A glossary of terms covering all aspects of breast and ovarian cancer.
All
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Oncology nurse |
A nurse who specialises in the care of people with cancer |
| Oophorectomy |
Removal of the ovaries by surgery |
| Optimal cytoreduction |
Surgery to remove ovarian cancer in which less than 1cm of tumour remains at the end of surgery and minimal adhesions in the abdomen |
| Oral chemotherapy |
Chemotherapy given by mouth (in tablet form) |
| Orchitis |
An infection of the testicles that may be associated with an increase in the risk of breast cancer in men |
| Osteoporosis |
Thinning of the bones; can increase the risk of fracture |
| Ovaries |
Small organs which lie next to the uterus (womb) and produce hormones and eggs |
| Paclitaxel |
A type of chemotherapy drug |
| Paget's disease of the nipple |
Rare form of invasive breast cancer that affects the nipple and the area around the nipple (the areola) |
| Palliative care |
Specialised care for people who have a disease that cannot be cured |
| Paracentesis |
A medical procedure to remove fluid that has collected in the abdominal cavity |
| Partial mastectomy |
See 'Breast conserving surgery' |
| Pastoral care |
Care provided by spiritual or religious leaders |
| Pathologist |
A health professional who specialises in examining cells, tissue and blood from the body |
| Pathology report |
A summary of the results of biopsies and other cancer tests used when making treatment recommendations |
Quick feedback
© Copyright National and Ovarian Cancer Centre 2009
Patron: Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia