This
glossary will help you to better understand the answers to your
questions.
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Absolute
Risk
A person's chance of developing a specific disease over a specified
time period. The absolute risk of disease is estimated by examining
a large number of persons similar in some respect (in terms of
age, for example) and counting the number of individuals in this
group who develop the disease over the specified time period.
For instance, if we were to observe 100,000 women between the
ages of 20 and 29 for one year, approximately 4 would develop
breast cancer during this period. Therefore, the one-year absolute
risk of breast cancer for a 20- to 29-year-old woman is 4 per
100,000 women, or 1 per 25,000 women.
Acupuncture
Use of fine needles inserted at precise points to influence "meridians"
of energy flowing through the body to restore balance between
yin and yang forces in the body. Acupres-sure and electroacupuncture
are based on the same principle.
Adjuvant
Systemic Therapy
Treatment given in addition to surgery and radiation to eliminate
tumors that may have spread to other sites. There are two types,
chemotherapy and hormone therapy.
Aloe
Usually referring to aloe vera, a succulent perennial plant related
to the lily family, often used to soothe burns and other skin
irritations.
Alopecia
Hair loss.
Amenorrhea
The absence or suppression of the menstrual period.
Anesthesia
Loss of feeling or sensation. Local anesthesia may be induced
into a specific region of the body, such as the breast, by injection
of a drug (a local anesthetic) into that area. General anesthesia
involves the entire body and may be induced by drugs injected
into a vein or inhaled.
Aneuploid
(DNA Ploidy)
The presence of an abnormal number of chromosomes in cancer cells.
Angiogenesis
Blood vessel formation, which usually accompanies the growth of
malignant tissue.
Antibody
therapy
A specially made antibody that targets cancer cells.
Anti-carcinogen
Referring to an agent that counteracts carcinogens (cancer causing
agents).
Antioxidant
Referring to an agent that counteracts oxidizing agents. Oxidizing
agents are always present in the body and are often beneficial.
However, when large amounts of oxidants are present in cells they
can cause damage, especially to DNA, which can lead to cancerous
growth.
Antiemetic
A medicine to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting.
Apoptosis
A normal cellular process involving a genetically programmed series
of events leading to the death of a cell.
Areola
The darkly shaded circle of skin surrounding the nipple.
Aspirate
To remove fluid and a small number of cells.
Atypical
Hyperplasia
Overgrowth of mildly abnormal but noncancerous (benign) cells
within the breast milk ducts.
Axilla
The underarm region.
Axillary
Dissection
Surgical procedure to remove lymph nodes from under the arm.
Axillary
Lymph Nodes
The lymph nodes under the arm.
Axillary
Sampling (axillary dissection)
Removal of some or all of the lymph nodes in the armpit.
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Benign
Not cancerous. Does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other
parts of the body.
Benign
Breast Disease
Noncancerous conditions of the breast that can result in lumps
or abnormalities on a mammogram. Examples include fluid filled
cysts and fibroadenomas.
Bilateral
Prophylactic
See Prophylactic Mastectomy
Biological
Therapy
A therapy that targets something specific to the biology of the
cancer cell, as opposed to chemotherapy, which attacks all rapidly
dividing cells. Often used to describe therapies that use the
immune system to fight cancer (immunotherapy). Trastuzumab (Herceptin)
is an example of a biological therapy agent.
Biopsy
Removal of tissue to be examined for cancer cells.
Bone
Scan
A test done to determine whether or not there are any signs of
cancer in the bones. A small amount of radioactive material is
injected into the bloodstream. It collects in the bones, especially
abnormal areas, and is detected by a scanner. Collections on bone
scan may result from cancer as well as from benign bone diseases
like arthritis.
Boost
Additional dose of radiation to a reduced size field.
Breast
Cancer
An uncontrolled growth of abnormal breast cells.
Breast
Conserving Surgery
Surgery that removes only part of the breast-the part containing
and closely surrounding the cancerous tumor.
Breast
Prosthesis
An artificial breast form that can be worn under clothing after
a mastectomy.
Breast
Self-Examination (BSE)
A method used by women to become familiar with the normal appearance
and feel of their breast tissue, so that if a change occurs it
will be detected early.
Breast
Surgeon
Doctor who specializes in surgery related to breast cancer, including
surgical biopsies.
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Cachexia
Loss of appetite and weight experienced by many cancer patients.
Calcifications
Deposits of calcium in the breast that appear on a mammogram.
Microcalcifications sometimes can indicate precancerous or cancerous
cell growth.
Cancer
General name for over 100 diseases in which cell growth is uncontrolled.
Carcinoma
In Situ
Cancers contained in the milk ducts and lobules of the breast
that have not left their original location and spread to the surrounding
breast tissue. In situ means "in place."
Case-control
Study
An observational study that identifies two groups – one
with people who already have the outcome of interest (cases),
and one with people who do not (controls). The two groups are
then compared to see if any characteristic was more prevalent
in the past history of one group compared to the other.
Centigray
One centigray describes the amount of radiation absorbed by the
tissues and is equivalent to 1 RAD.
Chemotherapy
A drug or combination of drugs given in cycles. These drugs kill
cancer cells in various ways.
Clinical
Breast Examination (CBE)
The inspection and palpation of the breasts by a trained medical
professional.
Clinical
Trials
Research studies done with human patients. These studies generally
test the benefits of possible new treatments or diagnostic procedures.
Cohort
Study
A study that follows a large group (a cohort) of people.
Complementary
Therapies (CAM)
Forms of treatment that are used in addition to standard treatments.
These practices are not considered standard medical approaches.
Computerized
Axial Tomography (CAT) Scan
See CT Scan.
95%
Confidence Interval
A statistical concept that indicates that there is a 95% probability
that the 'true' measure of interest (for in-stance, the true relative
risk relating alcohol consumption to breast cancer) is captured
within an interval computed from a single study.
Core
Needle Biopsy
A needle biopsy that removes pieces of tissue rather than just
cells from an abnormal area in the breast.
CT
Scan
Computed tomography scan. A series of pictures created by a computer
linked to an
X-ray machine. The scan provides detailed internal images of the
body. Also called computerized tomography and computerized axial
tomography (CAT) scan.
Cumulative
Risk
Summing of a person's risk for a disease up to a specified age.
For example, if the lifetime risk of breast cancer for an American
woman born in 1990 is 1 in 8 (about 12%), if she lives to be 95.
This means that for every 8 women who live to be age 95, one (about
12%) will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime.
Cyst
A fluid-filled sac.
Cytopathologist
A pathologist who specializes in looking at individual cells.
A cytopathologist is needed to interpret the results of fine needle
aspiration.
Cytotoxic
Toxic, or deadly, to cells (cell killing). Often used synonymously
with chemotherapy.
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Definitive
Surgery
When all of the known tumor is removed and no follow-up surgery
is needed.
Detoxification
Concept prevalent in many special regimens to indicate a process
whereby the body is cleansed of unnatural, unhelpful or unhealthful
agents, often taking the form of enemas.
Diagnosis
Identification of a disease from its signs and symptoms.
Diagnostic
Mammogram
A diagnostic mammogram is used to further evaluate a breast problem/symptom
or an abnormal finding on a screening mammogram. This procedure
involves two or more X-ray views per breast.
Diagnostic
Radiologist (Radiologist)
A physician who specializes in the diagnosis of diseases by the
use of X-rays.
Diploid
(DNA Ploidy)
The presence of a normal number of chromosomes in cancer cells.
Distant
Recurrence
Return of cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, such
as the lungs, liver or bone.
Dose-dense
therapy
Chemotherapy given over a more condensed time period compared
to standard therapy, such that the frequency of treatment sessions
is increased, but the duration of the treatment period is shortened.
Doxorubicin
A chemotherapy drug that damages a cancer cell's ability to repair
DNA.
Duct
A pathway in the breast through which milk passes from the lobules
to the nipple.
Ductal
Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS)
Type of in situ (non-invasive) breast cancer that originates mainly
in the milk ducts of the breast.
Ductal
Papilloma
A noncancerous breast tumor, arising in the breast duct, which
usually cannot be felt. It generally appears as either a bloody
or clear nipple discharge.
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Early
Breast Cancer
Cancer that is contained in the breast or has only spread to lymph
nodes under the arm. The term is commonly associated with stage
I and II cancer.
Endocrine
Manipulation (Hormonal Therapy)
Treating breast cancer by changing the hormonal balance of the
body instead of using cell-killing drugs.
Estradiol
The most active naturally occurring estrogen in women.
Estrogen
A female hormone produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. It
is important to reproduction and may stimulate some cancers to
grow.
Estrogen
Receptors
See Hormone Receptors.
Excisional
Biopsy
Surgical procedure that removes the entire suspicious area (plus
some surrounding normal tissue) from the breast.
External
Beam Radiation Therapy
See Radiation Therapy.
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False
Negative
A test result that incorrectly reports that a person is disease-free
when she/he actually has the disease.
False
Positive
A test result that incorrectly reports that a person has a disease
when she/he does not have the disease.
Fat
Necrosis
A noncancerous breast change in which the breast responds to trauma
with a firm, irregular mass, often years after the event. The
mass is the result of fatty tissue dying, following either surgery
or blunt trauma to the breast. This is not associated with an
increased risk of breast cancer.
Fibroadenoma
A benign fibrous tumor that may occur at any age but is more common
in young adulthood.
Fibrocystic
Condition (Fibrocystic Changes)
A general term used to describe a noncancerous breast condition,
sometimes resulting in painful cysts or lumpy breasts. Also referred
to as benign breast disease.
Fine
Needle Aspiration (FNA)
Biopsy procedure that uses a very thin, hollow needle to remove
a sample of cells from the abnormal area of the breast. Also called
a fine needle biopsy.
Flow
Cytometry
A laboratory test performed on malignant breast tissue to determine
the growth rate of malignant cells and the presence of abnormal
chromosomes.
Fluorescence
in situ hybridization (FISH)
A laboratory test performed on breast tumor tissue to detect the
number of copies of the HER2/neu gene in the cancer cells.
Frozen
Section
Process where a portion of tissue from a surgical biopsy is frozen
so that a thin slice can be quickly cut and analyzed to see if
it is cancerous or not. Results are only preliminary and always
need to be confirmed by other methods.
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Galactocele
Milk filled cyst.
Genes
The part of a person's cells that contains all the DNA information
that determines how they will grow and develop, and how their
body works. The information in a person's genes is inherited from
previous generations on both sides of a person's family.
Gene
Mutation
A 'mistake' or 'alteration' of the information contained in a
gene.
General
Practitioner/Internist (Physician)
A personal or family physician who may first detect a suspicious
area through a clinical breast exam or abnormal mammogram.
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HER2/neu
(erbB2)
Protein that appears in high numbers on the outside of the breast
cancer cells of about 20 to 25 percent of breast cancer patients.
Tumors with high levels of HER2/neu are effective targets for
the biological therapy drug, trastuzumab (Herceptin).
Hormones
Chemicals produced by glands in the body, which produce specific
effects on specific target organs and tissues.
Hormone
Receptors
Specific proteins on breast cells that hormones attach to. A high
number of hormone receptors often indicates that a cancer cell
needs the hormone to grow.
Hormone-Receptor
Status
Indicator of a breast cancer's need for hormones to grow. A hormone-receptor
positive cancer needs hormones to grow. A hormone-receptor negative
cancer does not need hormones to grow. See Hormone Receptor.
Hormonal
Therapy
Treatment that works by keeping cancer cells from getting the
hormones they need to grow.
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Immunotherapy
See Biological Therapy.
Immunohistochemistry
(IHC)
A laboratory test performed on tumor tissue to detect the amount
of a specific genetic protein in the cancer calls.
Implant,
Breast
An "envelope" containing silicone, saline or both, used
to restore breast form.
Incidence
The number of new cases of a disease that develop in a specific
time period.
Incisional
Biopsy
Surgical biopsy that removes only part of the tumor, usually done
on advanced or large tumors.
Indemnity
Policy
Prepayment insurance plan providing services or cash indemnities
for medical care needed in times of illness or disability.
Induction
Chemotherapy (Primary Chemotherapy, Preoperative Chemotherapy
or Neoadjuvant Therapy)
Chemotherapy used as a first treatment, often used for large or
advanced cancers to shrink tumors before surgery.
Informed
Consent (risks and benefits)
The process through which a patient learns about the possible
benefits and side effects of a recommended treatment plan and
then accepts or declines the treatment. The patient is usually
asked to sign a consent document, and may decide to stop the treatment
at any time and receive other available medical care.
In
Situ Cancer
See Carcinoma In Situ.
Integrated
Therapy
See Complementary Therapy.
Intraductal
Within the milk duct. Intraductal can describe a benign or malignant
process.
Intraductal
Hyperplasia
An excess of cells growing within the breast's milk ducts.
Intravenous
Being within or entering the body by way of the veins.
Invasive
Cancer
Cancer that has spread from the original location into the surrounding
breast tissue and possibly into the lymph nodes and other parts
of the body.
Investigational
New Drug (new experimental treatment)
A chemical or biological drug that has been approved for use by
clinical investigators in research trials but which is not yet
available for commercial use.
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Lactation
The process of producing milk and breastfeeding a child.
Lactic
Acid
Substance produced as waste by cancer cell metabolism.
Large
Veins (Deep Veins)
The large veins deep inside the legs that carry blood from the
lower limbs back to the heart.
Lesions
Area of abnormal tissue.
Linear
Accelerator
The device used during radiation therapy to direct X-rays into
the body.
Liver
Scan
An image of the liver that can show the presence or absence of
a tumor. Radioisotope tracer is injected into the blood stream.
This tracer will travel to the liver and collect there, especially
in abnormal places that can be detected by a scanner.
Lobular
Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS)
A type of carcinoma in situ where the cells originate mainly in
the lobules of the breast.
Lobular
Neoplasia In Situ
See Lobular Carcinoma In Situ.
Lobules
Spherical-shaped sacs in the breast that produce milk.
Local
Anesthetic
Anesthesia that only numbs the cells in a specific area.
Local
Treatment
Treatment that focuses on getting rid of the cancer from a limited
(local) area. In breast cancer, this would be the breast, the
chest wall and lymph nodes in the armpit (axillary nodes).
Localized
Breast Cancer
Cancer that is contained in the breast and has not spread to surrounding
tissue, lymph nodes or other organs.
Locally
Advanced Breast Cancer
Cancer that has spread beyond the breast to the skin or chest
wall, but not to distant organs like the lungs and liver. The
term is commonly associated with stage III cancer. It also refers
to a tumor that is > 5 cm (about 2”).
Lump
Any kind of mass in the breast or elsewhere in the body.
Lumpectomy
Surgery that removes only part of the breast-the part containing
and closely surrounding the cancerous tumor.
Lymphatic
System
The network of lymph nodes and vessels throughout the body.
Lymphedema
The swelling of the arm due to poor draining of lymph fluid that
can occur after surgery to remove lymph nodes or after radiation
therapy to the area.
Lymph
Nodes (Lymph Glands)
Small clumps of immune cells that act as filters for the lymphatic
system. Clusters of lymph nodes are found in the underarms, groin,
neck, chest and abdomen.
Lymph
Node Status
Indicator of whether or not cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
Lymph node-positive means that cancer has spread to the lymph
nodes. Lymph node-negative means that cancer has NOT spread to
the lymph nodes.
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Macrobiotics
Complementary dietary therapy based on the ancient Eastern concepts
of yin and yang. It encourages largely vegetarian, organic foods
and defines specific methods of preparation.
Malignant
Cancerous.
Mammary
Ducts
See Duct.
Mammary
Duct Ectasia
A noncancerous breast condition resulting from the inflammation
and enlargement of the ducts behind the nipple. Generally women
do not experience any symptoms, however, calcifications seen on
a mammogram may indicate its presence. No treatment is necessary
if the woman is not experiencing any symptoms (burning, pain or
itching of the nipple area).
Mammary
Glands
The breast glands that produce and carry milk, by way of ducts,
to the nipples during pregnancy.
Mammogram
An X-ray of the breast.
Margins
The area of normal tissue surrounding the cancerous tumor after
it has been removed during surgery. A margin is clean (also known
as uninvolved or negative) if there is only normal tissue (and
no cancer cells) at the edges of the tissue removed. Clean margins
indicate that the entire tumor was removed. With involved (also
known as positive) margins, normal tissue does not completely
surround the tumor, and therefore the entire tumor was not removed.
Mastectomy
Surgical removal of the breast. The exact procedure depends on
the patient's diagnosis. See Total Mastectomy and Modifed
Radical Mastectomy.
Mastitis
An inflammation of the breast usually occurring during lactation.
Symptoms include pain, nipple discharge, fever and redness and/or
hardness over an area of the breast.
Melatonin
Hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain, an important
part of the body's internal timing system.
Menarche
The first menstrual period.
Menopause
The ending of the normal menstrual cycle in women. It occurs most
frequently in the late forties or early fifties.
Meta-analysis
A method for taking the results reported in a group of studies
and 'averaging' them in a certain way to come up with a single,
summary result.
Metabolized
The chemical process whereby drugs and food are broken down by
the body.
Metastasis
Spread of the cancer to other organs through the lymphatic and/or
circulatory system.
Microcalcifications
Small, clustered deposits of calcium in the breast, which may
be seen on a mammogram. These may or may not be associated with
a breast lump. Approximately 20 to 25 percent represent breast
cancer.
Modified
Radical Mastectomy
Surgical removal of the breast, the lining of the chest muscles
and some of the lymph nodes in the armpit. Used to treat early
and locally advanced breast cancer.
Monoclonal
Antibodies
Immune proteins that locate and bind to cancer cells wher-ever
they are in the body. They are used alone, or are used to deliver
drugs, toxins or radioactive material directly to tumor cells.
Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is an example of a monoclonal antibody
used to treat breast cancer.
MRI
(Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
An imaging technique that uses a magnet linked to a computer to
create detailed pictures of parts of the body like the liver,
brain, lung, chest or any other organ suspected of having cancer.
Multifocal
Tumors
Multiple tumors.
Multimodality
Therapy
Use of two or more treatment methods (i.e., surgery, radiation
therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy) in combination or sequentially
to achieve optimal results.
Mutation
See Gene Mutation.
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Needle Localization
Insertion of a very thin wire into an abnormal area of the breast,
used to highlight the location of a nonpalpable lesion so that
it can be removed during open biopsy or breast conserving surgery.
Neoadjuvant
Therapy
See Induction Chemotherapy.
Neoplasia
Abnormal growth.
Neoplasm
Excessive number of cells in a mass that can be either benign
or malignant.
Nested
Case-control Study
A case-control study performed within a prospective cohort study.
The major advantage of a nested case-control study over a regular
case-control study is that the exposure measures of interest (for
example, diet or alcohol use) are obtained before any of the participants
developed disease, making them less subject to bias.
Nonpalpable
Lesion
Breast lump or abnormality that cannot be felt but that can be
detected on a mammogram.
Nucleus
The part of a cell that contains the genetic material DNA.
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Observational
Study
A research study where participants live their daily lives as
usual and report their activities to researchers.
Odds
Ratio
Quantitative measure reported in case-control studies that describes
the increase or decrease in risk associated with a specific risk
factor. An odds ratio is interpreted in the same way as a relative
risk, though calculated differently.
Oncologist
The doctor who is responsible for planning and overseeing treatment
of cancer.
Medical Oncologist: A physician specializing
in the treatment of cancer using chemotherapy and hormonal therapy.
Radiation Oncologist: A physician specializing
in the treatment of cancer using high energy X-rays.
Surgical Oncologist: A physician specializing
in the treatment of cancer using surgical procedures.
One-step
Procedure
A method for diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. The biopsy
is performed under general anesthesia. If cancer is confirmed
by frozen section examination, a surgeon will then proceed with
definitive surgical treatment. It should be noted that this is
no longer the standard procedure unless the woman is informed
and consents in advance to a one-step procedure.
Oophorectomy
Surgical removal of the ovaries.
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Palliative
Therapy (Palliation)
A treatment that may relieve symptoms (like pain) without curing
the disease.
Palpable
Mass
Breast lumps or abnormalities that can be felt during a clinical
breast examination.
Palpation
To examine, using the hands and fingers.
Partial
Mastectomy (Breast Conserving Therapy, Lumpectomy, Wide Excision,
or Excisional Biopsy)
Surgery that removes only the part of the breast containing and
closely surrounding the cancer tumor.
Pathologist
The doctor who microscopically evaluates the breast tissue and
lymph nodes removed during biopsy or surgery.
Permanent
Section
A method used for final tissue diagnosis. After overnight tissue
processing, thin slices of tissue are mounted on a slide and examined
microscopically by a pathologist. These sections are of better
quality than the frozen section, and are used for final pathological
diagnosis. It generally takes three working days to receive this
final report.
Pituitary
Gland
A part of the brain that regulates growth and other glands in
the body, such as the ovaries.
Pooled
Analysis
A method for collecting all individual data from a group of studies,
combining them into one large set of data, and then analyzing
the data as if it came from one big study.
Predictive
Factors
Factors, such as hormone receptor status, which help predict the
kind of treatment that will be most effective for a specific cancer
case.
Predispose
To make more susceptible to a disease.
Premenopausal
Women
Women who have regular periods.
Preoperative
Chemotherapy
See Induction Chemotherapy.
Prevalence
rate
The proportion (percentage) of individuals in a population who
have a particular disease, behavior or characteristic at a specified
point in time.
Prevention
The elimination of causes of disease from the population, so that
risk of disease is either eliminated (as in the case of many infectious
diseases today), or postponed until later in life (with heart
disease and various cancers).
Primary
Chemotherapy
See Induction Chemotherapy.
Primary
Tumor
The original cancer in the breast.
Progesterone
An antiestrogenic steroid.
Prognosis
The expected or probable outcome or course of a disease; the chance
of recovery.
Prognostic
Factors
Factors-such as tumor type, size and grade-that help to determine
a woman's prognosis.
Progesterone
Receptor
See Hormone Receptor.
Proliferative
Rapidly growing and increasing in number.
Prophylactic
Mastectomy
Preventive surgery where one breast or both breasts are removed
in order to keep cancer from developing. When both breasts are
removed, the procedure is called bilateral prophylactic mastectomy.
Prospective
Study
An observational study that follows people forward in time. See
Cohort Study.
Prosthetic,
Breast
An artificial breast form that can be worn under clothing after
a mastectomy.
Protocol
An outline or plan for use of an experimental drug, treatment
or procedure in cancer therapy or diagnosis.
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Quadrantectomy
Surgery where one quadrant or 25% of the breast is removed. See
Breast Conserving Surgery.
Quantiles
Categories of an exposure based on equal divisions of the total
number of people in the study. When the total number of people
is divided into thirds, the categories are called tertiles. When
the total number of people is divided into quarters, the categories
are called quartiles.
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RAD
(dose of radiation)
Abbreviation for "radiation absorbed dose." This term
describes the amount of radiation absorbed by the tissues. One
RAD is equal to one centigray.
Radiation
Therapy (Radiotherapy)
Treatment given by a radiation oncologist using moderate-dose
radiation to kill or damage cancer cells in the area exposed.
Radical
Mastectomy (Halsted Radical)
Surgical removal of the breast, chest muscles and underarm lymph
nodes. Procedure has been replaced by less extensive mastectomy
procedures.
Radiologist
The radiologist oversees and reads any X-rays, mammograms or other
scans related to diagnosis or follow-up. In general, radiologists
specialize in creating and interpreting pictures of areas inside
the body. Radiologists also perform needle biopsy and wire localization
procedures.
Randomized
Controlled Trials
Studies where researchers intervene to change some participants'
behavior; to provide a particular therapy to see how it affects
their health. These studies are called randomized controlled trials
because the participants are randomly assigned (as if by coin
toss) to either an intervention group (such as one taking a chemoprevention
drug) or a control group (taking an inactive placebo).
Reconstruction
A way to recreate the breast's shape after a natural breast has
been removed. Various procedures are available, some of which
involve the use of implants. May also be referred to as reconstruction
mammoplasty.
Recurrence
Return of cancer. Local recurrence is the return of cancer to
the same breast or chest wall. Distant recurrence is the return
of cancer to another location, such as lungs or liver.
Regression
The shrinking of a tumor.
Relative
Risk
Quantitative measure used to describe the increase (or decrease)
in risk associated with a specific risk factor. A relative risk
is the ratio of two absolute risks: the numerator is the absolute
risk among those with the risk factor, while the denominator is
the absolute risk among those without the risk factor.
