BREAST CANCER - GLOSSARY
When you are diagnosed with cancer or you are supporting a person with cancer, you encounter many new words. This can be overwhelming. Here you find a glossary of the most important words and an overview of the common cancer medications.
Glossary of common medical terms
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
|
Benign |
A harmless growth that does not spread in most cases |
|
Biopsy |
A sample (tissue) is taken from a body part to check for cancerous cells. |
|
Biochemistry |
Of tests, which measure substances in the body to diagnose diseases. |
|
Breast Conservation |
A surgical procedure for breast cancer management. It removes the cancerous tissue while saving as much normal breast tissue as possible. |
|
Cancer |
A disease in which some of the body’s cells grow out of control and spread to other body parts. |
|
Chemotherapy |
One modality of managing cancer. It involves the use of drugs to destroy or slow cancer growth. |
|
Core biopsy |
A wide needle is used to remove a tissue sample from the body for examination. |
|
CT scan |
A machine that produces detailed images of organs inside the body. |
|
Cyber knife |
A new way to treat cancer that delivers precise doses of radiation. It is very f accurate and automated. |
|
Echocardiogram |
A device for diagnosing and managing heart diseases. |
|
Fibrocystic |
Non-cancerous changes in breast tissue, including lumps and fibrous tissue. |
|
Fine Needle Aspiration |
Also called Fine Needle Biopsy. It is a procedure performed by healthcare professionals that involves using a thin needle to obtain suspicious cells for further examination. |
|
Growth |
When used in the context of cancer, it refers to a malignant/cancerous process |
|
Hormonal positive |
One of the classifications of breast cancer. It expresses the oestrogen or progesterone hormone receptors, which promote the growth of breast tissue. See “Tamoxifen” in the drug index. |
|
Hospice |
Facility that provides physical, emotional, and spiritual support for people with terminal illnesses such as cancer. |
|
Inflammation |
The body’s normal reaction to a disease process. It is meant to eradicate the disease using the body’s defense system (immune system). |
|
Lump |
An unusual swelling in a body part. |
|
Lumpectomy |
A procedure to remove a swelling/lump from a body part. |
|
Malignant |
A growth that is cancerous and has the potential to spread to other body parts. |
|
Mammogram |
An X-ray image of the breasts used to detect and diagnose breast diseases. |
|
Mastectomy |
A surgical procedure to remove part of or the whole breast tissue. |
|
NHIF |
National Health Insurance Fund. From July 2024, the body will be renamed as the Social Health Insurance Fund. |
|
Oncology |
A field of specialty that involves managing, detecting, and preventing all types of cancers. |
|
Oncologist |
Refers to a medical doctor who specialised in cancer treatment. |
|
PET Scan |
An imaging test used to diagnose diseases in the body produces detailed images and can be used to check the functionality of an organ system. |
|
Pleural effusion |
Fluid builds up in the space between the chest wall and the lungs (pleural space). This usually occurs as part of a disease, i.e., cancer. |
|
PSA test (Prostate Specific Antigen) |
A test to check the level of a hormone called Prostate-specific antigen. It is produced by the prostate, an organ found just below the bladder in males. High PSA levels may mean cancer is developing in the prostate. It is the commonly used screening modality for prostate cancer |
|
Radiotherapy |
A type of cancer treatment that uses ionising radiation to kill cancer cells. |
|
Reconstruction surgery |
A type of surgery to restore the appearance and function of a body part that had been damaged by disease, i.e., cancer. |
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Sonography |
The process of examining internal body organs using an ultrasound machine. An ultrasound machine makes use of sound waves to produce images. |
|
Surgery |
A medical procedure to remove or repair part of the body, also called an operation. |
|
Triple Negative |
A subtype of breast cancer that does not express any hormone receptors (oestrogen/progesterone) nor the HER 2 receptor. It is more rare, more aggressive, and often challenging to treat. |
|
Tumour grading |
Describes the degree of normality or abnormality of cancer cells when observed under a microscope. The more abnormal the cells, the higher the grade. |
|
Tumour staging |
Used to categorise the cancer depending on how far the cancer has spread (the extent of the spread of cancer) and how much it has grown (growth in size). |
|
X-ray Scan |
A machine that uses radiation waves to take digital pictures of the human body used for disease diagnosis. |
You can find more terms in the dictionary of cancer terms provided by the US American National Cancer Institute (link).
