Breast Cancer Glossary
A plain-language guide to words you may hear during diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. If you don’t see a term you’re looking for, contact us, and we’ll help.*
Absolute risk – Risk is the chance that something will happen to you during a certain period of time. It is the number of people who would have the event if 100 people were observed. It is written as a percent (%). For instance, your risk of getting a disease in the next 5 years might be 3%. If you have the disease, your risk of dying from it in the next 10 years might be 20%. Your risk is based on studies of people who are similar to you.
Acupuncture – Use of very thin needles inserted at precise points on the body. It may help control pain and other side effects of breast cancer treatment or the cancer itself. It is a type of complementary or integrative therapy.
Adjuvant Therapy – Treatment given after the main treatment (usually surgery) to lower the chance that cancer comes back. This can include chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, or targeted therapy.
Advanced cancer / Metastatic cancer – Cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs, or brain. Also called stage IV or metastatic breast cancer.
Aesthetic Flat Closure – Surgery done after a mastectomy to create a smooth chest wall that appears flat. Extra skin, fat and other tissue in the breast area may be removed. This surgery is an option for people who wish to “go flat” after a mastectomy. It may also be done if a breast implant is removed (an implant that was part of breast reconstruction after a mastectomy).
Alopecia – Alopecia means hair loss. Almost all breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy experience this temporary side effect from anthracyclines and taxanes.
Alternative Therapy – Any therapy used instead of standard medical treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Alternative therapies are different from complementary and integrative therapies, which are used in addition to standard treatments. Alternative therapies have not been shown to be effective in treating breast cancer, so it’s not safe to use them.
Amenorrhea – The absence or stopping of menstrual periods.
Anesthesia – Loss of feeling or sensation that keeps a person from feeling pain during surgery or other medical procedures. Local or regional anesthesia may be used for a specific part of the body, such as the breast, by injection of a drug into the area. General anesthesia numbs the entire body and puts a person to sleep with drugs that are inhaled or injected into a vein.
Aneuploid (DNA Ploidy) – The presence of an abnormal number of chromosomes in cancer cells.
Angiogenesis – Blood vessel formation. Tumor angiogenesis is the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow. This is caused by the release of chemicals by the tumor.
Anthracyclines – A class of chemotherapy frequently used in breast cancer. These drugs work by damaging the DNA. Examples include Doxorubicin (Adriamycin), Epirubicin (Ellence) and Liposomal Doxorubicin (Doxil).
Antibody – A protein made by white blood cells that’s part of the body’s immune system. Each antibody binds to a certain antigen (foreign substance, such as bacteria) and helps the body fight the antigen.
Antibody-Drug Conjugate – A combination of a HER2-targeted antibody drug and a chemotherapy drug. The combination allows the targeted delivery of chemotherapy to certain cancer cells. Ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla, T-DM1, trastuzumab emtansine) is an example of an antibody-drug conjugate used to treat breast cancer.
Antiemetic – A medicine that prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting.
Antigen – A substance that causes an immune response in the body. This immune response often involves making antibodies.
Architectural Distortion – A finding on a mammogram that describes an abnormal (distorted) shape or pattern of breast tissue, but no mass is seen. Although the breast tissue may be normal, this finding usually needs follow-up testing because it may be a sign of a benign (not cancer) breast condition or breast cancer.
Areola – The darkly shaded circle of skin around the nipple.
Aromatase inhibitor – A type of hormone therapy pill that lowers the amount of estrogen in the body, used mainly in postmenopausal women to reduce the risk of hormone-sensitive breast cancer returning.
Aspirate – To remove fluid and a small number of cells.
Asymmetry – Breast asymmetry refers to differences in size, shape, or tissue density between the two breasts, which is common and usually benign, though some cases may require further evaluation.
Autologous reconstruction – A general term for reconstructions using tissue from your own body. Examples include DIEP and TRAM flaps. If IBC patients desire reconstruction, delayed autologous methods are often the only options since implant procedures are difficult to do on radiated skin.
Axilla – Medical term for the armpit. There are lymph nodes there that are often the first sites of IBC spread beyond the breast, since the breast lymphatics drain to these nodes.
Axillary lymph node dissection – The part of the surgery in which the surgeon takes out all the lymph nodes under your arm on the side of the invasive cancer to properly stage your cancer.
Ayurveda – A complementary or integrative medical system from India that involves diet, exercise, meditation and massage. Ayurveda means “life-knowledge.”
Benign – Not cancerous. A benign lump or growth does not spread to other parts of the body.
Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy – Surgery where both breasts are removed to prevent breast cancer from developing.
Biological Therapy – A therapy that targets something specific to the biology of a 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).
Biomarker – Any molecule in your body that can be measured and can give information about your health.
Biopsy – A procedure where a small sample of tissue is removed and examined under a microscope to check for cancer cells.
Biosimilars – “Generic-like” versions of drugs containing biological products (such as antibodies) used for a variety of conditions and diseases, like breast cancer.
Bisphosphonates –Bone density medications used to help prevent bone loss (osteoporosis). These drugs can be used to lower the risk of breast cancer recurrence in some women with early breast cancer. They are also used to strengthen bones and decrease the rate of bone fractures and pain due to breast cancer metastases to the bone.
Bolus – A material that may be placed on the chest wall during radiation. The function of a bolus is to deposit more of the radiation dose in the skin versus deeper into the body. It can be made out of a plastic-type of material or other flexible material.
Boost – Additional dose of radiation to the part of the breast that had the tumor.
BRCA1 / BRCA2 – Genes that, when altered (mutated), significantly raise the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. A genetic counselor can help determine whether testing makes sense for you or your family.
Brachytherapy – A procedure that uses targeted radiation therapy from inside the tumor bed.
Breast-conserving surgery – See Lumpectomy.
Breast Density – A measure used to describe the relative amounts of fat and tissue in the breasts as seen on a mammogram.
Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS®) – A system developed by the American College of Radiology to provide a standard way to describe findings on a mammogram.
Breast Reconstruction – Surgery to restore the look and feel of the breast after mastectomy.
Breast Self-Examination (BSE) – A method that may help some women become familiar with the normal look and feel of their breasts. BSE is not recommended as a breast cancer screening tool because it has not been shown to decrease breast cancer death.
Breast Tomosynthesis (3D Digital Mammography, Digital Tomosynthesis) – A tool that uses a digital mammography machine to take multiple 2-dimensional (2D) X-ray images of the breast. Computer software combines the multiple 2D images into a 3-dimensional (3D) image.
Cachexia – Loss of appetite and weight.
Calcifications – Deposits of calcium in the breast that appear as bright, white spots on a mammogram. Most calcifications are not cancer. However, tight clusters or lines of tiny calcifications (called microcalcifications) can be a sign of breast cancer.
Carcinoma in Situ (in Situ Carcinoma) – Condition where abnormal cells are found in the milk ducts or lobules of the breast, but not in the surrounding breast tissue. In situ means “in place.” See ductal carcinoma in situ and lobular carcinoma in situ.
CDK4/6 Inhibitors – A class of drugs designed to interrupt the growth of cancer cells by blocking the enzymes CDK4 and CDK6 (important in cell division). Abemaciclib (Verzenio) is an example of a CDK4/6 inhibitor used to treat breast cancer.
Cellulitis – A bacterial infection that can arise in the arms or elsewhere that can increase the risk for lymphedema. The symptoms include swelling, red skin, pain/tenderness, warmth. Importantly the redness can quickly spread and lead to sepsis and possible death if left untreated. Antibiotics are required either by IV or orally. Visit your doctor or emergency room if you think you have cellulitis.
Centigray (Centigrays) – One centigray describes the amount of radiation absorbed by the body and is equivalent to 1 RAD (radiation absorbed dose).
Checkpoint Inhibitor – A type of immunotherapy drug that “takes the brakes off” the natural factors that limit how the immune system can control cancer cells. Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is an example of a checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy drug used to treat breast cancer.
Chemo brain – A constellation of long-term mental symptoms that arise in cancer survivors after chemotherapy, such as memory problems, difficulty concentrating, difficulty in multi-tasking and learning new skills. Although these symptoms are common, everyone is affected to a different degree.
Chemoprevention (Risk-Lowering Drugs) – A drug or combination of drugs used to lower the risk of breast cancer in women who do not have breast cancer, but are at higher risk.
Chemotherapy (“chemo”) – Medication that kills or slows the growth of cancer cells, often given through an IV. It can be used before surgery (to shrink a tumor) or after (to reduce the risk of recurrence).