Remission
A temporary or permanent disappearance of the signs and symptoms
of cancer.
Risk
(of Disease)
Probability of disease developing in an individual during a specified
time period.
Risk-Benefit
Ratio
The relationship between the possible (or expected) side effects
and benefits of a recommended treatment or procedure.
Risk
Factor
Any factor-from a lifestyle choice (such as diet) to genetic make-up
to an environmental exposure (such as radiation), that increases
or decreases a person's risk of developing a certain disease.
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Schedules
The different combinations and timing for chemotherapy and other
drugs.
Screening
A test or procedure used to detect cancer or a pre-cancerous condition
in an apparently healthy person without symptoms.
Screening
Mammogram
Screening mammography is used to identify early signs of breast
cancer in a woman who is not currently having any breast problems
or symptoms. This procedure involves two X-ray views of each breast.
Second
Primary Tumor
A second breast cancer that arises in a different location from
the first. Different from a local recurrence, which is the return
of the first breast cancer.
Selection
Criteria
In relation to a summary table, the specific standards (such as
study design and number of participants) that a study has to meet
to be included in a table.
Sensitivity
The proportion (or percentage) of people who truly have the condition
of interest who 'test positive' for that condition.
Sentinel
Node Biopsy
The surgical removal and examination of the sentinel node (first
node filtering lymph fluid from the tumor site) to see if the
node contains cancer cells.
Silicone
Gel
Medical-grade silicone rubber gel, which can be used in breast
implants and is similar to the consistency of the normal breast.
Simple
Mastectomy
See Total Mastectomy.
Simulator
(for Radiation Therapy)
A clinical X-ray unit used to define the exact treatment area
for radiation therapy.
Sonogram
See Ultrasound.
S-Phase
Fraction
Examination of cancer cells to see how many are in the process
of dividing DNA at any one time.
Specificity
The proportion (or percentage) of people who truly do NOT have
the condition of interest who 'test negative' for that condition.
Staging
Performing exams and tests to learn the extent of the cancer within
the body. Knowing a cancer's stage helps determine what treatment
is necessary and how effective this treatment may be in getting
rid of the disease and prolonging life.
Standard
Treatment
The usual treatment currently in widespread use and
considered to be of proven effectiveness on the basis of previous
experience.
Statistical
Significance
A statistical concept indicating that the result of a study is
very unlikely due to chance and, therefore, likely represents
a true relationship between a risk factor and a disease of interest.
Stereotactic
Needle Biopsy
Core needle biopsy performed with the use of stereotactic mammography.
Stereotactic
Mammography
Three-dimensional mammography used when taking a needle biopsy
of a breast abnormality that can't be felt.
Systemic
Treatment
Treats the whole body with substances that travel through the
bloodstream and affect cancer cells all over the body.
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Tamoxifen
(Nolvadex)
Drug that is used to treat both early and advanced stage breast
cancer. Taken in pill form, tamoxifen blocks the hormone estrogen
from cancer cells that are estrogen receptor-positive, therefore
preventing their growth.
Targeted
Therapy
Drug therapies designed to attack specific molecular agents or
pathways involved in the development of cancer.
Total
Mastectomy (Simple Mastectomy)
Surgical removal of the breast but no other tissue or nodes. Used
for the treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ and, in some instances,
recurrent breast cancer. Also the procedure used in prophylactic
mastectomy.
Tumor
An abnormal growth or mass of tissue that may be benign (noncancerous)
or malignant (cancerous).
Tumor
Grade
Describes how closely a cancer resembles normal tissue. The higher
the grade, the less it resembles normal tissue, and the faster
the cancer's rate of growth is likely to be.
Two-step
Procedure
Biopsy and further surgical treatment performed at two separate
times.
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Ultrasound
Diagnostic test that uses sound waves to create images of tissues
and organs. Tissues of different densities reflect sound waves
differently.
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Wedge
Excision
This surgical procedure involves the removal of a portion of the
breast tissue, however, the amount is not specified. It is important
that the woman clarify with her surgeon the extent of breast tissue
removal. See Breast Conserving Surgery.
Wire
Localization
See Needle Localization.
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X-ray
Radiation that can be useful, at low levels, in the diagnosis
of cancer and, at high levels, in its treatment.
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