A

Abnormal: Not normal. May be cancerous or premalignant.

Adenocarcinoma: A malignant tumor arising from glandular structures in an organ.  Breast cancer is a type of adenocarcinoma.

Adenoma: A noncancerous tumor made up of glandular tissue (such as breast, lung, thyroid, colon, pancreas).

Adjuvant (adjunctive) therapy: A secondary treatment in addition to the primary therapy.  Chemotherapy is often an adjuvant therapy to mastectomy.

Adjuvant chemotherapy: The use of anticancer drugs after surgery to prevent a recurrence of cancer.  Adjuvant chemotherapy is commonly given to breast cancer patients who have positive lymph nodes.

Adrenal glands: Small, pyramid-shaped glands situated on top of each kidney that secrete various substances, among which are the steroid hormones; androgen, estrogen and progesterone.

Advanced (metastatic) breast cancer: A stage of cancer in which the disease has spread from the breast to other body systems by traveling through the lymphatic system or through the bloodstream.

Alkylating agents:  A class of anticancer drugs that combine with a cancer cellís DNA to prevent cell division.

Alopecia:  Hair loss; often a side effect of chemotherapy.

Alteration, altered: Change; different from original.

Alternative therapy: Approaches to medical diagnosis and therapy that have not been developed by use of generally accepted methods of validating their effectiveness. Many such treatments (including acupuncture, holistic medicine, macrobiotics and homeopathy) have not been investigated and/or approved by any government or regulatory agency. Alternative therapies are often intended to be used in conjunction with professional medical care.  It is always important to discuss any treatment options with your health care team.  

Anaplasia: The loss of cellular differentiation and function, characteristic of most malignancies.

Anemia:  A reduction in the number of circulating red blood cells.  It exists when the amount of hemoglobin content is less than that required to provide the oxygen demands of the body.  Weakness, vertigo, headache, loss of libido, drowsiness, palpitation and general malaise are some of the symptoms of anemia. 

Anesthesia:  Drugs administered usually by injection or inhalation before and during surgery so that you will not feel the surgery.  You may be awake (local) or asleep (general).

Anesthesiologist: A doctor who gives drugs or gases that keep you comfortable during surgery.

Aneuploid:  Abnormal amount of DNA in a cell.

Antibiotic: Any of a variety of natural or synthetic substances that destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms.  Used widely in the treatment of infections.

Antibody:  A soluble protein molecule produced and secreted by B cells in response to an antigen, which is capable of binding to that specific antigen.

Antiemetic: An agent that prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting.  The drugs Compazine and Zofran are antiemetics.

Antiestrogen:  A substance that acts to block or modify the action of estrogen.  The drug Tamoxifen is an antiestrogen.

Antigen:  Any substance that, when introduced into the body, is recognized by the immune system.

Antioxidant: A substance that prevents oxidation or inhibits reactions promoted by oxygen.

Areola:  The circular area of different pigmented skin on the breast surrounding the nipple.

Aspiration:  The removal or withdrawal of fluid or tissue, by use of a needle and syringe, from a cavity to obtain cells from an area by applying suction.  Cysts and lumps can sometimes be aspirated to obtain a specimen for testing.
 
Asymmetrical:  Lack of symmetry; not matching.

Atypical cell:  A mild to moderately abnormal cell.

Atypical hyperplasia: Abnormal cells that have increased in numbers; excessive growth of cells.

Augmentation mammaplasty (breast augmentation): Plastic surgical procedure to increase the size of a womanís breast(s), often done by placing an implant behind the breast.

Autologous: From the same person.  An autologous blood transfusion is blood removed in advance and then transfused or reinfused into the same person at a later date.  

Autologous b.m.t. (ABMT): The harvesting, cryopreserving and reinfusion of the patientís own bone marrow.  May be used in post treatment marrow hypoplasia following cancer therapy.  Bone marrow containing undesired cells can be purged of those cells after the marrow has been removed; then the treated bone marrow is returned to the patient.

Autologous flap breast reconstruction: Breast reconstruction using a womanís own tissues.  Common donor sites for flaps for this type of plastic surgery are the abdomen and back.

Axilla:  The armpit.

Axillary lymph nodes:  Lymph nodes draining the breast found in the armpit area.

Axillary node dissection:  The surgical removal of  a sampling of lymph nodes from the armpit to determine if the breast cancer has spread.

B

Baseline mammogram:  A womanís first mammogram, used as a standard for evaluating any changes that may appear in future mammograms.

B cells: Small white blood cells crucial to immune defenses.  Also referred to as B lymphocytes, they are derived from bone marrow and develop into plasma cells that are the source of antibodies.

Benign:  The opposite of malignant or cancerous, a benign tumor is a non-cancerous growth. 

Bilateral:  Pertinent to, affecting, or related to two sides.

Bilateral mastectomy:  The surgical removal of both breasts.

Bilirubin:  The orange-colored or yellowish pigment in bile carried to the liver by the blood.  It is produced from the hemoglobin of red blood cells by reticuloendothelial cells in bone marrow, in the spleen and elsewhere.

Biological response modifiers (BRMs): Substances, either natural or synthetic, that boost, direct or restore normal immune defenses.  BRMs include interferons, interleukins, thymus hormones and monoclonal antibodies.

Biological therapy: Treatment that uses the body's immune system to fight cancer or to lessen the side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments. Also known as immunotherapy.

Biopsy:  Excision (removal) of a piece of tissue with a syringe and needle or scalpel for microscopic examination to determine/establish a diagnosis and determine if the tissue removed is cancerous or benign.

Biotechnology:  The use of living organisms or their products to manufacture or modify a substance.

Bone marrow: Soft  tissue located in the cavities of the bones that makes blood cells.  Bone marrow is the source of all blood cells.

Bone marrow transplant (BMT):  Transplantation of bone marrow from one individual to another.

Bone scan:  A test using short half-life radiopharmaceutical agents to visualize bones to determine if there is any sign of cancer in the bones (bone metastases).

BRCA1:  A breast cancer gene on chromosome 17 (17q) that has been linked to familial breast cancer.

Breast cancer:  Malignant neoplasm of the breast.

Breast cancer in situ: Very early or noninvasive abnormal cells that are confined to the ducts or lobules in the breast. Also known as DCIS or LCIS.

Breast-conserving surgery and irradiation:  A treatment option for breast cancer whereby the tumor and surrounding tissue and a sampling of axillary lymph nodes are surgically removed.  The majority of the breast is preserved and the remaining breast tissue is then treated by a course of radiation therapy.

Breast implant:  A soft form used as a prosthesis for women who have had a mastectomy or plastic surgery for augmentation, usually saline-filled and sometimes silicone gel-filled.

Breast reconstruction: The creation of an artificial breast following a mastectomy by a plastic surgeon.

Breast self-examination (BSE):  A technique that enables a woman to detect changes in her breast(s).

C

Calcification(s):  Small deposits of calcium in breast tissue that can be detected in a mammogram. Calcification is the process by which organic tissue becomes hardened by lime salt deposits in the tissues.

Cancer:  A general term for an estimated 200 different kinds of diseases characterized by the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells derived from normal tissues; the unregulated, disorganized proliferation of cell growth.  Cancers that arise in epithelial tissues are called carcinomas.

Cancer Cell:  A cell present in neoplasm having characteristics that differentiate it from normal tissue cells, such as the degree of anaplasia, irregularity in shape, indistinctness of cell outline, nuclear size, changes in the structure of nucleus and cytoplasm, increased number of mitoses (cell division) and the ability to metastasize.

Cancer grading and staging: Grading is the standardized procedure for expressing cancer cell differentiation.  Cancer is graded on the differentiation of the tumor cells and the number of mitoses (cell division) present.   
Staging is the extent of dissemination (distribution throughout an organ or the body) of the cancer.  Staging is the process of classifying tumors, especially malignant tumors.
These procedures are useful in comparing the effectiveness of different forms of therapy. 
Source: Taberís Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 1993, F.A. Davis Company

Capsular contracture:  A capsule or shell of scar tissue that may form around a breast implant, giving it a feeling of firmness.

Carcinogen: Any substance or agent that produces or increases the risk of developing cancer.

Carcinoma: A new growth or malignant tumor that occurs in epithelial tissue (skin, glands and the lining of internal organs).  The majority of cancers are carcinomas.

Cathepsin-D:  An estrogen-induced enzyme present in breast tissue and in other cells that helps break down tissue.  Large quantities of Cathepsin-D in breast tissue may indicate a high level of invasion into surrounding healthy tissue.

Cell:  A mass of protoplasm containing a nucleus or nuclear material.  A cell is the unit of structure of all animals and plants.  Cells and cell products make up all the tissues of the body.  All functional activities of the body are performed by cells; and their form and structure are closely tied to their functions.  Cells originate only from pre-existing cells, meaning new cells arise by  cell division.  The growth and development of cells result from the increase in numbers of cells into different types of tissues.
Source: Taberís Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 1993, F.A. Davis Company

Cell growth cycle: The sequence of biochemical and physical events that happen during the growth of cells.  In studies of tissue culture, these cyclic changes are divided into specific periods or phases, including DNA synthesis or S phase.

Chemotherapy:  Systemic treatment (cytotoxic or hormonal) with drugs that reach cells throughout the body; used to kill or slow down the growth of cancer cells.

Clavicle: Collarbone.

Clear margins: An area of normal tissue that surrounds cancerous tissue, as seen during examination under a microscope.

Clinical trial: Controlled studies of cancer treatments on a fixed number of patients designed to answer specific questions about how to prevent, detect or treat cancer.

Comedo carcinoma:  A type of early breast cancer starting in the breast ducts.

Core Biopsy:  A biopsy using a small needle to cut and remove a sample of tissue from a breast lump.

Creatinine: A normal, alkaline constituent of urine and blood.  Increased quantities of it are found in advanced stages of renal disease.

Cyst:  A fluid-filled mass or area in the breast.

Cytology:  The study of cells.  

Cytotoxic:  Toxic to cells.  Refers to drugs used in chemotherapy to kill or slow down the growth of cancer cells.

Cytotoxic T cells:  A subset of T lymphocytes that can kill body cells infected by viruses or transformed by cancer.