Clinical trial – A research study that tests new treatments, drugs, or approaches to care. Participation is voluntary and is discussed with your medical team.
Complementary Therapies (Integrative Therapies) – Therapies (such as acupuncture or massage) used in addition to standard medical treatments. Complementary therapies are not used to treat cancer, but they may help improve quality of life and relieve some side effects of treatment or the cancer itself. When complementary therapies are combined with standard medical care, they are often called integrative therapies.
Complex Cyst – A fluid-filled sac. A breast ultrasound finds the cyst has thick walls and contains some solid matter. A biopsy is needed to confirm that a complex cyst is benign (not cancer).
Complicated Cyst – A fluid-filled sac. A breast ultrasound finds small echoes in the cyst, but the cyst only contains fluid. A biopsy may be done to confirm a complicated cyst is benign (not cancer).
Computer-Assisted Detection (CAD) – Software developed to help radiologists find suspicious areas on a mammogram.
Cording – A condition that may occur after surgery to the lymph nodes in the underarm area (axillary nodes). The lymph vessels that had been connected to the removed lymph nodes become tight and the tissue can thicken and look like cords under the skin. Cording can be treated.
Core needle biopsy – A biopsy method using a hollow needle to remove a small cylinder of tissue for testing.
Co-Survivor – A person who gives support to someone diagnosed with breast cancer, from the time of diagnosis through treatment and beyond. Co-survivors may include family members, spouses or partners, friends, health care providers and colleagues.
CPM – Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy – this is when a woman with a tumor in one breast chooses to have the non-diseased breast removed to prevent recurrence or a second breast cancer.
CTC – Circulating tumor cells. CTCs are a research tool currently, useful in determining metastatic potential and perhaps molecular targets for therapy.
Cumulative Risk – The sum of a person’s chances of developing a disease (such as breast cancer) over the course of a lifetime. For example, the cumulative (lifetime) risk of breast cancer for women is about 1 in 8 (or about 12 percent). This means for every 8 women, one will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime.
Cyst – A fluid-filled sac. See Simple Cyst, Complicated Cyst and Complex Cyst.
Cytopathologist – A pathologist who specializes in looking at individual cells. A cytopathologist is needed to interpret the results of a fine needle aspiration (fine needle biopsy).
Cytotoxic – Toxic, or deadly, to cells. Often used to describe chemotherapy.
De Novo Metastatic Breast Cancer – Breast cancer that is metastatic (stage IV) when it’s first diagnosed.
Definitive Surgery – All of the known tumor is removed and no follow-up surgery is needed.
Diagnosis – The identification of a disease based on test results, imaging, and symptoms.
Diagnostic Mammogram – A mammogram used to check symptoms of breast cancer (such as a lump) or an abnormal finding on a screening mammogram or clinical breast exam. It involves 2 or more views of the breast.
Diagnostic Radiologist (Radiologist) – A health care provider who specializes in the diagnosis of diseases using X-rays.
DIEP flap – DIEP stands for deep inferior epigastric perforator artery. It is a type of reconstruction using fat, skin, blood vessels from the lower abdomen, but no muscle tissue is used.
Diploid (DNA Ploidy) – The presence of a normal number of chromosomes in cancer cells.
Dose-Dense Therapy – Chemotherapy given over a shorter (more condensed) time period compared to standard therapy. The frequency of treatment sessions is increased, so the length of the treatment period is shortened.
Down-Staging – Lowering the stage of a cancer from its original stage (or the stage it was thought to be). Down-staging occurs most often after a good response to neoadjuvant therapy. Neoadjuvant therapy is chemotherapy or hormone therapy used as a first treatment (before surgery). Neoadjuvant therapy can shrink a tumor enough that it lowers the stage of the breast cancer and a lumpectomy, instead of a mastectomy, can be done.
Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) – A non-invasive, early-stage condition where abnormal cells are found in the lining of a milk duct but have not spread into surrounding breast tissue. Sometimes called “stage 0.”
Early Breast Cancer – Cancer that is contained in the breast or has only spread to lymph nodes in the underarm area. This term often describes stage I and stage II breast cancer.
Enzyme – A protein that speeds up biologic reactions in the body.
Epidemiology – The study of the causes and prevention of disease.
Estradiol – The most biologically active, naturally-occurring estrogen in women.
Estrogen – A female hormone produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands that’s important to reproduction. Some cancers need estrogen to grow.
