Breast Cancer Terms and Definitions

You will have a lot to learn and many decisions to make if you’re diagnosed with breast cancer.

Don’t get lost in unfamiliar breast cancer jargon; instead, use this glossary as your reference guide for breast cancer facts and information.

Adenocarcinoma:

The most common type of breast cancer, which begins in glandular tissues of the breast.

Adjuvant Therapy:

Additional therapy used in conjunction with another treatment; for example, using hormone therapy or chemotherapy in addition to surgery to treat breast cancer.

Aromatase inhibitors:

Newer drugs used to treat breast cancer; they reduce estrogen production and are considered a type of hormone therapy.

Aspiration:

Procedure that uses a needle to remove fluid from a lump.

Atypical hyperplasia:

Benign breast condition in which there are abnormalities of the breast; though not cancer, it is a risk factor for breast cancer.

Axillary:

Located in the armpit.

Benign:

Non-cancerous; a benign tumor means there is no cancer present.

Biological therapy (immunotherapy):

A type of breast cancer treatment that boosts the body’s immune system and increases its ability to fight cancer.

Biopsy:

Diagnostic procedure that involves removing a small sample of suspicious tissue to determine whether or not it is cancerous; a suspicious breast lump will be biopsied to look for cancer cells.

BRCA1 and BRCA2:

The two genes that, when mutated, are the cause of most inherited forms of breast and ovarian cancers.

Carcinoma:

Type of cancer that originates in the cells that form the lining of a gland or organ.

Chemotherapy:

Type of cancer treatment that involves drugs to destroy cancer cells. It’s often used in conjunction with other forms of breast cancer treatment.

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Cyst:

A lump that’s made of a small, fluid-filled sac.

Duct:

Tubes located in the breast that allow milk to reach the nipple for breastfeeding.

Ductal carcinoma in situ:

Breast cancer that is confined to the milk ducts in the breast.

Estrogen:

The hormone produced by the ovaries that gives women characteristics of the female sex. Estrogen is thought to encourage breast cancer cell growth.

Lymph nodes:

Small solid organs (sometimes erroneously referred to as “glands”) in the body that help to protect against foreign substances like bacteria. Breast cancer that has affected the lymph nodes may mean that the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body beyond the breast.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI):

Diagnostic imaging test that provides three-dimensional views of the breast and any abnormalities.

Localized cancer:

Cancer confined to one area (in this case, the breast) that hasn’t spread elsewhere in the body.

Lumpectomy:

Breast cancer surgery to remove the breast cancer lump and some surrounding tissue rather than the entire breast.

Estrogen receptor test:

A diagnostic laboratory test used to determine if a breast cancer is using estrogen to grow and if hormone therapy should be the treatment course.

Hormone therapy (hormonal therapy):

Breast cancer treatment that uses hormones to either promote or inhibit the effects of certain hormones on the cancerous tissue.

Lymph nodes:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI):

Diagnostic imaging test that provides three-dimensional views of the breast and any abnormalities.

Tumor:

An abnormal mass that can be benign or malignant.

Ultrasonography:

Diagnostic test for breast cancer that uses very high-frequency sound waves to help spot a tumor or breast abnormality. The sound waves are converted into a video or photo, which can indicate a tumor.

Tamoxifen:

Hormonal treatment in pill form used to treat breast cancer that is sensitive to estrogen. It’s also used as a preventive therapy in women who have many risk factors for developing breast cancer.

TNM system:

Classification of breast cancer based on three assessments — T for tumor size, N for lymph node involvement, and M for presence or absence of metastatic spread. The TMN classification aids in staging the cancer for making treatment decisions.

Stage:

Breast cancer is staged from 0 to IV, according to how large a tumor is and how advanced the cancer is — if and how far it has spread throughout the body. The lower the stage, the less advanced the breast cancer.

Systemic therapy:

Breast cancer treatment that affects the entire body, such as chemotherapy.

Radiation therapy:

Type of cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation (X-rays).

Remission:

Term used when no signs of cancer are apparent after treatment.

Oncologist:

Medical professional who specializes in cancer (oncology). There are many different oncology specialists, including radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, and medical oncologists, each focused on that particular area of cancer treatment.

Raloxifene:

Hormonal therapy drug that is very effective in reducing breast cancer risk.

Microcalcifications:

Calcium deposits that are too small to be felt, but can be spotted on a mammogram; some may indicate breast cancer.

Needle biopsy:

Diagnostic test using a needle to draw a tissue sample, performed under the guidance of mammography or ultrasound. The sample can then be tested for cancer.

Mastectomy:

The surgical removal of a breast; in a double mastectomy, both breasts are removed.

Metastasize:

The spread of cancer beyond its initial site; if breast cancer has metastasized, it has spread beyond the breasts to other parts of the body.

Malignant:

Cancerous, as in a malignant tumor.

Mammography:

Diagnostic screening technique using X-ray images to detect breast cancer or other abnormalities.

Xeloda:

Brand name of the oral chemotherapy drug capecitabine, a hormonal therapy treatment for advanced breast cancer.

You will have a lot to learn and many decisions to make if you’re diagnosed with breast cancer.

Adenocarcinoma:

Adjuvant Therapy:

Aromatase inhibitors:

Aspiration:

Atypical hyperplasia:

Axillary:

Benign:

Biological therapy (immunotherapy):

Biopsy:

BRCA1 and BRCA2:

Carcinoma:

Chemotherapy:

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Cyst:

Duct:

Ductal carcinoma in situ:

Estrogen:

Lymph nodes:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI):

Localized cancer:

Lumpectomy:

Estrogen receptor test:

Hormone therapy (hormonal therapy):

Lymph nodes:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI):

Tumor:

Ultrasonography:

Tamoxifen:

TNM system:

Stage:

Systemic therapy:

Radiation therapy:

Remission:

Oncologist:

Raloxifene:

Microcalcifications:

Needle biopsy:

Mastectomy:

Metastasize:

Malignant:

Mammography:

Xeloda:

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