A glossary of terms covering all aspects of breast and ovarian cancer.
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Laparotomy |
A surgical incision into the abdominal cavity |
| Latissimus dorsi flap |
A type of breast reconstruction using back muscle transfer; involves moving a flap of muscle, skin and fat from your back to your chest to form a new chest 'mound' |
| Libido |
Sex drive and desire |
| Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) |
Non-invasive breast cancer that is confined to the lobules of the breast |
| Local recurrence |
Breast cancer that comes back in or near the site of the original breast cancer after treatment |
| Locally advanced breast cancer |
Invasive breast cancer that has spread to areas near the breast, such as the chest wall |
| Lumpectomy |
See 'Breast conserving surgery' |
| Lymph |
Fluid from the body's tissues that is collected by lymphatic vessels |
| Lymph nodes |
Glands in the armpit and other parts of the body that protect the body from infection |
| Lymphatic system |
A network of vessels in the body that collect fluid (lymph) and other waste materials from the body's tissues |
| Lymphatic vessels |
Tiny vessels next to blood vessels that collect fluid and waste products from the body's tissues |
| Lymphoedema |
Swelling of the arm or breast that can sometimes develop after treatment for cancer |
| Lymphoma |
Cancer that arises from white blood cells. Includes Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma |
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Patron: Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia