Dictionary

A-BC-D-EF-G-H-I-J-KL-M-NO-P-QR-S-TU-V-W-X-Y-Z

A

Acupressure: The application of pressure or localized massage to specific sites on the body to control symptoms such as pain or nausea.  It is a type of complementary and alternative medicine.

Acupuncture: The technique of inserting thin needles through the skin at specific points on the body to control pain and other symptoms. It is a type of complementary and alternative medicine.

Adjuvant Therapy: Treatment given after the primary treatment to increase the chances of a cure. Adjuvant therapy may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, or biological therapy.

Alternative Medicine: Practices used instead of standard treatments. The medical community generally does not recognize them as standard or conventional medical approaches. Alternative medicine includes dietary supplements, megadose vitamins, herbal preparations, special teas, acupuncture, massage therapy, spiritual healing, and meditation.

Anesthesia: Drugs or substances that cause loss of feeling or awareness. Local anesthetics put the person to sleep.

Areola: The area of dark colored skin on the breast that surrounds the nipple.

Aromatase Inhibitor: A drug that prevents the formation of estradiol, a female hormone, by interfering with an aromatase enzyme. Aromatase inhibitors are a type of hormone therapy used in postmenopausal women who have hormone dependent breast cancer.

Aspirate:  Fluid withdrawn from a lump (often a cyst) or a nipple.

Atypical Hyperplasia: A benign (noncanerous) condition in which cells look abnormal under a microscope and are increased in number.

Axilla:  the underarm or armpit.

Axillary Lymph Node Dissection: Surgery to remove lymph nodes found in the armpit region. Also called axillary dissection.

Axillary Lymph Nodes: Lymph nodes found in the armpit region that drains the lymph channels from the breast.

B

Bacteria:  A large group of single cell microorganisms. Some cause infections and disease in animals and humans. The singular of bacteria is bacterium.

Benign: Not cancerous. Benign tumors do not spread to tissues around them or to other parts of the body.

Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy: Surgery to remove both breasts in order to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.  Also called preventive mastectomy.

Biological Therapy: Treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system to fight infections and other diseases. Also used to lessen side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments. Also known as immunotherapy, biotherapy, or biological response modifier (BRM) therapy.

Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues for examination under a microscope. When only a sample of tissue is removed, the procedure is called an incisional biopsy or core biopsy. When an entire lump or suspicious area is removed, the procedure is called an excisional biopsy. When a sample of tissue or fluid is removed with a needle, it is called a needle biopsy or fine-needle aspiration.

BRCA1: A gene on chromosome 17 that normally helps to suppress cell growth. A person who inherits an altered version of the BRCA1 gene has a higher risk of getting breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer.

BRCA2: A gene on chromosome 13 that normally helps to suppress cell growth. A person who inherits an altered version of the BRCA2 gene has a higher risk of getting breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer.

Breast Reconstruction: Surgery to rebuild the shape of the breast after a mastectomy.

Breast Self-exam: An exam of the breast that a woman does on herself.

Breast-conserving Surgery: An operation to remove the breast cancer but not the breast itself. Types of breast-conserving surgery include lumpectomy (removal of the lump), quadrantectomy (removal of one quarter, or quadrant, of the breast), and segmental mastectomy (removal of the cancer as well as some of the breast tissue around the tumor and the lining over the chest muscles below the tumor). Also called breast-sparing surgery.

Breasts: Glands located on the chest that can make milk. Also called mammary glands.

Breast-sparing Surgery: see Breast-conserving Surgery.

Please note that the above definitions were taken from the NCI (National Cancer Institute) booklet, What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer.