to other parts of …

C. diff is a nickname for a bacterium whose full name is Clostridioides difficile (klos-TRID-e-OY-dees dif-uh-SEEL). This bacterium can infect your colon (large intestine), causing diarrhea and other uncomfortable symptoms. Bacterial infections in your colon are common, and most aren’t serious. But C. diff infection can be more aggressive and harmful to your colon. C. difficile releases toxins that damage the cells in your intestinal lining. This causes inflammation in your …

Knee bursitis is a condition in which one or more small fluid-filled sacs near the knee joint become inflamed. The sacs are called bursae. Bursae reduce friction and cushion pressure points between bones and tendons, muscles and skin near the joints. Any of the bursae in the knee can be affected by painful swelling, also called inflammation. But most often, …

Bursitis is painful swelling in a small, fluid-filled sac called a bursa. Bursae (the plural of bursa) cushion spaces around bones and other tissue. They’re like bubble wrap that protects structures throughout your body. Bursae cushion the spaces between bones and your: Muscles. Tendons. Skin. Bursitis happens when a bursa becomes irritated and swells. The most common causes of bursitis …

Meralgia paresthetica is a medical condition that causes pain and sensations of aching, burning, numbness or stabbing in your thigh area. The condition results from compression (pressure on or squeezing) of your lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN). This large nerve supplies sensation to the front and side of your thigh. “Meralgia” means “pain in the thigh,” and “paresthetica” means “burning pain, tingling …

A bunion is a bony bump that forms at the base of your big toe. Bunions develop on the inside edge of your big toe joint — the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. The MTP joint is where the base of your big toe meets your foot. The medical term for bunions is hallux valgus. Visit a healthcare provider if you notice …

A bundle branch block (BBB) is when something blocks or disrupts the electrical signal that causes your heart to beat. This block leads to an abnormal heart rhythm. Your heart’s tissue sends electrical impulses that travel through pathways called bundle branches. These impulses normally travel through the bottom chambers of your heart (ventricles). Your heart’s two ventricles usually contract at …