Cyst – a membrane-bound fluid collection. These are non-cancerous. Sometimes a cyst can be complicated by additional features, which may require aspiration (drawing out fluid with a needle) for diagnosis.
Ducts – small tubes in the breast that carry milk from the lobules to the nipple during breastfeeding.
Ductogram – a procedure for imaging the breast ducts. A Radiologist injects contrast into a specific duct using a very fine probe. After the injection of contrast, a mammogram is taken. This is done to evaluate certain kinds of discharge.
Estrogen – a hormone produced by the ovaries, adrenal glands, and other tissues. It is responsible for the development of female sex characteristics and it is important in menstruation and fertility. Estrogen may also stimulate the growth of some breast cancers (those that have estrogen receptors).
Estrogen receptor – a cell surface molecule that uses estrogen to stimulate the cell.
Excisional biopsy – an operation done by a surgeon to remove an entire growth or lump.
Fibroadenoma – a non-cancerous growth containing normal glands and fibrous tissue in the breast.
HER2/neu – protein receptor on the surface of some breast cancer cells.
Histology – refers to the microscopic features of cells and tissues.
Hormonal treatment – a way of treating estrogen receptor- positive breast cancer through the use of drugs that either block the effect of estrogen or decrease estrogen levels in the body. It is the opposite of hormone replacement therapy.
Hormone replacement therapy – treatment that provides estrogen to women to help ease the symptoms of menopause.
Hyperplasia – an increase in the number of normal cells in a tissue or organ. Atypical hyperplasia is an increase in hyperactive, abnormal cells in a tissue or organ.
In-situ breast cancer – see “non invasive breast cancer”.
Invasive breast cancer – cancer that penetrates the duct or lobule where it originates and invades the surrounding breast tissue.
Some types of Invasive breast cancer:
- Infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC)
- Infiltrating lobular carcinoma (ILC)
- Tubular carcinoma
- Mucinous carcinoma
- Medullary carcinoma
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Papillary carcinoma
Lobule – a small sac in the breast that is lined by the gland cells that make breast milk during breastfeeding.
Lymphedema – accumulation of lymph fluid in the arm and hand as a result of the removal of lymph nodes in the underarm area. This may be associated with swelling, tingling sensation, and pain.
Lymph nodes – small bean-shaped structures scattered along the vessels of the lymphatic system. The lymph nodes may trap cancer cells that travel through the lymphatic system.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – a test that uses magnetic fields to create clear images of your internal body parts including tissues, muscles, nerves, and bones. MRI of the breast requires the injection of intravenous contrast material.
Magnification views – enlarged mammographic images of a particular part of the breast.
Malignant – a tumor that is cancerous and has the ability to spread to other parts of the body and become life-threatening.
Mammogram – an x-ray examination of the breast that can detect breast cancer.
Diagnostic mammogram – a mammogram performed to evaluate a breast symptom or an abnormal screening mammogram.
Screening mammogram – a yearly mammogram performed on healthy breasts. No current breast problems. The American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms for all women 40 years old or older.
Mammosite balloon – catheter placed by a surgeon in the breast after cancer surgery to perform accelerated partial breast irradiation for cancer treatment.
Mastectomy – the operation of removing all or part of the breast.
Types of mastectomies:
- Simple or Total mastectomy – total breast removed. The nipple and lymph nodes are not removed.
- Total prophylactic mastectomy – breast removed without diagnosis of cancer. This is for risk reduction. This usually requires removal of the nipple.
- Partial mastectomy (lumpectomy) – removes cancerous tissue with a rim of normal tissue and leaves the rest of the breast. Lymph node biopsy is usually performed as well.
- Modified radical mastectomy - excision of the entire breast and lymph nodes under the arm.
Medical Oncologist – a physician specializing in the medical treatment (chemotherapy) of cancer.
Menopause – a stage in a woman’s life when menstruation stops and the ovaries stop producing eggs and estrogen.
Metastasis – a tumor or growth of cells in a part of the body that is different from where the original or primary site was located. Invasive breast cancer has the ability to metastasize. Metastases is the plural for metastasis.
Microcalcifications – Small amounts of calcium- containing minerals deposited in the breast by normal secretions of the breast. These are visible on the mammogram. Usually these are not cancerous, but sometimes clusters of microcalcifications can indicate early breast cancer.
Needle Biopsy– a tissue sampling procedure using a device inside a needle to remove a small bit of tissue to examine under a microscope.
Different Types of Biopsies:
- Fine needle aspiration (FNA) – a small needle is inserted into the mass or area of concern to extract cells which are examined under a microscope for diagnosis.
- Ultrasound core needle biopsy– a core sample of tissue is removed from the breast under ultrasound guidance. Sometimes with vacuum assistance to gain a larger sample.
- Stereotactic core needle biopsy – a core sample of tissue is removed from the breast using mammographic guidance with the patient lying on a stereotactic table with their breast in compression. Usually done with vacuum assistance.
- MRI guided core needle biopsy – a core sample of tissue is removed from the breast under MRI guidance with the patient lying on the MRI table with their breast in light compression. Usually done with vacuum assistance.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy – chemotherapy that is used before surgery or radiation in an attempt to reduce the size of a cancerous tumor.
Nipple discharge – Breast secretions coming out of the nipple. Usually benign, but sometimes requiring surgery. Third most common breast complaint.
Nipple retraction – the pulling inward of the nipple below the level of the surrounding breast tissue. This can be due to non-cancerous or cancerous causes.
Noninvasive breast cancer – cancer confined to the ducts and lobules that has not broken into any other surrounding tissues.
Other names for noninvasive breast cancer:
- Ductal carcinoma in-situ – DCIS
- Intraductal carcinoma
Pathologist – a physician who evaluates tissue samples for diagnosis.
Peau d’ orange –French for “skin of the orange”, usually a late sign of breast cancer. The skin is puffy and pitted-looking around the pores, and sometimes pink-discolored.
Postmenopausal – occurring after menopause.
Premenopausal – occurring before menopause.
Progesterone – a hormone that is important in menstruation and fertility. It may affect the growth of some breast cancers (those that are determined to be progesterone receptor positive).
Progesterone receptor – a cell-surface molecule that uses progesterone to stimulate the cell.
Radiation and radiotherapy – the use of high energy beams to treat cancer.
Recurrence – the return of signs or symptoms of a disease after having had an original cancer removed completely.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy – a procedure using radioactive dye that is injected into the breast near the tumor to locate the “sentinel” lymph node - the lymph node that receives most of the lymph drainage from the tumor. The sentinel lymph node is then removed through a small incision and examined by a pathologist for the presence of cancer cells. This enables the surgeon to accurately stage the underarm (axilla) without removing all the lymph nodes.
Skin thickening – change of skin texture, making it feel firmer.
Spiculated mass –tissue mass with spikes extending into the surrounding breast tissue.
Stage – The extent of the cancer throughout the body. For breast cancer, the stage is determined by the size of the primary cancer and the presence or absence of cancer cells in lymph nodes and other body sites.
Systemic therapy – treatments that travel through the bloodstream to affect or treat cells throughout the body. In breast cancer, systemic therapies may include chemotherapy and hormone treatment.
Tumor – Latin for “lump”. Tumors can be cancerous or non-cancerous. Depending on where the tumor is located, it can be palpable (felt by hand) or non-palpable.
Ultrasound – A way to see breast tissue detail by analyzing the path of high-frequency sound waves in the breast.