This glossary defines some commonly used terms associated with breast cancer. If you find that a specific term is missing or that a definition is not clear, you can email us at infonet@sistersnetworkinc.org with a better definition, and we will add it to the site.

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A - B , C - D , E - G , H - K , L - M , N - Q , R - U

A - B

Adjuvant therapy: Cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy, used in addition to surgery.

Alternative therapy: Any non-traditional cancer treatment used instead of a traditional medican cancer treatment.

Axillary lymph nodes: Glands in the underarm that filter the lymph fluid

Benign: Non-cancerous

Biopsy: A surgical procedure used to test for cancer by removing a piece of tissue from the breast

BRCA1 & BRCA2: Human genes which, when present in a mutated form, increase a woman's risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.

Breast Cancer: The uncontrolled growth of abnormal breast cells. This is one of the most common kinds of cancer in women. Early detection through regular breast self-exams and a regular program of mammography and physical exams shows excellent results in combating it.

Breast Disease: Any one of number of abnormalities of the breast, either non-cancerous-fibroadenoma, fibrocystic disease, mammary duct ectasia, ductal papilloma, fat necrosis and others; or cancerous-breast cancerous.

Breast Lumps: Any swelling or unusual lump or hardness in the breast. An indication of breast disease and a reason to see your doctor. Most are not cancerous.

Breast Self-Examination: Each woman performs her breast self-exam by looking at and feeling her breasts for any change from normal. A women should begin a monthly breast self-examination by age 20.

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C - D

Calcifications: Tiny flecks of calcium frequently seen on screening mammograms. Ductal Papillomas: A non-cancerous breast disease that may cause a bloody nipple discharge.

Carcinoma in situ (CIS): An abnormal growth of cells that stays within the area in which it started and has not spread to other parts of the body.

Chemotherapy: The use of drugs to treat cancer by destroying or slowing the growth of cancer cells.

Clinical breast exam: A breast exam performed by a trained medial professional to check for any physical changes or lumps in the breast.

Clinical trials: Research studies conducted with actual patients to examine the safety and effectiveness of new drugs or treatments.

Complementary therapy: Any non-traditional cancer treatment that is used together with traditional medical cancer treatment.

Diagnostic Mammogram: A diagnostic mammogram is used to evaluate a woman with a breast problem/symptom or an abnormal finding on a screening mammogram. The diagnostic mammogram will be focused in on the area where there appeared to be abnormal tissue. It should be performed under the direct, on-site supervision of a board certified radiologist.

Diagnostic ultrasound: Ultrasound is another way of looking inside the breast by using sound waves instead of x-rays. It can distinguish a liquid-filled cyst from a solid mass, and it can help to distinguish the difference between normal and abnormal breast lumps.

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E - G

Estrogen: A hormone that plays an important role in the female reproductive cycle. Also used as a therapy for post-menopausal women.

Estrogen receptor (ER) negative: breast cancer cells that do not contain estrogen receptors. Receptors are cites on the cell to which estrogen attaches, promoting cancer cell growth. Estrogen receptor negative cells do not have the receptors necessary to bind with hormone therapy to block the flow of estrogen to the cell. Hormone therapy works by keeping cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow.

Fat Necrosis: A non-cancerous breast disease caused by trauma or injury.

Fibroadenoma: A non-cancerous breast disease most common in younger women.

Fibrocystic Changes: A non-cancerous breast condition, resulting in painful cysts or lumpy breast.

Galactocele: Milk filled cyst

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H - K

Hormone (endocrine) therapy: Treatment to block your body's natural hormones from reaching any remaining breast cancer cells.

In-situ cancer: When abnormal cells grow inside the lobules or milk ducts but there is no sign that the cells have spread out to the surrounding tissue or beyond, the condition is called carcinoma in situ. The term "in situ", which means "in place," is used because with carcinoma in situ, the abnormal cells remain "in place" inside the lobules or ducts where they first developed.

Invasive cancer: The spread of cancer from the location where it started into surrounding tissue.

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L - M

Lumpectomy (breast conservation surgery): Surgery in which minimal breast tissue is removed--usually only the tumor and a small surrounding area of normal tissue.

Lymphedema: Swelling of the arm caused by the removal of the axillary lymph nodes or by radiation therapy. For more information visit the Lymphadema Research Foundation website.

Mailgnant: Cancerous Mammary Duct Ectasia: A non-cancerous breast disease occurring most often in older perimenopausal women.

Mammary Glands: The breast glands that form and carry milk to the nipples during pregnancy and lactation.

Mammogram: An x-ray image of the breast taken to detect the presence of a breast lump.

Mastectomy: Surgery in which the entire breast is removed, along with some or all axillary lymph nodes.

Menopause: The ending of the normal menstrual cycle in women. It occurs most frequently in the late forties or early fifties.

Metastasize: The process in which cancer can travel from one section of the body to another through the lymphatic system or the bloodstream.

Microcalcifications: Small sand-like particles that may be found in portion of the breast and may occur in benign or malignant conditions.

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N - Q

Needle Aspiration: A process for testing a lump to determine whether it is cystic or not.

Needle Localization: A technique used to precisely locate a breast abnormality for a more detailed X-ray examination of the area.

Neoadjuvant therapy: Chemotherapy or radiation therapy given before surgery to reduce the size of a tumor

Oncologist: A doctor who specializes in treating cancer

Prognosis: the likelihood that a woman will recover from breast cancer Prosthesis an external breast form that can be used after a mastectomy

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R - U

Radiation therapy (radiotherapy): treatment using high energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells

Receptor: a specific location in a cancer cell that attracts hormones to attach to it in order to promote growth

Reconstructive surgery: a procedure using plastic surgery to recreate a breast Recurrence a return of breast cancer in your body after treatment

Risk factors: factors that affect a woman's chances of getting breast cancer

Screening mammogram: A screening mammogram is an x-ray of the breast used to detect breast changes in women who have no signs of breast cancer. It usually involves two x-ray of each breast. Using a mammogram, it is possible to detect a tumor that cannot be felt.

Stages of cancer: A numbering system (from 0 to 4) that tells doctors how advanced a specific breast cancer may be in order to determine appropriate treatment options

Tumor: An uncontrolled growth of cells that are either benign or malignant

Ultrasound: A sound wave imaging technique used to examine a part of the body. It is sometimes used to further evaluate a breast lump or other abnormality seen on a mammogram.

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