Abbreivations --- For our new members -- just a guideline for all

*There can be multiple meanings for some abbreviations in medicine. 

For example, PE is also an abbreviation for pulmonary embolism.  (Tamoxifen 
users are at increased risk for pulmonary embolism.) *


AC - one of the five most common types of chemo given to women with BC. Iit's 
probably the MOST common drug combination given to women with node-negative 
(hasn't spread to your lymph nodes) cancer. AC includes two drugs: doxorubicin 
(Adriamycin), and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). 

AI - aromatase inhibitors 

ADH - A benign (not cancer) condition in which there are more cells than normal in the lining of breast ducts and the cells look abnormal under a microscope. 
Having atypical ductal hyperplasia increases the risk of breast cancer. Also called ADH and atypical ductal breast hyperplasia.. 

AKA - also known as 

ALH - Atypical Lobular Hyperlasia - cells in the lobules that look different 
from normal cells, but aren't cancer and more cells than there should be. 

AND - axillary node dissection 

AWS - Axillary Web Syndrome; associated with Cording as a result of 
surgery/rads.   Requires management by specialists in PT/ LE and myofascial 
release. 


B9 (Not Cancer) 
BC- Breast Cancer 
Bi-Lat (bilateral, Mastectomy of both breast) 

BIRADS - Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System score. This indicates the 
radiologist's opinion of the absence or likelihood of breast cancer. 
BM(x) - Bilateral Mastectomy 
BS - breast specialist/surgeon 

BTW - by the way... 

Bump - written to edit a thread up in the listings so someone can find it. 

BWT - But what the.......! 


CC - capsular contraction 
 
CHF (Congestive Heart Failure) = a side effect of Adriamycin, Herceptin, Avastin 
and some other chemo drugs but it is not a common side effect. CHF occurs in <1% 
and 3-4% and 5-10% from Adriamycin, Avastin and Herceptin respectively.  (Heart 
failure doesn't mean that your heart has stopped working, or has "failed." Heart 
failure means that the heart is not pumping blood through your body as well as 
it should.) 

CMF (Cyclophosphamide Methotrexate Fluorouraci) - a commonly used regimen of 
breast cancer chemotherapy that combines three anti-cancer agents 

CT scan - computerized tornography, used to image the structures of the budy, 
especially head, neck or trunk. 


DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) 
DD ~  Dose dense , Dear Daughter 
DH ~ Dear Husband 

DIEP - deep inferior epigastric perforator: autologous (own tissue) transfer. a 
refined version of the TRAM flap 

DIL - Daughter-in-law 
DP ~ Dear partner 
DS ~ Dear Son 
Dx (Diagnosis) 
DW~ Dear Wife 

ER (Estrogen Receptive) estrogen receptor positive+ or negative- 

FEC (flourouracil/epirubicin/cyclophosphamide) -  combo that many Canadians, 
Brits and Aussies receive with one of the taxanes to follow 


FIL ~ Father in law 

FNA - fine needle aspiration 

FWIW - for what it's worth


GCM - Glucosamine Chondroitin w/MSM (for relief of joint pain)



HER2 + or -, whether your tumor overexpresses the HER2 protein or not 
HT (Anti-hormone Therapy) 
HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) 
Hx - history 

IBC (Inflamatory Breast Cancer) 
IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma) 

IDK - I don't know (something we all said first time diagnosed) 
ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma) 

IMF, infra-mammary fold, the crease/fold under the breast 

IM(H)O - in my (humble) opinion (with or without the ‘humble') 


KWIM......."know what I mean".  


LAVH - laparoscropic assisted vaginal hysterectomy - a surgical procedure using 
a laparoscope to guide the removal of the uterus and/or Fallopian tubes and 
ovaries through the vagina (birth canal 

LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ) 

LD flap - Latissimus Dorsi Flap 
LE ~ Lymphedema 
Lump (Lumpectomy) 
Lt ~ Left 

Mast (Mastectomy) 

Med Onc (MO) - medical oncologist 
Mets (Metastasis) 
Mil ~ Mother in law 

MLD - manual lymph drainage 

Mojo ~ Sex , or lack of 

MPBC - Metaplastic Breast Cancer (not to be confused with metastatic breast 
cancer) - an aggresive rare form of breast cancer. See thread of the same name 
under "Just Diagnosed" 

MRSA - Methcillin-resistant Staphyloccus Aureua, a bacterium that causes an 
infection that is hard to treat and the bane of women who have had surgery, 
expecially for breast reconstruction (worth googling for more information) 

MX - Mastectomy 


NAC - A skin-sparing mastectomy will be performed with preservation of the 
nipple-areolar complex (NAC). 

NB = Navelbine  Navelbine is an anti-cancer ("antineoplastic" or "cytotoxic") 
chemotherapy drug 

NED (No evidence of Disease 

NP - Nurse practitioner 

NSM - nipple sparing masectomy 


ODAAT ~ One day at a time 
Omph (or Ooph) ~ Ovary removal 
ONC ~ Oncologist 

path=pathology 
PBM - prophylactic bilateral mastectomy 

PCP - Primary Care Physician 

PE - pleural effusion or pulmonary embolism (an example of when you need to 
chedk with your medical team) 

PET scan - Positron Emission Tornography, used to image metabolically active 
cells, such as cancer cells. 

PET-CT scan - a combination of PET and CT which superimposes the matebolically 
active cells that ‘light up' on the bodily structures so that the radiologist is 
reading a single image. 

PFC = Perfluorinated compounds - suspected carcinogen.  See Pg 5 of this thread 
for link (note I have not checked the reliability of the source) 

PICC - peripherally inserted central catheter.  When used (occasionally) for 
chemo, it is sometimes known as an "arm port".  More often used for IV 
antibiotics such as may be required for MRSA and other serious bacterial 
infections. 

PILC - pleomorphic invasive lobular carcinoma 

PM - private message 

PPI = proton pump inhibitor (the mechanism of action of drugs like Nexium, 
Prilosec, Protonix, etc.) 
PR (Progesterone Receptive)  progesterone receptor positive+ or negative- 
PS ~ Plastic Surgeon 


QOL - quality of life



RADS - Radiation; Radiotherapy 

Rad onc(RO) - Radiation oncologist 

RS - Recurrent Score 

ROFLOL - rolling on floor laughing out loud 
Rt ~ Right 

SE ~ Side Effects 
SNB - sentinel node biopsy 

SOB - short of breath 

SOH - sense of humor 

SX can be used as an abbreviation for 'surgery', or 'symptoms'.  


SP - status post 


TAH-BSO - Total Abdominal Hysterectomy - Bilateral Salingo Oopherectomu (uterus, 
cervix, tubes and ovaries removed) 

TCH - taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin 

TE - temporary expanders or tissue expanders 

TIA - thanks in advance 

TM = tumor markers 

TN (Triple Negative) In regards to negative status for ER/PR and Her2neu status 
TMI-Too much information 

TRAM flap - Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous flap 

TX - treatment 


WNL= Within normal limits 


In medical notes, you often have to look at the context.  With some 
abbreviations, it can be difficult. 

Strength, Courage and HOPE for a Cure.

 Vicki Sam