Select Stage
Treatment (e.g. chemotherapy) given after surgery.
A commonly used term for secondary, metastatic or stage 4 breast cancer.
Hair loss
The area around the nipple.
The removal of some or all of the lymph nodes from the armpit to see if the breast cancer has spread beyond the breast.
Not cancerous
The removal of cells or tissue from the body to see if they are cancer cells.
People with a fault, or mutation, in one of these genes have a higher than normal chance of developing certain cancers, such as a breast cancer.
Surgery to remove breast cancer and a small area of healthy tissue around the cancer. Also known as lumpectomy.
Treatment for cancer using drugs.
Studies involving patients to see if a new treatment is better or safer than an existing one.
Complementary medicines are products that are used in addition to conventional medical treatments (e.g. chemotherapy and hormone therapies). Complementary medicines include vitamin and mineral supplements, such as fish oil capsules or vitamin D tablets, and herbal medicines.
Complementary therapies are practices that are used in addition to conventional medical treatments (e.g. chemotherapy and hormone therapies).Some examples of complementary therapies often used by women with breast cancer include massage, yoga, acupuncture and reflexology.
Removal of both breasts during breast cancer surgery.
Non-invasive breast cancer confined to the ducts of the breast.
Breast cancer that has not spread beyond the breast or lymph nodes under the arm.
Menopause occurring in women under 45 years of age. Early menopause is often a side effect of some common treatments for breast cancer.
Another name for breast conserving surgery.
Glands in the armpit and other parts of the body that filter and drain lymph fluid, trapping bacteria, cancer cells and any other particles that could be harmful to the body.
A condition that sometimes develops when lymph nodes have been removed during breast cancer surgery and the lymph fluid no longer drains freely, causing swelling in the arm, hand or breast.
The removal of the whole breast during breast cancer surgery
Another term for secondary, advanced, or stage 4 breast cancer.
Often abbreviated to MDT. A team of health professionals who work together to manage a patient’s treatment and care.
Chemotherapy treatment given before breast cancer surgery (sometimes used to reduce the size of the tumour to make it easier for the surgeon to operate).
A type of hormone that can encourage breast tissue to grow.
Another term for breast conserving surgery.
A scheme funded by the Australian Government to subsidise the cost of certain drugs for eligible Australians.
A type of hormone that can encourage breast tissue to grow.
Treatment for cancer using X-rays that target a particular area of the body.
Breast cancer that has spread from the breast to other, more distant parts of the body, most commonly the bones, lungs, liver and sometimes the brain. Also known as advanced, metastatic, or stage 4 breast cancer.
Identification and removal of the first lymph node to which the breast cancer may have spread for testing by a pathologist.
Fluid that collects in or around a scar after surgery.
This site is tailored to meet you where you are, offering practical resources, personal stories, insights, and more—all in one easy-to-navigate space. By choosing the stage relevant to you, the information available on this site will be tailored to you.
These are explanations of terms that medical professionals and others may use when discussing your TNBC.
Advanced breast cancer
A commonly used term for secondary, metastatic or stage 4 breast cancer
Adjuvant therapy/treatment
Treatment (e.g. chemotherapy) given after surgery.
Alopecia
Hair loss
Areola
The area around the nipple
Axillary dissection/clearance
The removal of some or all of the lymph nodes from the armpit to see if the breast cancer has spread beyond the breast.
Benign
Not cancerous
Biopsy
The removal of cells or tissue from the body to see if they are cancer cells
BRCA1 and BRCA2
Women with a fault, or mutation, in one of these genes have a higher than normal chance of developing breast or ovarian cancer
Breast conserving surgery
Surgery to remove breast cancer and a small area of healthy tissue around the cancer. Also known as lumpectomy.
Chemotherapy
Treatment for cancer using drugs
Clinical trials
Studies involving patients to see if a new treatment is better than an existing one
Complementary medicines
Complementary medicines are products that are used in addition to conventional medical treatments (e.g. chemotherapy and hormone therapies). Complementary medicines include vitamin and mineral supplements, such as fish oil capsules or vitamin D tablets, and herbal medicines.
Complementary therapies
Complementary therapies are practices that are used in addition to conventional medical treatments (e.g. chemotherapy and hormone therapies).Some examples of complementary therapies often used by women with breast cancer include massage, yoga, acupuncture and reflexology.
Double mastectomy
Removal of both breasts during breast cancer surgery
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS)
Non-invasive breast cancer confined to the ducts of the breast
Early breast cancer
Breast cancer that has not spread beyond the breast or lymph nodes under the arm
Early menopause
Menopause occurring in women under 45 years of age. Early menopause is often a side effect of some common treatments for breast cancer.
Lymph nodes
Glands in the armpit and other parts of the body that filter and drain lymph fluid, trapping bacteria, cancer cells and any other particles that could be harmful to the body
Lymphoedema
A condition that sometimes develops when lymph nodes have been removed during breast cancer surgery and the lymph fluid no longer drains freely, causing swelling in the arm, hand or breast
Lumpectomy
Another name for breast conserving surgery
Mastectomy
The removal of the whole breast during breast cancer surgery
Metastatic breast cancer
Another term for secondary, advanced, or stage 4 breast cancer
Multidisciplinary Team
Often abbreviated to MDT. A team of health professionals who work together to manage a patient’s treatment and care
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Chemotherapy treatment given before breast cancer surgery (sometimes used to reduce the size of the tumour to make it easier for the surgeon to operate)
Oestrogen
A type of female hormone
Partial mastectomy
Another term for breast conserving surgery
PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme)
A scheme funded by the Australian Government to subsidise the cost of certain drugs for eligible consumers
Progesterone
A type of female hormone
Radiotherapy
Treatment for cancer using X-rays that target a particular area of the body
Secondary breast cancer
Breast cancer that has spread from the breast to other, more distant parts of the body, most commonly the bones, lungs, liver and sometimes the brain. Also known as advanced, metastatic, or stage 4 breast cancer.
Sentinel node biopsy
identification and removal of the first lymph node to which the breast cancer may have spread for testing by a pathologist
Seroma
Fluid that collects in or around a scar after surgery
If you’re a patient, patient organisation, carer or healthcare professional, please let us know if you have any feedback or suggestions for our site.
We will endeavour to answer as soon as possible.