Publications
Glossary
This glossary shows some of the abbreviations that you may see in our chats or in postings to the message board.
It is not meant to be a comprehensive list of terms in this subject area, and we are not attempting to provide full definitions. You can find more information on these and other terms in glossaries provided by EduCare or the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI).
- bc
- Breast cancer.
- bilateral
- On both sides of the body. For instance, "bilateral mastectomies" means the removal of both breasts.
- BM
- Bilateral mastectomy -- or bowel movement, of course, depending on the context :-)
- BPM
- BRCA, BRCA1, BRCA2
- "Breast cancer genes" in which some mutations may be related to elevated risk of breast, ovarian, and/or other kinds of cancer. Sometimes spelled BRAC or BRACA; not always capitalized.
- BSE
- Breast self-examination.
- BSO
- Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of tubes and ovaries).
- CA-125
- A blood test used to detect signs of ovarian cancer.
- CBE
- Clinical breast examination; a breast exam performed by a health-care professional.
- DCIS
- Ductal carcinoma in situ.
- DIEP
- Diep Inferior Epigastric Perforator: a type of breast flap surgery.
- DD
- Dear daughter.
- DH
- Dear husband.
- DP
- Dear partner.
- DS
- Dear son.
- E, NS
- Emphasis, not shouting. (Thanks, Nicole, for introducing us to this acronym!)
- ERT
- Estrogen replacement therapy.
- flap
- A type of breast reconstruction.
- gyn/onc
- Gynecologist/oncologist.
- HRT
- Hormone replacement therapy.
- hyst
- Hysterectomy, or removal of the uterus.
- LAVH
- Laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy.
- LCIS
- Lobular cancer in situ.
- mammo
- Mammogram.
- mast
- Mastectomy.
- NIH
- National Institutes of Health.
- ooph
- Oophorectomy, or removal of the ovaries.
- ovca
- Ovarian cancer.
- proph
- "Prophylactic," or preventive.
- pm
- Prophylactic mastectomy (or mastectomies).
- po
- Prophylactic oophorectomy.
- ps
- Sometimes used as shorthand for "plastic surgeon."
- PSO
- Prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of tubes and ovaries).
- recon
- Reconstruction, or reconstructive surgery.
- revision
- A type of plastic surgery which may be done as a follow-up to an earlier operation.
- SHG
- Saline sonohystogram.
- TAH
- Total abdominal hysterectomy.
- sono
- Sonogram.
- TAH
- Total abdominal hysterectomy.
- TRAM
- Transverse rectus abdominous myocutaneous flap: a type of reconstructive surgery.
- TVH
- Total vaginal hysterectomy.
- TVU
- Transvaginal ultrasound.
- u/s
- Ultrasound; or ultrasonographic examination.
Please send an email message to let us know if you didn't find what you were looking for, or if you'd like to suggest some terms to be added to the glossary. If you'd like a response, please include your email address.