Estrogen Receptors – Special proteins in cells that estrogen hormones attach to. A high number of estrogen receptors in a breast cancer cell often means the cancer cell needs estrogen to grow.
Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) – A term describing cancer cells that grow in response to the hormone estrogen. This affects which treatments — such as hormone therapy — are likely to help.
Excisional Biopsy – Surgical procedure that removes the entire abnormal area (plus some surrounding normal tissue) from the breast.
Expanders – Immediate reconstruction methods with a plan to insert an implant later involves placement of an expander under the skin during the mastectomy. This is then filled with saline slowly to expand the skin sufficiently over several months prior to the next surgery to exchange expanders with the final implant. In IBC due to the amount of radiation to the skin, this method is not recommended due to high rates of failure and complications.
False Negative – A test result that incorrectly reports a person is disease-free when she/he actually has the disease.
False Positive – A test result that incorrectly reports a person has a disease when she/he does not have the disease.
Family History (Family Medical History) – A record of the current and past health conditions of a person’s biological (blood-related) family members that may help show patterns of diseases within a family.
Fibroadenoma – A fibroadenoma is a solid breast lump. This breast lump is not cancer. A fibroadenoma happens most often between ages 15 and 35.
Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA, Fine Needle Biopsy) – A biopsy procedure that uses a thin, hollow needle to remove a sample of cells from the abnormal area of the breast.
First-line therapy – Initial treatment used to reduce a cancer. First-line therapy is followed by other treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy to get rid of cancer that remains. Also called induction therapy, primary therapy, and primary treatment.
Fitter (Certified Mastectomy Fitter) – A trained, certified professional who helps individuals find properly fitting mastectomy products, such as breast forms and post-surgical bras. [See our Mastectomy Products page].
Flow Cytometry – A laboratory test done on tumor tissue to measure the growth rate of the cancer cells and to check if the cells have too much DNA.
Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) – A laboratory test done on breast tumor tissue to find out the number of copies of the HER2 gene contained in the cancer cells.
FNA – FNA stands for a fine needle aspiration. This is when a thin needle is used to do a small biopsy of a lymph node to determine whether there are any tumor cells present in the lymph node. If there are tumor cells in the lymph node, the node is counted as “positive”.
Frozen Section – Process where a portion of tissue from a surgical biopsy is frozen so a thin slice can be studied to check for cancer. Frozen section results are only preliminary and always need to be confirmed by other methods.
Gail Model (Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool) – A tool that uses personal and family breast cancer history as well as other factors to estimate a woman’s risk of invasive breast cancer. This is not a lifetime risk assessment.
Galactocele – A milk-filled cyst.
Galactorrhea – Milky nipple discharge not related to breastfeeding.
Genes – The part of a cell that contains DNA. The DNA information in a person’s genes is inherited from both sides of a person’s family (you get half of your genes from your mother and half from your father).
Gene amplification – An increase in the number of copies of a gene. There may also be an increase in the RNA and protein made from that gene. Gene amplification is common in cancer cells, and some amplified genes may cause cancer cells to grow or become resistant to anticancer drugs. Genes may also be amplified in the laboratory for research purposes.
Gene Expression – Process in which a gene gets turned on in a cell to make RNA and proteins.
Gene Mutation – Any change in the DNA (the information contained in a gene) of a cell. Gene mutations can be harmful, beneficial or have no effect.
Genetic counseling – A conversation with a trained professional to understand your personal or family risk of hereditary cancer and whether genetic testing may be right for you.
Genetic Susceptibility (Genetic Predisposition) – An increased likelihood or chance of developing a disease due to specific changes in a person’s genes passed on from either parent.
Genetic testing – A blood or saliva test that checks for inherited gene changes (such as BRCA1/BRCA2) linked to a higher risk of breast cancer.
Genome – The total genetic information of an organism.
Genomic testing – Analyzing DNA to check for gene mutations. Some use genomic testing to refer to genetic testing, which tests the DNA of a person. Others use it to refer to tumor profiling (gene expression profiling), which tests the DNA of a cancer.
Genomics – The study of genes and their functions.
Glandular Tissue (in the breast) – The tissue in the breast that includes the milk ducts and lobules.
Grade – The grade of a tumor is an indication of how quickly it is likely to grow and spread. In general, low-grade tumors grow slowly and higher-grade tumors grow more rapidly. The grade is assigned based on the how the tumor cells look under a microscope; low-grade tumor cells resemble normal cells more closely than high-grade tumor cells do.
