A glossary of terms covering all aspects of breast and ovarian cancer.
All
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Conventional treatments |
Standard approaches to the treatment of disease |
| Core biopsy |
A way of removing a small piece of tissue from the breast for testing (usually done under local anaesthetic |
| CT scan |
A special type of X-ray that provides a three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body. The initials stand for 'computerised tomography' |
| Decongestive physiotherapy |
A specialised type of physiotherapy used in the treatment of lymphoedema |
| Deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIE |
A type of breast reconstruction using the blood vessels, fat and skin from the stomach |
| Diethylstilbestrol |
A drug prescribed to women during the 1930s to 1970s to prevent miscarriage and treat other complications of pregnancy |
| Dietitian |
A health professional who specialises in providing advice about what to eat |
| Distress thermometer |
A self-rating scale used to measure how distressed or upset a person is feeling |
| Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) |
Non-invasive breast cancer that is confined to the ducts of the breast |
| Early breast cancer |
Early breast cancer is an invasive breast cancer that is contained in the breast and may or may not have spread to lymph nodes in the breast or armpit. Some cancer cells may have spread outside the breast and armpit area but cannot be detected. |
| Early menopause |
Menopause occurring at age 45 years or younger |
| Echocardiogram |
A type of ultrasound test that looks at the size, shape and function of the heart |
| Endocrine therapies |
Another name for hormonal therapies |
| Endometriosis |
A condition in women in which the cells that line the uterus (womb) are deposited in areas outside the uterus |
| Epidural |
A type of anaesthesia that involves delivering the anaesthetic into the lower back |
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Patron: Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia