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Glossary

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Adjuvant therapy:

Therapy that is given immediately after radiation or surgery in order to destroy any cancer cells that may remain following radiation or surgery.

Adrenal glands:

Small glands located on the top part of each kidney. They receive chemical signals from the pituitary gland and they produce estrogen.

Antiestrogen:

A medication that blocks the effects of estrogen in the body; these medications are used to treat breast cancers that depend on estrogen for growth.

Aromatase:

A substance in the body that is needed to make estrogen.

Aromatase inhibitors:

A type of hormonal treatment for breast cancer. These drugs block the action of aromatase, resulting in a decrease in estrogen in postmenopausal women.

Axillary lymph node dissection:

Surgical removal of lymph nodes under the arm.

Benign:

A tumor that is not cancerous and does not spread to other parts of the body, and does not normally threaten a person's life.

Biopsy:

A small sample of tissue that is taken and examined for the presence of cancer.

Brachytherapy:

Radiation therapy where the radiation is placed inside the body.

BRCA1:

An inherited gene. Alterations in this gene may increase the risk of breast cancer.

BRCA2:

An inherited gene. Alterations in this gene may increase the risk of breast cancer.

Breast-conserving surgery:

Removal of a malignant lesion from the breast with preservation of the essential anatomy of the breast.

Breast reconstruction:

Surgery used to restore the appearance of a breast after a mastectomy.

Breast self-exam:

A self-exam of the breast by feeling the breast tissue and checking for abnormalities.

Cataracts:

A whitening or opacity of the lens of the eye.

Chemotherapy:

Treatment with powerful drugs that attack cancer cells but may also harm certain types of healthy cells.

Clinical breast exam:

A physical exam performed by a health care professional to feel the breast tissue and check for abnormalities of the breast.

Computed tomography scan:

Also known as CAT or CT scan; an x-ray machine test that uses safe amounts of radiation to take a picture of organs and tissues, and uses a computer to create a detailed image. It is similar to an x-ray.

Core biopsy:

A biopsy procedure using a large needle to remove a small bit of tissue and examining it for cancer.

Cytotoxic:

Drugs that kill cancer cells and some rapidly growing normal cells.

Duct:

Small tubes in the breast that carry milk from the lobules to the nipple during breast-feeding.

Estrogen:

A hormone produced by the ovaries, adrenal glands, and other tissues. It is responsible for the development of female sex characteristics and it is important in menstruation and fertility. Estrogen may also cause the growth of some breast cancers (those that are determined to be estrogen receptor positive).

Estrogen receptor:

A hormone receptor that uses estrogen to help feed/grow the cancer cells.

Estrogen receptor antagonists:

A class of drugs that are used to treat breast cancer. These drugs block estrogen from reaching the breast cancer cells, thereby preventing the growth of some tumors.

Excisional biopsy:

A surgical biopsy procedure used to remove all of a tumor or irregular tissue and examine it for cancer.

Extended adjuvant therapy:

The continuation of hormonal treatment after an initial five years of primary adjuvant hormonal treatment.

Fine needle aspiration:

A biopsy procedure using a small needle to remove a small bit of tissue and examine it for cancer.

Genetic testing:

Testing that identifies any mutations or alterations in genes/DNA.

HER2/neu:

Protein receptor on the surface of breast cancer cells.

Histology:

Refers to the smallest parts and characteristics of cells and tissues.

Hormonal treatment:

A way of treating breast cancer through the use of drugs that block the effect of estrogen or decrease estrogen levels in the body. It is different from hormone replacement therapy.

Hormone receptor:

Protein on the inside or surface of cancer cells.

Hormone replacement therapy:

Treatment that provides estrogen to women to help ease the symptoms of menopause.

Hospice:

Medical or social supportive care that provides support to patients and their families when a life-threatening illness no longer responds to active treatment and a cure is not possible.

Hyperplasia:

An increase in the number of normal cells in a tissue or organ.

Hypothalamus:

An area of the brain that sends chemical signals to the pituitary gland and helps control the amount of estrogen in the body.

Incisional biopsy:

A surgical procedure used to remove a part of a lump or tissue to examine it for cancer.

Intramuscular:

Within the muscle.

Intravenous:

Within the vein.

Invasive breast cancer:

Cancer that penetrates ducts and lobules and other surrounding tissues.

Jaundice:

A syndrome related to liver abnormalities in which there is excess bile in the blood, resulting in a yellow coloration of the skin and whites of the eyes.

Lobule:

A small sac in the breast that makes breast milk during breast feeding.

Local recurrence:

The return of breast cancer in the breast where the original tumor developed or in the skin or underlying tissue where the breast was removed.

Local therapy:

A treatment that is directed only at the area where the cancer is, such as surgery or radiation to the breast in breast cancer.

Lumpectomy:

The surgical removal of a tumor and some surrounding tissue.

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist:

A type of hormonal treatment for breast cancer. LHRH agonists cause a decrease in estrogen.

Lymph:

A clear fluid collected from tissues around the body and returned to the blood by the lymphatic system.

Lymphedema:

Accumulation of lymph fluid in the arm and hand as a result of the removal of lymph nodes in the underarm area. This may be associated with swelling, tingling sensation, and pain.

Lymph nodes:

Small bean-shaped structures scattered along the vessels of the lymphatic system. Lymph nodes may trap cells that travel through the lymphatic system.

Lymph or lymphatic vessels:

A series of tubes in the body that carry lymph.

Magnetic resonance imaging:

A test that uses magnetic fields to create clear images of your internal body parts, including tissues, muscles, nerves, and bones; often referred to as an MRI.

Malignant:

A tumor that is cancerous and may spread to other parts of the body and may be life-threatening.

Mammogram:

An x-ray examination of the breast that can detect breast cancer.

Medical oncologist:

A physician specializing in the medical treatment of cancer.

Menopause:

A stage in a woman's life when menstruation stops and the ovaries stop producing eggs and estrogen.

Metastasis:

A tumor or growth of cells in a part of the body that is different from where the original or primary tumor was located. Metastases is the plural for metastasis.

Metastasize:

Cancer cells breaking off from their primary site and spreading to nearby or distant areas through the blood and/or lymph.

Metastatic recurrence:

The reoccurrence of breast cancer in other parts of the body after a period of remission. It may develop in lymph nodes, lung, liver, bone, or brain.

Modified radical mastectomy:

Excision of the entire breast, lymph nodes under the arm, and the top layer of tissue covering the muscle.

Monoclonal antibody:

A type of novel targeted therapy for treating cancers. In breast cancer, this treatment targets the HER2/neu receptor on some cancer cells. It binds to HER2/neu and may stop the cancer cells from growing.

Neoadjuvant therapy:

Therapy that is used before surgery or radiation in an attempt to reduce the size of the tumor.

Noninvasive breast cancer/carcinoma in situ:

Cancer within the ducts and lobules that does not spread to any other surrounding tissues.

Ovary:

A female sex organ that is responsible for the production and maturation of eggs. It is the main source of estrogen production in premenopausal women. Ovaries is the plural for ovary.

Palliative care:

Therapy that is intended to provide relief of symptoms but is unlikely to cure a disease.

Pathologist:

A physician who evaluates tissue samples for diagnosis.

Pituitary gland:

A small gland located at the base of the brain. It receives chemical signals from the hypothalamus and it produces chemicals (such as luteinizing hormone) that control the amount of estrogen the body produces.

Positron emission tomography:

A test for cancer that produces an image of the body based on the uptake of glucose by cells; often referred to as a PET scan.

Postmenopausal:

Occurring after menopause.

Premenopausal:

Occurring before menopause.

Primary adjuvant therapy:

The use of hormonal treatment immediately following surgery and/or radiation. Primary adjuvant therapy may be continued for up to five years.

Progesterone:

A hormone that is important in menstruation and fertility. It may affect the growth of some breast cancers (those that are determined to be progesterone receptor positive).

Progesterone receptor:

A type of hormone receptor that uses progesterone to help feed/grow the cancer cells.

Radiation and radiotherapy:

The use of x-rays to treat cancer.

Radical mastectomy:

Excision of the entire breast, lymph nodes, and the muscle underlining the breast.

Recurrence:

The return of signs or symptoms of a disease after having an original cancer removed completely.

Regional recurrence:

The recurrence of breast cancer in the lymph nodes near the affected breast following a period of remission.

Remission:

The resolution or disappearance of the signs and symptoms of a disease.

Second primary tumor:

Development of a second breast cancer that is unrelated to a previous or first breast cancer.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy:

A procedure using radioactive dye that is injected into the breast near the tumor to locate the sentinel lymph node. The sentinel lymph node is then removed through a small incision and biopsied.

Systemic therapy:

Treatment that travels through the bloodstream to affect or treat cells throughout the body. In breast cancer, systemic therapies may include chemotherapy and hormonal treatment.

Total abdominal hysterectomy:

The surgical removal of the entire uterus.

Total mastectomy:

Excision of the entire breast.

Tumor:

Abnormal tissue growth that grows by cellular proliferation more rapidly than normal and continues to grow after the stimuli that initiated the new growth cease.