A glossary of terms covering all aspects of breast and ovarian cancer.
All
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Patient-controlled analgesia |
A way of allowing a patient to control their own pain-relieving drugs |
| Peri-menopause |
When menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and irregular periods start; peri- menopause leads up to the time of menopause |
| Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) |
A scheme managed by the Australian Government that provides medicines at a subsidised price to Australian residents who hold a current Medicare card and to overseas visitors from countries with which Australia has a Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement |
| Pharmacist |
Someone who specialises in supplying, dispensing and manufacturing drugs |
| Physiotherapist |
A health professional who specialises in exercise and pain management |
| Platelets |
Blood cells produced by the bone marrow that help the blood to clot |
| pleura |
The membrane that lines the rib cage and covers the lung. |
| Pleural aspiration |
Removal of fluid from around the lungs to look for changes that may be due to cancer |
| pleural cavity |
The space between the membrane that lines the rib cage and covers the lung. |
| Pneumonitis |
A side effect of radiotherapy in which the lung becomes inflamed |
| Positron emission tomography (PET) scan |
A scan that uses a radioactive tracer to detect cellular changes in the body |
| Post-menopause |
The time after the last menstrual period |
| Pre-menopause |
The time when ovaries are functioning normally with regular periods and no menopausal symptoms |
| Premature menopause |
Menopause at aged 40 years or younger |
| Primary cancer |
The site of origin of a cancer in the body |
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Patron: Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia