If you have just been diagnosed, the language can feel like a wall of initials. None of these terms is as complicated as it looks. Here they are, grouped by what part of your care they relate to.
Surgery on the breast
Lumpectomy / BCS / WLE
Breast-conserving surgery. A lumpectomy — also written as BCS (breast-conserving surgery) or WLE (wide local excision) — removes the tumour with a rim of healthy tissue around it and keeps the rest of the breast. It is almost always followed by radiotherapy. See our guide on lumpectomy vs mastectomy.
Mastectomy
Removal of the whole breast. Variations keep more or less of the skin: a simple mastectomy, a skin-sparing mastectomy (keeps the skin envelope for reconstruction), and a nipple-sparing mastectomy (also keeps the nipple).
MRM — Modified Radical Mastectomy
The full form of MRM is modified radical mastectomy. It means removing the whole breast together with the lymph nodes in the armpit, while preserving the chest-wall muscles underneath. It is called "modified" because the older "radical" mastectomy also removed those muscles — something rarely necessary today. The skin incision is usually a horizontal or gently slanted ellipse across the chest. Learn more on our modified radical mastectomy page.
Oncoplastic surgery
Breast-conserving surgery combined with plastic-surgery techniques, so the cancer is removed and the breast is reshaped in the same operation to keep its natural appearance. More in our article on oncoplastic surgery.
Surgery on the lymph nodes
SLNB — Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
A way to check whether cancer has spread to the armpit using the least possible surgery. The first one or two "sentinel" nodes that drain the breast are identified and removed for testing. If they are clear, the rest of the nodes can usually be left alone. See the sentinel lymph node biopsy page.
ALND — Axillary Lymph Node Dissection
The full form of ALND is axillary lymph node dissection — a more complete removal of the lymph nodes from the armpit (axilla). It is used when nodes are known to contain cancer. Because it removes more tissue, it carries a higher chance of arm swelling (lymphoedema) than a sentinel node biopsy. See the axillary dissection page.
Reconstruction
LD flap — Latissimus Dorsi flap
LD flap (also called the lat flap) stands for latissimus dorsi flap. It rebuilds the breast using muscle and skin brought around from the back, often over a small implant. It is a reliable choice, especially after radiotherapy. Read our LD flap patient guide.
DIEP flap
A reconstruction that uses skin and fat from the lower tummy to rebuild the breast, without sacrificing the abdominal muscle. It is one of several "own-tissue" options your surgeon may discuss.
Perforator flaps (LICAP / AICAP)
Flaps that borrow skin and fat from near the chest or side while sparing the muscle underneath — useful for restoring shape after breast-conserving surgery. See chest wall perforator flaps.
Words from your pathology report
DCIS — Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
Very early, non-invasive cancer cells that are still contained within a milk duct and have not spread into the surrounding breast tissue. It is highly treatable.
Margins
The edge of the tissue removed at surgery. A clear (negative) margin means no cancer cells reach the edge, which is the goal. A positive margin means cancer reaches the edge, and a further procedure may be needed.
ER, PR and HER2
Receptor tests that show what drives the cancer and which treatments will work — oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2. These are explained fully in our guide to understanding your breast cancer report.
Neoadjuvant and adjuvant
Neoadjuvant means treatment (such as chemotherapy) given before surgery — often to shrink a tumour. Adjuvant means treatment given after surgery to lower the chance of the cancer returning.
Seeing a term on your report that is not here? Bring the report to your consultation and ask. Understanding what each line means is part of making a confident decision — never hesitate to ask your surgeon to translate.