Medical terminology

Medical words, and what they mean

A combination of the chemotherapy drugs Adriamycin (also known as
doxorubicin) and cyclophosphamide.
Given after initial treatment, for example chemotherapy or radiotherapy given after surgery.
A hormone therapy and one of a group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors, used to treat breast cancer.
Coloured area of skin around the nipple.
Breast cancer treatment that works by reducing the amount of oestrogen in the body. A type of hormone (endocrine) therapy.
An operation to remove all the lymph nodes (also called lymph glands) from under the arm (axilla).
A group of drugs for:
- Reducing the risk of breast cancer coming back in post-menopausal women
- Treating secondary breast cancer in the bone
- Preventing or treating osteoporosis
Examples of bisphosphonates include sodium clodronate, zolendronic acid and ibandronic acid.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 People who inherit an altered BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene from either parent have a much higher risk of developing breast cancer and some other cancers compared with the general population.
Surgery to remove both the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Often used for preventative measures if you have an ovarian cyst or high chance of ovarian cancer in the future.
An infection of the skin and tissue beneath the skin. People who have lymphoedema have an increased risk of cellulitis in the arm or chest area.
Aimed at destroying cancer cells using anti-cancer drugs.
A cold cap is worn during some chemotherapy treatments. Its cooling effect reduces the blood flow to the scalp, which also reduces the amount of chemotherapy medication that reaches this are preventing some hair loss. Usually worn for 15 minutes before each treatment.
Tight ‘cords’ of tissue stretching down the inside of the arm, which can occur after surgery to remove lymph nodes under the arm. Causes pain and restricts arm movement. Sometimes cords can be felt in the chest area too.
Biopsy using a hollow needle to take one or more small samples of tissue for analysis under a microscope.
An early type of breast cancer where the cells have not yet
developed the ability to spread out of the ducts into surrounding breast tissue or to other parts of
the body. Sometimes called pre-invasive, intraductal or non-invasive cancer.
A test for measuring HER2 levels in cancer cells.
A scan that measures bone mineral density. Used to diagnose or monitor osteoporosis, or assess the risk of developing it.
A type of breast reconstruction that uses the skin and fat between the belly button and the groin.
A chemotherapy drug used to treat breast cancer. Its brand name is Taxotere.
A combination of the chemotherapy drugs epirubicin, cyclophosphamide and Taxol (paclitaxel) or sometimes Taxotere (docetaxel).
This means the breast cancer has oestrogen receptors. ER negative (ER-) means the breast cancer doesn’t have oestrogen receptors (see Oestrogen receptors)
An injection into the stomach used to treat or prevent neutropenia. Its brand name is Neupogen. It is used to help the bone marrow to make new white blood cells. A drug used during chemotherapy.
The system used to classify cancer cells according to how different they are to normal breast cells and how quickly they are growing.
A protein involved in the growth of cells. Around 15–20 per cent of breast cancers have higher than normal levels of HER2 (known as HER2 positive) which helps the cancer to grow.
Conditions or illnesses that can be passed from a parent to their child
through genes.
Involved in the growth of cells. In some breast cancers they bind to hormones within the cells (known as hormone receptor positive) and help the cancer to grow.
Drugs that work in different ways to block the effect of oestrogen on cancer cells. Only used if the breast cancer is hormone receptor positive.
Chemical messengers produced in various organs of the body that control growth and reproduction.
A treatment containing female sex hormones – either oestrogen alone or a combination of oestrogen and progesterone – to help reduce menopausal symptoms.
A test for measuring HER2 levels in cancer cells. A score of 0 or 1+ means the breast cancer is HER2 negative. A score of 2+ is borderline and a score of 3+ means the breast cancer is HER2 positive.
Including mammography, that allow doctors to get a detailed picture of internal body structures.
Breast cancer that has not developed the ability to spread outside the ducts, either within the breast or elsewhere in the body.
A method of delivering fluids or drugs, usually into a vein.
Cancer that has the potential to spread to other parts of the body.
Also known as lymph glands. Small oval-shaped structures found in clusters throughout the lymphatic system, for example under the arm (axilla).
The drainage and filtering system of the body, made up of lymph nodes (lymph glands), vessels and fluid. Helps to get rid of waste and fight infection.
When breast cancer cells invade (spread into) the lymph and blood vessels within the breast, and can be seen in these vessels under the microscope.
Swelling of the arm, hand, chest or breast area caused by a build-up of lymph fluid in the surface tissues of the body. It can occur as a result of damage to the lymphatic system, for example because of surgery or radiotherapy to the lymph nodes under the arm and surrounding area.
Abnormal cells that divide and grow in an uncontrolled way.
A breast x-ray.
This is a type of surgery in which all of the breast tissue is removed, including the nipple.
Small deposits of calcium in the breast. They show up as white dots on a mammogram, and are sometimes a sign of DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ).
When there is more than one area of breast cancer in different quarters of the breast.
When there is more than one area of breast cancer but only in one quarter of the breast.
When the number of white blood cells falls below a certain level. This may happen as a side effect of chemotherapy. If there is also a high temperature (above 38°C), it’s known as febrile neutropaenia.
Proteins within cancer cells that attach to the hormone oestrogen and help the cancer to grow. It may be abbreviated to ER, from the US spelling estrogen.
A doctor who specialises in cancer (oncology). A medical oncologist specialises in cancer drugs. A clinical oncologist specialises in radiotherapy alone or radiotherapy and cancer drugs.
Literally means ‘porous bones’. Decreased bone mineral density (a measurement of bone strength), meaning thinner, weaker bones that are more likely to break. It’s usually diagnosed with a bone density scan (often called a DEXA scan).
Sometimes called ovarian ablation. Stopping the ovaries producing oestrogen using surgery, drugs or radiotherapy.
The branch of medicine that looks at how disease affects the body’s cells and tissues.
Each time you have tissue removed a report is written by a pathologist (a doctor who examines the tissue).
Inserted central catheter (PICC) A tube put into a vein in the arm through which chemotherapy drugs are given. It stays in place throughout the course of treatment.
Breast cancer that has not spread beyond the breast or the lymph nodes (lymph glands) under the arm (axilla).
Surgery that rebuilds the breast shape after all or part of the breast has been removed.
When a disease or condition returns. There are different types of breast cancer recurrence.
Local recurrence Breast cancer that has come back in the chest/breast area or in the skin near the original site or scar.
Locally advanced breast cancer (sometimes called regional recurrence) Breast cancer that has come back and has spread to the chest wall or skin of the breast, or the lymph nodes around the chest, neck and under the breast bone, but has not spread to other areas of the body. Sometimes breast cancer is locally advanced when it is first diagnosed.
Distant recurrence Also called metastatic, advanced, stage 4 or secondary breast cancer.
When cancer has spread from the breast to other parts of the body such as the bones, lungs, liver or brain.
A type of breast implant that contains a sterile liquid solution (saline). Used in breast reconstruction.
Breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body such as the bones, lungs, liver or brain. Also called metastases, advanced breast cancer, secondaries or stage 4 breast cancer.
Identifies whether the sentinel lymph node (the first lymph node that the cancer cells are most likely to spread to) is clear of cancer cells. There may be more than one sentinel node. Sometimes called sentinel node biopsy (SNB).
A collection of fluid that forms under a wound after an operation. It is a common and sometimes uncomfortable but harmless effect of breast surgery.
A type of breast implant filled with silicone gel. Used in breast reconstruction.
The size of the cancer and how far it has spread.
Taking a sample of tissue using a needle biopsy device connected to a mammogram machine and linked to a computer. Helps locate the exact position of the area to be biopsied.
Also known as radiosurgery. A precise radiation treatment used in secondary breast cancer. May also be referred to as Gamma Knife or CyberKnife.
May be given as part of cancer treatment, for example to help with side effects of chemotherapy such as nausea and vomiting, or to control some symptoms caused by cancer.
How close the cancer cells are to the edges of the whole area of tissue removed during surgery.
Drugs that treat the whole body, for example chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy.
Also known as biological therapies. A group of drugs that block the growth and spread of cancer. They target and interfere with processes in the cells that cause cancer to grow.
An assessment to make a diagnosis of a benign breast condition or breast cancer.
This has three parts:
A breast examination
Breast imaging (for example, a mammogram or an ultrasound scan)
Tissue sampling (for example, a core biopsy or FNA)
A scan that uses high frequency sound waves to produce an image.

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