Glossary of breast cancer terms
Active treatment – the period of treatment after a breast cancer diagnosis which can include some or all of the following: surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy
Advanced breast cancer – another term for secondary breast cancer (see Secondary breast cancer)
Alopecia - hair loss
Alternative therapies - treatments such as coffee enemas or products that claim to cure or remove cancer completely, that are recommended to be used instead of conventional treatments (ie surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormonal therapy). There is usually no clinical evidence to support the use of alternative therapies.
Areola - the area around the nipple
Aromatase Inhibitor - hormonal therapy drugs which are often prescribed after active treatment (ie surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy) is completed, eg Arimidex.
Axilla - the armpit
Axillary dissection/clearance - removal of some or all of the lymph nodes from the armpit
Benign - not cancerous
Biopsy - removal of cells or tissue from the body for examination to determine whether or not they are cancer
BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes - genes that normally prevent a woman from developing breast or ovarian cancer
BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations - Women with a fault, or mutation, in one of these genes have a higher than normal chance of developing breast or ovarian cancer
Breast conserving surgery - removal of a breast cancer and a small area of healthy tissue around the cancer. Also known as lumpectomy.
Breast prostheses - temporary or permanent moulds worn in the bra to replicate the shape of a breast
Carcinoma - another word for cancer
Chemotherapy - treatment for cancer using drugs such as taxanes (Abraxane, Taxotere) and anthracyclines (doxorubicin, epirubicin)
Clinical trials - studies involving patients to see if a new treatment is better than an existing treatment
Complementary therapies -Treatments or therapies used alongside conventional treatments to enhance quality of life and improve overall wellbeing. These might include massage, acupuncture, relaxation or meditation.
Double mastectomy - removal of both breasts during breast cancer surgery
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) - non-invasive breast cancer confined to the ducts of the breast
Early breast cancer - breast cancer that has not spread beyond the breast or lymph nodes under the arm (known as axillary lymph nodes)
Early menopause - menopause occurring in women under 45 years of age. Early menopause is often a side effect of some common treatments for breast cancer.
Herceptin - a drug treatment for women with HER2-positive breast cancer. Herceptin is often referred to as a ‘targeted treatment’ because it works on the cancer molecule, targeting the HER2 receptors on the tumour, but leaving healthy cells untouched.
Hormonal therapies - drugs used to treat women whose breast cancer is hormone receptor positive. Common hormone therapies used in Australia include Tamoxifen, and Aromatase Inhibitors such as Arimidex and Femara.
Intravenous infusion - the injection of fluids, such as chemotherapy drugs or other substances the body needs, into the blood stream using a needle
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) - non-invasive breast cancer that is confined to the lobules of the breast
Lymph nodes - glands in the armpit and other parts of the body that filter and drain lymph fluid, trapping bacteria, cancer cells and any other particles that could be harmful to the body
Lymphoedema - A condition that sometimes develops when lymph nodes have been removed during breast cancer surgery and the lymph fluid no longer drains freely, causing swelling in the arm or breast
Lumpectomy - another name for breast conserving surgery (see Breast conserving surgery)
Mastectomy - removal of the whole breast during breast cancer surgery
Medical oncologist - a health professional who specialises in the treatment of women with breast cancer using chemotherapy, and in managing cancer pain and other symptoms
Metastatic disease - another term for secondary, or advanced, breast cancer (see Secondary breast cancer)
Multidisciplinary care - a team of health professionals who work together to manage a woman’s treatment and care
Oestrogen - a type of female hormone
Partial mastectomy - another term for breast conserving surgery (see Breast conserving surgery)
Pathology report - a summary of test results following a biopsy or surgery. See BCNA’s Breast Cancer Pathology fact sheet for further information.
PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) - a scheme funded by the Australian Government to subsidise the cost of certain medications for eligible consumers
Progesterone - a type of female hormone
Radiotherapy - treatment for cancer using x-rays that target a particular area of the body
Secondary breast cancer - breast cancer that has spread from the breast to other, more distant parts of the body, most commonly the bones, lungs, liver and brain
Sentinel node biopsy - identification and removal of the first lymph node to which the breast cancer may have spread for testing by a pathologist
Seroma - fluid that collects in or around a scar after surgery
Survivorship - the period after active treatment for cancer (ie surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) is completed
Targeted therapies - drugs that stop the growth of particular types of cancer cells. Also known as biological therapies.
Trastuzumab - another name for Herceptin (see Herceptin)
Tykerb - a drug treatment for women with HER2+ secondary breast cancer. Tykerb is a targeted therapy (see Targeted therapies).
More information
For more explanations of terminology associated with breast cancer, see:
- Visit the fact sheet page to download a glossary of pathology terms
- The National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre website glossary
- The US-based Breastcancer.org website dictionary (note: this is a US website, so not all information is relevant to Australia)
