A glossary of terms covering all aspects of breast and ovarian cancer.
All
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Germ cell ovarian cancer |
A type of ovarian cancer that starts in the cells that mature into eggs |
| Grade |
A way of describing how fast cancer cells are growing. A low grade tumour (Grade 1) is growing slowly. A high grade tumour (Grade 3) is growing fast |
| Grade |
A way of describing how fast cancer cells are growing. A low grade tumour (Grade 1) is growing slowly. A high grade tumour (Grade 3) is growing fast |
| Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G |
A growth factor used to increase the number of white blood cells in the blood |
| Growth factor |
A substance (usually a protein or hormone) that stimulates cells to grow, divide, differentiate or mature |
| Guided imagery |
A technique that uses imagination and visualisation to help reduce stress and encourage relaxation |
| Gynaecological oncologist |
A health professional who performs surgery and oversees all aspects of treatment of cancers of a woman's reproductive organs (except breasts) |
| Gynaecological pathologist |
A health professional who examines cells/tissue removed from the abdomen or ovaries under a microscope |
| Gynaecomastia |
The most common breast disorder in men. It's a non-cancerous enlargement of the breast |
| HER2 receptors |
Proteins on a cell that allow a growth factor to bind to the cell. HER2 affects how quickly the cell grows. HER2 is also called HER2-neu or c-erbB2 |
| Hormonal therapies |
Drugs used to treat women who have hormone receptors on their breast cancer cells. Also called endocrine therapies |
| Hormone receptors |
Proteins in a cell that allow hormones to bind to the cell. Hormone receptors affect whether the cell growth is influenced by hormones |
| Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) |
Hormones (oestrogen, progesterone, or both) given to women after menopause. They are used to ease symptoms of menopause |
| Hysterectomy |
An operation to remove the uterus (womb) |
| Inflammatory breast cancer |
Rare form of invasive breast cancer that affects the blood vessels in the skin of the breast, causing the breast to become red and inflamed |
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Patron: Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia