GLOSSARY

adjuvant therapy:

Therapy used in addition to the primary therapies, such as surgery and/or radiation. Treatment

areola:

Area of pigment around the nipple. Breast Reconstruction

aspirate:

The contents, liquid and/or solid, of a hypodermic needle after aspiration has been performed. Making a Diagnosis

aspiration:

Putting a hypodermic needle into a tissue and drawing back on the syringe to obtain fluid or cells. Making a Diagnosis

atypical hyperplasia:

Breast tissue cells that have been determined by the pathologist to have certain abnormal characteristics which may be considered pre-cancerous. Making a Diagnosis

axilla:

Under the arm, the armpit. Understanding Breast Cancer

axillary lymph node dissection:

Surgical removal of lymph nodes found in the area under the arm. Understanding Breast Cancer

axillary lymph nodes:

Lymph nodes found in the area under the arm. Understanding Breast Cancer

benign:

Not cancerous. Making a Diagnosis

biopsy:

Removal of tissue. Making a Diagnosis

bone scan:

Test to determine if there is any sign of cancer in the bones. Follow-Up Care

boost:

Concentrated dose of radiation aimed at area of breast once occupied by cancer, usually administered at the end of radiation therapy. Treatment

BSE:

Breast self-examination. Follow-Up Care

calcifications:

See microcalcifications. Making a Diagnosis

carcinoma:

Cancer arising in the skin, glands, or lining of internal organs. Understanding Breast Cancer

chemotherapy:

Treatment of disease with certain chemicals. The term usually refers to cytotoxic drugs given for cancer treatment. Treatment

clear margins:

When the tissue surrounding the tumor does not contain cancer cells. Treatment

clinical breast exam:

Manual breast examination performed by a physician or health professional. Follow-Up Care

core needle aspiration biopsy:

Biopsy performed using a large needle. Usually extracts tissue that can be examined by a cytopathologist. Making a Diagnosis

CT scan:

Test to determine if there is evidence of metastasis in the liver, lungs or an area of bone. Utilizes X-ray technology but exposes body to higher doses of radiation than mammography. Follow-Up Care

cyst: Fluid-filled sac.

Making a Diagnosis

cytology:

The study of cells. Making a Diagnosis

cytopathologist:

Pathologist who specializes in the study of cells. Making a Diagnosis

diagnosis:

Process of determining the nature of a medical condition. The conclusion reached. Making a Diagnosis

diagnostic procedure:

A specific technique used to make a diagnosis. Making a Diagnosis

distant recurrence:

Breast cancer that appears in the bones, bloodstream, or other organs after an entire treatment protocol has been completed. When Breast Cancer Recurs

ductal carcinoma:

Breast cancer that originates in the ducts. Understanding Breast Cancer

ductal carcinoma in situ:

Cancer cells that are confined to the ducts. Understanding Breast Cancer

estrogen:

Female sex hormones naturally produced by the ovaries, adrenal glands, placenta, and fat. Understanding Breast Cancer Treatment

estrogen receptor:

See hormone receptor

excisional biopsy:

Used to describe a surgical procedure that removes an entire suspicious area of breast tissue. Making a Diagnosis

fine needle aspiration biopsy:

Biopsy performed using a very thin needle. Usually extracts liquid or cells that can be examined by a pathologist. Making a Diagnosis

flap reconstruction:

Breast reconstruction utilizing skin and tissue from other parts of the body. Breast Reconstruction

flow cytometry:

Test that measures DNA content in tumors. Understanding Breast Cancer

frozen section:

Frozen, thin slice of excised tissue, placed on a slide for a fast diagnosis. Making a Diagnosis

grade:

Evaluation of a tumor based on an examination of its cells. See nuclear grade

gross examination:

Examination of excised tissue with the naked eye without the aid of a microscope. Making a Diagnosis

hormone:

Chemical substance, produced by glands in the body, that enters the bloodstream an causes effects in other tissues. Treatment

hormone receptor:

Protein found on some cells to which hormone molecules will attach. One of the factors that helps determine adjuvant treatment. Treatment

hormone therapy:

The use of drugs to block the effects of hormones on cancer cells. Treatment

hyperplasia:

Excessive growth of cells. Making a Diagnosis

incisional biopsy:

Surgical procedure resulting in the partial removal of a suspicious area of breast tissue. Making a Diagnosis

infiltrating cancer:

Cancer that has grown beyond its site of origin into neighboring tissue. Infiltrating does not imply that the cancer has already spread outside the breast. Infiltrating has the same meaning as invasive. Understanding Breast Cancer

infiltrating ductal carcinoma:

Most common type of breast cancer. Understanding Breast Cancer

inflammatory breast cancer:

Rare form of breast cancer in which there is reddening of the skin, usually without a distinct lump. Understanding Breast Cancer

in situ:

In the site of or in place. Refers to tumors that haven't grown beyond the site of origin, the ducts or the lobules. Understanding Breast Cancer

invasive cancer:

Cancer that has grown beyond its site of origin into neighboring tissue. Invasive does not imply that the cancer has already spread outside the breast. Invasive has the same meaning as infiltrating. Understanding Breast Cancer

lesion:

Used interchangeably with the terms lump, tumor, or mass. Making a Diagnosis

lobular carcinoma:

Breast cancer that originates in the lobules. Understanding Breast Cancer

lobular carcinoma in situ:

Abnormal cells confined within the lobules. Understanding Breast Cancer

local recurrence:

Breast cancer that reappears in or near a breast that has undergone a complete treatment regimen. When Breast Cancer Recurs

lobules:

Parts of the breast that are capable of producing milk. Understanding Breast Cancer

local treatment:

Treatment that is limited to the breast itself. Treatment

lump:

Mass or ball-like thickening found in the breast. Also called a tumor, lesion, or mass. Making a Diagnosis

lumpectomy:

Surgery to remove lump with a rim of normal tissue. Treatment

lymph nodes:

Glands found throughout the body that help defend against foreign invaders such as bacteria. Lymph nodes can be a location of cancer spread. Understanding Breast Cancer

lymphedema:

A swelling of the arm that may follow surgical removal of the lymph nodes under the arm (axillary node dissection). Treatment

malignant:

Cancerous. Making a Diagnosis

mammogram:

An X-ray picture of the breast. Making a Diagnosis

mammography:

The procedure that produces a mammogram. Making a Diagnosis

marker:

Suggests an indication of the future development of cancer. Understanding Breast Cancer

mass:

Lump or ball-like thickening. Also called a tumor or lesion. Making a Diagnosis

medical oncologist:

Physician who specializes in the systemic treatment of cancer. Treatment

medullary:

Characteristic of ductal carcinoma, distinguished by its brain-like appearance. Understanding Breast Cancer

metastases:

The spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body. Understanding Breast Cancer

metastasis:

The process by which cancer spreads through the body. Understanding Breast Cancer

microcalcification:

Calcium deposits in the breast tissue that can be detected by mammography. Making a Diagnosis

MRI:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Test to determine evidence of cancer elsewhere in the body. Follow-Up Care

Modified Radical Mastectomy:

Removal of the entire breast and a sample of axillary lymph nodes. Treatment

mucinous:

A type of infiltrating ductal carcinoma that makes mucous. Understanding Breast Cancer

multicentric:

Description of cancer that exists in more than one area of the breast. Understanding Breast Cancer

myocutaneous flap:

See flap reconstruction.

needle localization:

See pre-operative needle localization.

non-palpable:

Not able to be felt by touching. Making a Diagnosis

nuclear grade:

Evaluation of a tumor based on an examination of the nuclei of its cancer cells. Treatment

open biopsy:

See surgical biopsy.

Paget's Disease:

A form of breast cancer that occurs in the nipple. Understanding Breast Cancer

palpable:

Able to be felt by touching. Making a Diagnosis

palpate:

To feel by touching. Making a Diagnosis

papillary:

A microscopic characteristic of ductal carcinoma, distinguished by its finger-like projections. Understanding Breast Cancer

pathologist:

Doctor who specializes in examining tissue and diagnosing disease. Making a Diagnosis

permanent section:

Thin slice of excised tissue that is preserved for a detailed microscopic analysis. Making a Diagnosis

physical breast exam:

See clinical breast exam.

pre-operative needle localization:

Mammography or ultrasound guided needle placement to mark the location of the suspicious area for the surgeon. Making a Diagnosis

primary cancer:

Cancer that first develops in the breast. When Breast Cancer Recurs

progesterone:

Hormone produced by the ovary. Involved in the normal menstrual cycle. Understanding Breast Cancer Treatment

prognosis:

Expected or probable outcome. Understanding Breast Cancer

prosthesis:

Artificial substitute for an absent part of the body. Breast Reconstruction

radiologist:

A physician who interprets mammograms and other radiologic tests. Making a Diagnosis

radiology technologist:

Performs mammograms. Making a Diagnosis

radiation therapy:

Use of X-rays in the treatment of cancer. Follows breast conserving surgery. An integral part of breast conserving treatment. Treatment

radiation oncologist:

Physician who specializes in radiation therapy as a treatment for cancer. Treatment

radiation technologist:

Performs radiation treatment. Treatment

recurrence:

Return of cancer after apparently successful treatment. When Breast Cancer Recurs

S phase:

An indication of the speed at which cancer cells are multiplying. Understanding Breast Cancer

saline:

Salt water used to fill breast implants. Breast Reconstruction

side effect:

Unintentional or undesirable secondary effect of a treatment. Treatment

silicone:

Synthetic material used to fill breast implants. Breast Reconstruction

simple mastectomy:

Surgical removal of entire breast without axillary lymph node dissection. Treatment

sonography:

A procedure using sound waves to distinguish between a liquid-filled cyst and a solid mass. Also called ultrasound. Making a Diagnosis

stage 1,2,3,4:

System to classify cancer. Understanding Breast Cancer

stereotactic biopsy:

Biopsy that utilizes computerized mammographic guidance to locate and remove a sample of the suspicious areas in the breast. Making a Diagnosis

surgeon:

Physician who practices surgery. Making a Diagnosis

surgical biopsy:

A procedure to remove tissue. Making a Diagnosis

systemic treatment:

Treatment involving the whole body, usually using drugs. Treatment

tamoxifen:

Drug that blocks estrogen from binding with breast cancer cells, using in treating breast cancer. Treatment

tissue expander:

Breast implant that is gradually filled with saline to stretch the surrounding tissue. Breast Reconstruction

TNM staging:

Process of classifying the stage of breast cancer by evaluating the physical characteristics of the tumor, lymph nodes, and any evidence of metastasis. Understanding Breast Cancer

tubular:

Type of invasive ductal carcinoma, characterized by tubular projections into the fatty tissue of the breast, and usually associated with very favorable prognosis. Understanding Breast Cancer

tumor:

Abnormal growth of tissue. A tumor can be benign or malignant. Also called a mass, lump, or lesion. Understanding Breast Cancer

tumor marker:

Evidence in the bloodstream of the presence of a tumor somewhere in the body. Follow-Up Care

ultrasound:

See sonography.