Glossary of breast cancer medications
| Drug | Common brands | Common side effects |
|---|---|---|
|
5 Fluorouracil |
Adrucil, Efudex, Fluracil, 5-Flucel |
Diarrhea, Heartburn, Sores in the mouth and lips, Nausea and vomiting, stomach cramps |
|
Anastrazole |
Arimidex, Aremed |
Rash, cough, nausea, vomiting, Headache, flushing, fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision, chest pain |
|
Capecitabine |
Xeloda, Xitabin |
Nausea, taste changes, increased thirst, chest pain, Hand and foot syndrome, weakness, loss of appetite, stomach pain |
|
Cisplatin |
Platinol,Cisplatyl, Neoplatin, Cistero, Cisplat, cytoplatin
|
Difficulty hearing, Temporal hair loss, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Tingling sensation, Allergic reactions, loss of taste |
|
Cyclophosphamide |
Cytoxan, Neosar, Nuphos, Endoxan, |
Hair loss, unusual thirst, Mouth sores, Missing periods, nausea, vomiting, fever, cough, hoarseness |
|
Docetaxel |
Taxotere, Docecad, Docefrez,Docetax
|
Allergic reactions, Sores on mouth or lip, shortness of breath, skin changes, nausea, vomiting, infections, joint and muscle pain |
|
Doxorubicin |
Adriamycin, Caelyx, Myocet, |
Loss of appetite, weight loss, diarrhoea, constipation, hand and foot syndrome, skin darkening, sores in the mouth and throat, hair loss or thinning, Nausea |
|
Epirubicin |
Ellence, Epbucin, Farmorubicin, Epitero,
|
Temporal hair loss, nausea, vomiting, swallowing challenges, red or swollen gums, diarrhoea, blisters in the mouth, hot flushes |
|
Exemestane |
Aromasin, Exeget |
Increased appetite, hot flushes, low moods, nausea, sweating, difficulty sleeping |
|
Fulvestrant |
Faslodex, Fuvestrol, Fulveser, Fulvenat, Faslodex,
|
Black stools, cloudy urine, fever, weight loss or gain, cough, chills, bleeding gums, bloating, tingling sensation
|
|
Gemcitabine |
Gemzar, Gemtero, Gemtaz
|
Nausea, hair loss, shortness of breath, swelling on limbs, pale skin, flu like symptoms, rash |
|
Goserelin |
Zoladex |
Weight gain, loss of hair, increased thirst, gynecomastia, headache, dizziness, muscle weakness, stomach upsets |
|
Letrozole |
Femara, Fempro, Gynotril, Letromina |
Increased sweating, weight gain, swelling, headache, hot flashes, bone pain, muscle pain, osteoporosis |
|
Leuprolide |
Lupron, Lupride, Luprodex |
Bone fractures, Increased sweating, edema, Nausea and vomiting, Visual difficulties, Palpitations |
|
Olaparib |
Lynparza, Olaparix, Parib 150, |
Loss of appetite, dizziness, heartburn, diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting |
|
Paclitaxel |
Paclitax, Taxol, Abraxane, Paclicad |
Hair loss, skin rash, fainting, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain, sweating, pain in extremities |
|
Palbociclib |
Ibrance, Palnat, Piclib, Paleno,
|
Fever, change in taste, mouth sores, Hair loss or thinning, fatigue, weakness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, numbness, infections |
|
Tamoxifen |
Nolvadex, Soltamox, Tamofen, Tamodex, Emblon, Mamofen |
Hot flashes, vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding, mood changes, nausea, and vomiting, irregular or missing periods |
|
Toremifene |
Fareston |
Vaginal discharge, nausea, Dry eyes, Hot flashes, Sweating, Dizziness, Visual disturbances |
|
Trastuzumab |
Herceptin, Ogivri, Herzuma, Ontruzant, Trazimera, Kanjinti, Hercessi |
Fatigue, headache, trouble sleeping, muscle or bone pain, breathing challenges, fever, rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, constipation.
|
|
Trastuzumab, Pertuzumab and Hyaluronidase |
Phesgo |
Hair loss, rash, numbness or tingling in hands and feet, diarrhoea, weakness or feeling tired, nausea |
You can find more terms in the dictionary of cancer terms provided by the US American National Cancer Institute (link).