Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer terms

1. Acini (as ih' nie) the grape-like structure in the lobules of the breasts that produce milk.
2. Adenosis (ad" eh no' sis) any disease of the glands.
3. Adjuvant (ad'-joo vunt) therapy is cancer treatment given after the primary tumor has been removed by some other method.
4. Adrenal androgrens ((uh-dree'-nul an'-dro-junz) steroids synthesized by the adrenal cortex that promote masculinization.
5. Alveoli (al-VEE-oh-ly) Tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles in the lungs.
6. Anesthesia A loss of feeling or awareness caused by drugs or other substances. Anesthesia keeps patients from feeling pain during surgery or other procedures.
7. Aneuploid (an you ployd') describes an abnormal (not normal) amount of DNA in cells.
8. Apocrine Metaplasia (ay'-po-krin meh"-tuh-play'-shuh) occurs when tubules of the breast change from their normal epithelium (tissue) to that of an apocrine sweat gland.
9. Areola (a-REE-o-la) The area of dark-colored skin on the breast that surrounds the nipple.
10. Aspiration (as-per-AY-shun) Removal of fluid or tissue through a needle. Also, the accidental breathing in of food or fluid into the lungs.
11. Atypical (a-tip'ih-kul) irregular; not conformable to the type; an unusual type.
12. Axilla (ak-SIL-a) The underarm or armpit.
13. benign (beh-NINE) Not cancerous. Benign tumors may grow larger but do not spread to other parts of the body.
14. Benign breast disease (beh-NINE brest dih-ZEEZ) A common condition marked by benign (noncancerous) changes in breast tissue.
15. Bilateral Affecting both the right and left sides of the body.
16. biopsy (BY-op-see) The removal of cells or tissues for examination by a pathologist. The pathologist may study the tissue under a microscope or perform other…
17. Bulbs (bulbz) [of breast ] the grape-like structure in the lobules of the breasts that produce milk.
18. Calcifications or Microcalcifications (cal-sih-fih-cay"-shuns) are a finding reported on mammograms. They are an indicator of increased in breast activity in some cells.
19. Cancer (KAN-ser) A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the…
20. cancer registry A state agency that collects information about cancer cases.
21. Cardiovascular (KAR-dee-oh-VAS-kyoo-ler) Having to do with the heart and blood vessels.
22. Chemotherapy (KEE-moh-THAYR-uh-pee) Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.
23. Chromosome (KROH-muh-some) Part of a cell that contains genetic information. Except for sperm and eggs, all human cells contain 46 chromosomes.
24. Chronic cystic mastitis see Fibrocystic breasts.
25. Clinical Having to do with the examination and treatment of patients.
26. Colostrum (kuh-los'trum) the thin, yellow, milky fluid secreted by the mammary gland before or after delivery of an infant.
27. Comedocarcinoma (koh-mee'-do car sih no mah) is a type of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ in which some of the cancers cells in the duct begin to die and break down (degenerate).
28. Computed Tomography (kom pyoo' ted to-mog' ruh fee) (CT Scan) the recording of internal body images at a predetermined plane by means of the tomograph.
29. contraindications (con'truh in dih ca" shuns) reasons not to take a drug or undergo a treatment.
30. Core (Kor) the central part of anything, such as the central mass of necrotic matter in a boil.
31. Cyst (sist) a sac or capsule in the body. It may be filled with fluid or other material.
32. DCIS A noninvasive condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lining of a breast duct.
33. diagnose Doctors look at many things to find out if you have breast cancer. For example, they look at different physical signs, ask questions about your symptoms…
34. Diagnosis The process of identifying a disease from its signs and symptoms using patient history, examination, and laboratory and other test results.
35. Differientiated (dif fer ren' che ay ted) tumor cells look very similar to normal cells. Pathologists look to see if tumor cells are well differentiated or poorly…
36. Diffuse cystic mastopathy See Fibrocystic breasts
37. Diploidy (dih ploy' dee) is a normal amount of DNA in cells.
38. Disease A disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors…
39. DNA cytometry (si tom" eh tree') is a test sometimes used to help predict the aggressiveness of a tumor.
40. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid substances in the body that make up the genes and carry gentic (inherited) information.
41. Duct Ectasia (duct eck-tay'-shuh) is a type of non-proliferative fibrocystic change. It is associated with a mass that can be felt around the nipple area.
42. Ductal Carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (duck'-tul kar-sin-oh'-ma in si'-too) (also called Intraductal Carcinoma ) is noninvasive, which means that is has not spread out of the milk ducts to…
43. Ducts (milk) the part of the breast that carries the milk to the nipple.
44. Edema (eh-DEE-ma) Swelling caused by excess fluid in body tissues.
45. Endometrial (EN-doh-MEE-tree-ul) Having to do with the endometrium (the layer of tissue that lines the uterus).
46. Estrogen A type of hormone made by the body that helps develop and maintain female sex characteristics and the growth of long bones.
47. Fatigue A condition marked by extreme tiredness and inability to function due lack of energy. Fatigue may be acute or chronic.
48. Fibroadenoma (FY-broh-a-deh-NOH-muh) A benign (noncancerous) tumor that usually forms in the breast from both fibrous and glandular tissue.
49. Fibrocystic breasts (fi"bro-sis'tik brest) characterized by the development of cystic (fluid filled) sacs and overgrowth of fibrous tissue in the breasts.
50. Fibrocystic disease See Fibrocystic breasts
51. Flow cytometry A method of measuring the number of cells in a sample, the percentage of live cells in a sample, and certain characteristics of cells, such as size…
52. Fore milk (for milk) the high protein milk produced at the beginning of the feeding.
53. Fracture (frack'chur)a broken bone.
54. Genetic (jeh-NEH-tik) Inherited; having to do with information that is passed from parents to offspring through genes in sperm and egg cells.
55. Glial cells (glee'-ul sells) branched cells that make up the supporting structure of the nervous (brain & spinal cord) tissue.
56. Gynecomastia (guy'neh-co-mast"ee-uh) a condition in which firm breast tissue or breast enlargement occurs in males.
57. HER-2/neu or Herceptin (R) See Monoclonal antibody
58. Hind milk (hind milk) the high fat milk produced at the end of the feeding.
59. hormone (HOR-mone) One of many chemicals made by glands in the body. Hormones circulate in the bloodstream and control the actions of certain cells or organs.
60. Hot flashes A sudden flow of the blood through the skin, which makes a woman feel a hot flush and a sensation of warmth.
61. Hyperplasia (HY-per-PLAY-zhuh) An abnormal increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue.
62. Image cytometry (si tom" eh tree') uses computers to analyze digital images of the cells on a microscope slide.
63. Immune (im-myoon') System is the complex group of organs and cells that defends the body against infections and other diseases.
64. Implant radiation (ray dee AY' shun) is a procedure in which radioactive material sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters is placed directly into or near a tumor.
65. In situ (in si'too) the natural or normal place; confined to the site of origin without invasion or spread to neighboring tissues.
66. Incision (in-SIH-zhun) A cut made in the body to perform surgery.
67. Infection Invasion and multiplication of germs in the body. Infections can occur in any part of the body and can spread throughout the body.
68. Inflammatory Having to do with inflammation (redness, swelling, pain, and a feeling of heat that helps protect tissues affected by injury or disease).
69. Intraductal (in truh duck" tul) having to do with inside the milk duct(s).
70. Invasive (in-va'siv) having the ability to enter and spread throughout the tissues of the body; the ability to infiltrate and actively destroy surrounding tissue.
71. Klinefelter's syndrome (Kline'-fell-terz sin'-drom) a congential (present at birth) condition that affects 1 out of every 850 men.
72. Lactiferous ducts (lack tih' fer us)the part of the breast that carries the milk to the nipple.
73. Lactiferous sinuses (lack-tih'-fer-us si'-nus-sehz)the part of the breast that collects the milk and holds it until it is released through the nipple.
74. leukemia (loo-KEE-mee-uh) Cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of blood cells to be produced and enter the…
75. Lobes (lobz) overlapping sections in the breast that contain the lobules.
76. Lobule (LOB-yule) A small lobe or a subdivision of a lobe.
77. Localized Restricted to the site of origin, without evidence of spread.
78. Lumpectomy (lum-PEK-toh-mee) Surgery to remove the tumor and a small amount of normal tissue around it.
79. Lymph (limf) a transparent, slightly yellow liquid found in the lymphatic vessels.
80. Lymph Node A small rounded or bean-shaped mass of lymphatic tissue that helps the body's immune system.
81. Lymph vessels (limf veh'-sels) tubes in the body that carry the lymph fluid.
82. Lymphatic mapping (lim-FA-tik ...) The use of dyes and radioactive substances to identify lymph nodes that may contain tumor cells. Also called lymph node mapping.
83. Lymphedema (LIM-fuh-DEE-muh) A condition in which excess fluid collects in tissue and causes swelling.
84. Malignant (muh-LIG-nunt) Cancerous. Malignant tumors can invade and destroy nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.
85. Mammary dysplasia (MA-muh-ree dis-PLAY-zhuh) A common condition marked by benign (noncancerous) changes in breast tissue.
86. Mammogram (MAM-o-gram) An x-ray of the breast.
87. Margins (mar' jinz) the distance between the edge of the tissue sample removed and abnormal cells.
88. Mastectomy (ma-STEK-toh-mee) Surgery to remove the breast (or as much of the breast tissue as possible).
89. Medical Oncologist (MEH-dih-kul on-KAH-loh-jist) A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer using chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and biological therapy.
90. Menopausal (men'o-pawz"ul) describes the time of life when the ovaries stop making estrogen.
91. Menopause (MEH-nuh-PAWZ) The time of life when a woman's menstrual periods stop. A woman is in menopause when she hasn't had a period for 12 months in a row.
92. Menses (men'sees) the monthly flow of blood from the genital tract of women. Also called menstruating or the period.
93. Metaplasia A change of cells to a form that does not normally occur in the tissue in which it is found.
94. metastases When cancer spreads to another location in the body. For example, if breast cancer cells spread to the bone, this is called a "breast cancer metastasis."
95. metastasis (meh-TAS-tuh-sis) The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another. A tumor formed by cells that have spread is called a "metastatic tumor" or a…
96. Metastatic (meh-tuh-STA-tik) Having to do with metastasis, which is the spread of cancer from one part of the body to another.
97. Microcalcifications or calcifications (mi'-crow-cal-sih-fih-cay"-shuns) are a finding reported on mammograms. They are an indicator of increased in breast activity in some cells.
98. monoclonal antibody (MAH-noh-KLOH-nul AN-tih-BAH-dee) A type of protein made in the laboratory that can locate and bind to substances in the body, including tumor cells.
99. Montgomery Glands (mont-gum'-er-ee glandz) bumps on the areola that secrete a protective lubricant which prepares the breast for breastfeeding.
100. Mucin (myou' sin) a protein-containing substance that composes the main component of mucus, the slimy fluid secreted from mucous membranes.