Immune response:  The reactions of the immune system to foreign substances.

Immune system:  The tissues, organs and physiological processes used by the body to identify a protein as foreign or abnormal and prevent it from harming the organism.  It is the system used by the body to protect itself from foreign invaders.

Immunosuppression:  Reduction of the immune response.

Immunotherapy:  The production or enhancement of immunity with treatments that stimulate or support the body's immune system response to a disease.  Immunotherapy is, at present, mainly experimental.

Implant: A silicone gel-filled or saline-filled sac inserted under the chest muscle to restore breast shape.

Incisional biopsy: The surgical removal of a portion of an abnormal area of tissue or lump.

Infiltrating (invasive) cancer:  Cancer that has spread outside of its site of origin to infiltrate and grow in surrounding tissue.

Informed consent:  The legal standard stating how much a patient must know about the potential risks and benefits of a treatment/therapy before being able to undergo it with an adequate level of understanding.

Infraclavicular nodes:  Lymph nodes lying below the collarbone.

Inframammary crease:  The crease where the lower part of the breast and chest wall come together.

In situ cancer:  Very early or noninvasive growths confined to the ducts or lobules in the breast. In situ means "in the site of". When used to describe a type of cancer, in situ refers to tumors that have not grown past their site of origin and have not spread into surrounding tissue.

Interferon:  A group of proteins released by white blood cells that combat a virus. 

Interleukin-1:  A compound produced by the body in response to infection, inflammation or other challenges to the immune system.

Intraductal:  Within the duct.  Intraductal can describe a benign or malignant process.

Intraductal papilloma:  A benign tumor that extends like a finger from the lining of the (breast) duct.

Intravenous (IV):  Within or into a vein.  An intravenous line is when a needle is inserted into a vein to carry through blood products, medications or nutrients directly into the blood through a tube.

Invasive (infiltrating) cancer:  Cancer that has the tendency to spread outside of its site of origin to infiltrate and grow in surrounding, healthy tissue.  Invasive does not indicate that the cancer has already spread.

Inverted nipple:  The turning inward of the nipple.  If the woman's nipple was projecting and then becomes inverted, it could be a sign of cancer.

Irradiation:  The therapeutic application of radiation to a patient to destroy or damage cancer cells.  Cancer cells have a tendency to be more easily destroyed than the normal cells in surrounding tissue.  Irradiation is a method of treatment for breast cancer patients, often used as an adjunctive therapy to breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) to minimize the risk of recurrence.

Isotope:  One of a series of chemical elements that have almost identical chemical properties but have different atomic weights and electric charge. 

L

Lactation:  Production of milk from the breast.

Latissimus dorsi muscle: The triangular back muscle that is transferred with some overlying skin as a donor flap tissue for reconstructive breast surgery following a mastectomy.

Leukocytes:  All white blood cells.

Lobe:  A reasonably well-defined part of an organ separated by boundaries, especially glandular organs and the brain. 

Lobular:  Pertaining to the lobules (e.g., of the breast).

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS):  Abnormal cells within the lobule that do not form lumps.  Lobular carcinoma in situ can serve as a marker of increased cancer risk.

Lobules:  Parts of the breast capable of producing milk.

Local treatment of cancer:  Treatment of the tumor only.

Localization biopsy:  The use of mammography or ultrasound to locate a suspicious area that cannot be felt by hand.

Localized cancer:  A cancer confined to its site of origin.

Lueteinizing hormone (LH):  A hormone produced by the pituitary gland that helps control the menstrual cycle.  (A large surge of this hormone in each menstrual cycle precedes ovulation by 12 to 24 hours.) 

Lump:  A mass of tissue.

Lumpectomy:  The surgical removal of a malignant tumor along with a small margin of surrounding tissue.  This surgery is usually followed by radiation therapy in the treatment of breast cancer.

Lymph:  A transparent, slightly yellow fluid that carries lymphocytes, bathes the body tissues and drains into the lymphatic vessels.

Lymphatic vessels:  A body-wide network of channels similar to the blood vessels that transport lymph to the immune organs and into the bloodstream.

Lymph nodes:  Structures in the lymphatic system that act as filters to keep particulate matter like bacteria from entering the bloodstream.  They may also stop cancer cells and help the body's immune system.  Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped organs of the immune system that vary in size from a pinhead to the size of an olive and may occur singly or in groups. Lymph nodes are distributed widely throughout the body and linked by lymphatic vessels found in regions.  The main areas in which they are found are in the neck (cervical), the armpit (axillary) and in the groin (inguinal). 

Lymphedema:  A condition characterized by swelling from the collection of fluid in the hand and arm after lymph nodes are blocked or removed.

Lymphocytes:  Small white blood cells produced in the lymphoid organs and paramount in the immune defenses.

Lymphoid organs:  The organs of the immune system where lymphocytes develop and gather.  They include the bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes  and spleen.  The blood vessels and lymphatic vessels can also be considered lymphoid organs.

M

Macrophage:  A large immune cell capable of recognizing and ingesting foreign antigens, cell debris and other waste in the blood. An important source of immune secretions.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance/NMR):  A technique used to provide image information of the brain, soft tissues, large blood vessels and/or the heart.  It involves the use of a magnetic field and electrical coil to transmit radio waves throughout the body and does not involve exposure to ionizing radiation. 

Malignant:  Cancerous.

Mammary glands: Glands of the female breast that can secrete milk.  They are made up of lobes and lobules bound together by areolar tissue.  The main glands (15 to 20 in number) are called the lactiferous ducts. 

Mammaplasty:  Breast surgery to change breast size.

Mammogram:  A low-dose breast x-ray that details the structure of breast tissue.  A method of breast cancer detection.

Marker:  A device or substance used to indicate or mark something.  An identifying characteristic or trait that permits seemingly similar materials or disease conditions to be differentiated (distinguished). 

Mastectomy: The surgical removal of the breast, usually for treatment of cancer.

Mastitis:  Infection of the breast.

Mastopexy:  Breast lift by plastic surgery.

Meditation:  Any activity that keeps the attention pleasantly anchored in the present moment.  There are two basic approaches to meditation: concentrative meditation which focuses the attention on an image, a sound (mantra) or the breath in order to quiet the mind and mindfulness meditation which involves a broader focus of attention on what is going on all around a person without the person becoming involved in thinking about or reacting to the activities with memories, thoughts, images or worries.

Medullary carcinoma:  A type of infiltrating breast cancer in which the tumor appears well-defined.

Menarche:  First menstrual period.

Menopause:  The period of time that marks the end of menstrual activity (the cessation of ovarian function), usually occurring between the ages of 40 and 55.

Metastasis: The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another through the lymphatic system, the bloodstream or across body cavities.

Microcalcification:  Tiny calcifications (calcium deposits)  in the breast tissue usually detected only on a mammogram.  Microcalcifications are a sign of change within the breast and, if clusters are present, may be a sign of ductal carcinoma in situ.

Micrometastasis:  Microscopic and assumed spread of cancer cells to other organs.  These cancer cells are only detectable under a microscope.

Microsurgical breast reconstruction: A method of breast reconstruction in which a flap of a woman's own (autologous) tissue is surgically moved from a distant area of the body (i.e., the abdomen, back or buttocks) to the chest wall area to build a new breast.    Once the tissue is transferred, the surgeon then sutures and reattaches the blood vessels/blood supply under the magnification of a special microscope.

Modified radical mastectomy:  Surgical removal of the breast, some fat and a sampling of lymph nodes in the armpit (axilla), leaving the chest wall muscles largely intact.

Monoclonal antibodies:  Antibodies produced by a single cell or its identical descendants, specific for a given antigen (foreign substance). Monoclonal antibodies manufactured in the laboratory are designed to seek out specific antigens on cancer cells as targets.  They are being studied for their potential to transport chemotherapy and radiotherapy directly to a cancer (cell), thereby killing the cancer cell without damaging healthy tissue.

Multicentric:  More than one origin. 

Multidisciplinary:  Refers to multiple disciplines (specialties) involved in patient care.  This term implies that the various specialties (surgery, plastic surgery, radiation/radiology, oncology, etc.) are working in collaboration and interacting with one another with respect to patient care. 

Muscle flap:  A muscle or portion of muscle that can be transferred with its blood supply to another part of the body for the purpose of reconstruction. 

Musculocutaneous (myocutaneous):  Muscle and skin; supplying or affecting the muscles and skin.

N

Natural killer (NK) cells:  Large granule-filled lymphocytes that attack tumor cells and infected body cells. 

Necrosis:  Dead tissue.

Needle aspiration:  A diagnostic method of removing fluid or a sample of tissue from a breast tumor or cyst by use of a fine needle for microscopic examination/evaluation. 

Needle biopsy:  Removal of a small sample of tissue with a wide-bore needle and suction.

Needle localization:  A procedure used to pinpoint a breast lump prior to a biopsy. 

Negative nodes:  Lymph nodes that are free of cancer cells.

Neoplasm:  A new and abnormal formation of tissues, such as a tumor or growth. A neoplasm serves no useful purpose but grows at the expense of the healthy organism.

Nipple:  The pigmented conical projection in the center of each breast containing the outer openings of the breast ducts.  The nipple contains erectile tissue and is surrounded by a pigmented area called the areola.

Nodular:  Forming little nodules.

Nodule: A small cluster of cells. 

Nucleus:  The essential agent in growth, metabolism, reproduction and transmission of characteristics of a cell. 

Nulliparous:  Never having given birth to a child.

Nurse practitioner:  A registered nurse (RN) with advanced medical skills training in the care of patients with whom the emphasis is on primary care. 

O

Oncogenes:  A gene in a virus with the ability to cause a cell to become malignant and induce tumor formation.  Oncogenes have been identified in human tumors and can be activated by carcinogens and can cause cells to proliferate.  Onco is derived from the Latin root meaning "tumor".  Anti-oncogenes suppress tumors. 

Oncologist:  A doctor or scientist who specializes in oncology (in treating cancer).  There are medical, radiation and surgical oncologists.

Oncology:  The branch of medicine specializing in tumors and the study and treatment of cancer.

One-step procedure:  Breast biopsy and surgery, (such as mastectomy), performed in a single operation.

Oophorectomy:  Surgery to remove (excise) the ovaries.

Osteoporosis:  Any disease process resulting in reduction in the mass of bone per unit of volume.  A general term used to describe the loss of bone mass that occurs with age in some people.

Ovary(ies):  One of two female organs that contain the eggs and the cells that produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. 

Ovulation:  The process during which a mature egg is released from the ovary.

Last Updated: 06/01/2004

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