BREAST CANCER GLOSSARY Adjuvant Therapy Treatments such as hormonal agents, chemotherapy, or radiation that are given AFTER surgery to decrease the risk of recurrence Axillary Dissection Removal of the lymph nodes in the armpit BRCA1 A tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 17, in which alterations increase the risk of getting breast and/or ovarian cancer.  This increase in risk can be as high as 85% risk if getting breast cancer by age 70.  For someone with this altered gene, there is a 50% chance of passing it to your children.  There is a blood test to check for alterations in this gene. BRCA2 A tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 13, in which alterations increase the risk of getting breast and/or ovarian cancer.  This increase in risk can be as high as 85% risk if getting breast cancer by age 70, making it similar to BRCA1.  BRCA2 alterations are also associated with a greater risk of male breast cancer. There is a blood test to check for alterations in this gene. Benign A breast abnormality which is not a cancer or considered malignant.  Examples include fibroadenoma, cyst, fibrocystic changes, etc. Biopsy The sampling of tissue in order to find out what it is.  This is frequently done in the office with a needle and does not replace complete surgical removal, if the needle biopsy reveals that a growth is cancerous. Calcifications Calcium deposits in the breast that are most frequently detect by mammogram.  These may be associated with benign or cancerous masses in the breast. Carcinoma-in-situ Considered to be a precancerous abnormality in the breast.  However, at this stage the cells are confined to the breast duct or lobule and thus have not invaded the tissue of the breast or spread to other organs. Cyst A fluid filled mass in the breast.  It is extremely rare for these to be cancers. Edema An accumulation of fluid in the tissues.  This is frequently referred to as lymphedema when it affects the arm after removal of the lymph nodes in the armpit of someone with breast cancer. Endocrine Therapy Manipulation of hormones in order to treat a disease or condition. Estrogen Receptor Assay A laboratory test done on cancer cells to see if they have estrogen receptors present.  This test then helps guide treatment for the breast cancer because estrogen receptor positive (ER positive) respond to hormonal therapy. Etiology The cause of a disease. False Negative A test result implying a condition does not exist when it actually does.  False Positive A test result implying a condition exists when it actually does not. Fibroadenoma A benign breast tumor feels like a round, smooth mass on exam.  These usually occur in younger women. First-degree Relative A parent, sibling, or child Galactocele A breast milk duct that gets blocked and fills up with milk which may occur in the breast during the time of breast feeding. Genetic Counseling The process of discussion with a patient/family about the risk of having a gene that may increase the chances of having a disease, condition, etc. within that family.  This process frequently includes testing, and then counseling about the test results. Her2 gene A protein on the surface of 25-30% of breast cancers, which signifies a tumor which may be more aggressive.  A laboratory test is used to check for its presence on the cancer cells.  There are now treatments specifically targeted to this protein. Inflammatory breast cancer A type of breast cancer that spreads to the lymphatic vessels in the skin of the breast.  The skin of the affected breast is red, feels warm, and may thicken and have the pits that make it look like an orange peel. Intraductal Papilloma Small, finger-like, polyp-like, noncancerous growths in the breast ducts that may cause a bloody nipple discharge.  Invasive Ductal Carcinoma A cancer that starts in the breast duct.  This is the most common type of breast cancer, accounting for about 80%. Invasive Lobular Carcinoma A cancer that starts in the milk producing gland of the breast.  This is the second most common type of breast cancer, accounting for about 10%. Lumpectomy Surgery to remove the breast cancer and some normal surrounding tissue in order to get a negative margin.  Many surgeons use this term interchangeably with partial mastectomy. Mastitis Inflammation or infection of the breast Mastopexy Surgery to lift a drooping breast Medical Oncologist A doctor who is specially trained to diagnose and treat cancer with chemotherapy and other drugs. Metastasis The spread of cancer cells to areas of the body beyond where it began.  This may occur via the lymph system to the lymph nodes in the armpit or via the blood to distant sites such as the brain, liver, or lungs. Modified Radical Mastectomy A surgery that removes the breast, including the nipple and areola, and the lymph nodes in the armpit, but DOES NOT remove the muscles of the chest wall. Multicentric Breast Cancer Breast cancer occurring in several areas of the breast. Needle Localization A surgical procedure in which a needle is placed under x-ray guidance to localize an abnormality that needs to be removed, but that the surgeon can not feel.  This then acts at a guide at the time of surgery to know what area needs to be removed. Neoadjuvant Therapy Chemical or hormonal therapy given BEFORE surgery to help shrink some breast cancers such that surgical removal can be performed with a less extensive surgery. Nodal Status This can be described as either negative or positive and refers to the absence (negative) or the presence (positive) of cancer cells in the lymph nodes.  This status helps the doctor predict the risk of future recurrence as well as to help guide therapies. Osteoporosis Thinning of the bones, resulting in weaker bones.  This is a common condition among postmenopausal women. Palliative Therapy Therapy that relieves symptoms, such as pain, but is not expected to cure the disease.  Its main purpose is to improve the patient’s quality of life. Partial Mastectomy A surgery that removes a portion of the breast. Prophylactic Mastectomy Removal of the breast before a cancer has been diagnosed for the purpose of decreasing the risk of a future breast cancer. Prosthesis An artificial form, such as a breast prosthesis, that may be worn under the clothing after a mastectomy.  Radiation Oncologist A doctor who specializes in using radiation to treat cancer. Radical Mastectomy A surgery that removes the breast (including the nipple and areola), the lymph nodes in the armpit, and muscles of the chest wall.  This is very rarely done today. Recurrence Cancer that comes back after treatment Local recurrence means the cancer comes back at the same place as the original cancer.  Regional recurrence means that the cancer returns in the lymph nodes near the original site.  Distant recurrence is when cancer metastasizes beyond the organ in which it started.  In the case of breast cancer, this would be cancer that has gone to the liver, lungs, or brain. Relapse Another word for recurrence Sentinel Node Biopsy A procedure to evaluate the axillary lymph nodes by removing a few nodes, instead of doing an axillary dissection.  Blue dye and a radioactive tracer are injected into the breast and travel to the lymph nodes in the armpit.  The first lymph node that picks up the dye and radiotracer is the sentinel node, as this is the most likely node that cancer cells would have traveled to if they had already gone to the armpit.  If the sentinel nodes are free of cancer cells, a complete axillary dissection is not necessary. Simple Mastectomy A surgery that removes the breast, including the nipple and areola, but does not remove any of the lymph nodes in the armpit. Staging Breast cancer is divided into 4 stages which indicates its level of advancement.  The lower the stage (such as stage I), the more likelihood of cure.  Determines ones stage is based upon knowing the size of the tumor, the involvement of lymph nodes in the armpit, and whether it has spread to other organs. Stereotactic Needle Biopsy A method of needle biopsy that is NOT done in the operating room, in which x-ray guidance is used to sample an area of abnormality in the breast. Transverse Rectus Abdominus Muscle Flap (TRAM) Procedure A method of breast reconstruction in which tissue from the lower abdominal wall is used to create a new breast mound after a mastectomy (removal of the breast). Tumor An abnormal mass in tissue.  These may be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).