Abbreviations and acronyms used on the forum

As well as medical terms and conditions, forum users often use a lot of abbreviations and acronyms, which can be very confusing for new forum users (and sometimes even experienced ones).

So we're going to try to compile a list (with your help) of the most commonly used abbreviations and post them here.

If you've got suggestions for what should be added, please post them here. What did you find the most confusing abbreviation or acronym when you first started using the forum?

Here they are so far:
(if you've posted others, please be patient, as we might be chatting with our clinical team to make sure we have proper definitions for them)

FAMILY TERMS
YD = Youngest Daughter
ED = Eldest Daughter
MD = Middle Daughter
OH = Other Half (husband, wife, partner)
mil = mother in law
fil = father in law
bil = brother in law
sil = son in law or sister in law
dil = daughter in law
dh = darling husband
ds = darling son
dd = darling daughter
dgc = darling grandchild(ren)

FORUM TERMS
PM = private message

BREAST CANCER TERMS
BC = breast cancer
chemo = chemotherapy
Dx = Diagnosis
MX = Mastectomy
BCN = Breast Care Nurse
Onc = Oncologist
Rads = Radiotherapy

ANC = Axillary Node Clearance. Operation to remove all the lymph glands from under the arm.

Bisphos = Bisphosphonates (bone strengthening drugs). A group of drugs mainly used to manage secondary breast cancer in the bone by slowing down the process of bone breakdown. Also used to prevent and treat osteoporosis.

CMF = a regime of chemotherapy made up of 3 drugs:
- C: Cyclophosphamide
- M: Methotrexate
- F: 5 Fluorouracil (5FU)

DCIS = Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. This is a breast cancer that has stayed inside the ducts and not spread outside. Some doctors call this intraductal or non-invasive.

E-CMF = a regime of chemotherapy made up of 4 drugs:
- E: Epirubicin
- C: Cyclophosphamide
- M: Methotrexate
- F: 5 Fluorouracil (5FU)

GCSF = Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor. Injections to boost white blood cells especially neutrophils – a circulating hormonal substance that controls the growth of some of the white blood cells in the blood.

E = Oestrogen (Estrogen is the American spelling)

ER pos/+ Refers to breast cancers that have receptors on the cell surface that latch onto the female hormone oestrogen and help stimulate the cancer to grow.

ER neg/- Refers to breast cancers that do not have receptors on the cell surface that latch onto the female hormone oestrogen and so are not stimulated by oestrogen to grow.

FEC = a regime of chemotherapy made up of 3 drugs:
- F: 5 Fluorouracil (5FU)
- E: Epirubicin
- C: Cyclophosphamide

HER2 = Human epidermal growth factor receptor2. A protein found in small amounts on normal breast cells. It is made by a specific gene called the HER2/neu gene. It is one of the proteins involved in the growth of cells.

HER2 pos/+ = Breast cancers that have a higher than normal level (called over expression) of the HER2 protein.

HER2 neg/- = Breast cancers that do not have a higher than normal level of the HER2 protein.

Hormone Receptor Positive – refers to breast cancers that have receptors on the cell surface that latch onto the female hormones oestrogen or progesterone and help stimulate the cancer to grow.

Hormone Receptor Negative – refers to breast cancers that do not have receptors on the cell surface that latch onto the female hormones oestrogen or progesterone and so are not stimulated by hormones to grow.

IBC = Inflammatory Breast Cancer. A type of breast cancer, so called because the skin of the breast often looks red and swollen (similar to some breast infections).

IDC = Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. A cancer that originates/starts in the breast ducts and has the ability to spread sometimes called No Special Type.

ILC = Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. A cancer that originates/starts in the breast lobes and has the ability to spread

LCIS = Lobular Carcinoma in Situ or Lobular cancer in situ (LCIS). Condition where cells in the lobules of the breast look different and multiply differently from normal cells. Although the word carcinoma is included in the term this is misleading as it is not cancer, so it is often referred to as Lobular Neoplasia. However, having LCIS does mean that you have an increased risk of getting breast cancer in the future, even though most women with LCIS will not get breast cancer.

Neuts = Neutrophils. Type of white blood cell that is very important in fighting infection. Regularly measured if you are having treatment with cancer drugs that lower the number of neutrophils made by your bone marrow (chemotherapy). If count too low, this may mean treatment is deferred until count is within acceptable range.

PR pos/+ Refers to breast cancers that have receptors on the cell surface that latch onto the female hormone progesterone and so are stimulated by progesterone to grow.

PR neg/- Refers to breast cancers that do not have receptors on the cell surface that latch onto the female hormone progesterone and so are not stimulated by progesterone to grow.

PS or p/s - Plastic surgeon

RFA = Radio Frequency Ablation. A treatment that uses radio waves to produce heat to kill cancer cells (ablation means killing completely). Used to treat secondary breast cancer cells in the liver.

SIRT = Selective Internal Radiation Therapy. High dose targeted radiation used to treat secondary breast cancer in the liver.

SNB = Sentinal Node Biopsy. This is a method to detect whether any cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.

Tam = Tamoxifen. Also known as Nolvadex, it is a drug used to treat hormone sensitive breast cancer.

TAX = taxanes. A group of chemotherapy drugs (sometimes referred to as taxoids) that includes Taxol (paclitaxel) and Taxotere (docetaxel).

TN = Triple Negative. Breast cancer cells which do not possess Oestrogen receptors (ER) Progesterone receptors (PR) or HER 2 receptors.

WLE = Wide Local Excision (operation to remove a breast cancer with a small amount of surrounding healthy tissue. Sometimes called breast conserving surgery, or lumpectomy.)