Gy – When discussing radiation, Gy stands for Gray. It is a unit of measurement for the dose of radiation received.
HER2 – short for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (also be called Her-2/neu or ErbB2). All normal breast cells contain copies of the HER2 gene, which gives instructions to the cell on how to make the HER2 protein. The HER2 protein, also called the HER2 receptor, is found on the surface of normal cells. These proteins help send signals to the inside of the cell telling it to grow and divide. In HER2-positive breast cancer, there are extra copies of the HER2 gene (amplification), leading to extra HER2 protein (overexpression). Too much HER2 protein is thought to cause cancer cells to grow and divide more quickly.
HER2-positive – A term describing cancer cells that have higher-than-normal levels of a protein called HER2, which can make cancer grow faster. HER2-positive cancers are often treated with targeted therapies.
HER2-Low Metastatic Breast Cancer – Metastatic breast cancers with tumor cells that have low, but detectable levels of HER2 expression (defined by an immunohistochemistry (IHC) score of 1+ or 2+).
HER2-Targeted Therapies – Drugs designed to target and treat HER2-positive breast cancers. The breast cancers have a lot of HER2 protein on the surface of their cells. Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is an example of a HER2-targeted therapy.
Homeopathy (Homeopathic Medicine) – A medical system based on a belief that “like cures like.” Natural substances are specially prepared in small amounts to restore health. These substances cause symptoms similar to the condition they are meant to treat in healthy people. There are limited data on the safety of these substances.
Hormones – Chemicals made by certain glands and tissues in the body, often in response to signals from the pituitary gland or the adrenal gland. Hormones have specific effects on specific target organs and tissues. Examples include estrogen and progesterone. Hormones can also be made in a lab.
Hormone Receptors – Specific proteins in cells that hormones attach to. A high number of hormone receptors on a breast cancer cell often means the cancer cell needs the hormone to grow.
Hormone receptor status – Breast cancer cells can sometimes carry receptors for estrogen or progesterone hormones. If a tumor carries estrogen receptors, it is called estrogen receptor (ER) positive, and if it carries progesterone receptors, it is called progesterone receptor (PR) positive. The hormone receptor status of a tumor can affect a patient’s treatment plan. If a tumor is hormone-positive, therapy may include medications that block hormone signaling or reduce the body’s natural estrogen production, such as tamoxifen or medications called aromatase inhibitors.
Hormone therapy – Treatment that blocks or lowers hormones (like estrogen) that can fuel the growth of certain breast cancers.
Hospice – A philosophy of care focusing on improving quality of life and easing pain and other symptoms at the end stage of a terminal illness. Hospice care also provides support services to patients and their families.
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) – A method using antibodies to detect proteins in tumor sections. It is the standard method for determining ER, PR and HER2 status (although HER2 is also examined by FISH)
Immunotherapy – Treatment that helps the body’s own immune system find and fight cancer cells. Used for certain types of breast cancer.
Implant (Breast Implant) – An “envelope” containing silicone, saline or both, that is used to restore the breast form after a mastectomy (or for other cosmetic reasons).
Incisional Biopsy – Surgical biopsy that removes only part of the tumor.
In situ – Latin for “in place.” Describes cancer cells that have not spread beyond where they started.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) – IBC is a clinical diagnosis of invasive breast cancer in the presence of distinctive skin symptoms that can include redness, orange peel appearance (peau d’orange), ridging, pain in the breast, warmth, and swelling.
Informed Consent – The process through which a person learns about the possible benefits and risks (including side effects) of a treatment plan and then accepts or declines the treatment. The person is usually asked to sign a consent form, but may stop the treatment at any time and get other medical care.
Infraclavicular Lymph Nodes – The lymph nodes below the clavicle (collarbone). See Lymph Nodes.
Intraductal – Within the milk duct. Intraductal can describe a benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancerous) process.
Invasive (infiltrating) cancer – Cancer that has spread from where it started into surrounding breast tissue, and potentially to other parts of the body.
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) – Starting in a milk passage, or duct, of the breast, the cancer cells break through the wall of the duct and invade the breast’s fatty tissue. They can then invade into lymphatic channels or blood vessels of the breast and spread to other parts of the body. Infiltrating or invasive ductal carcinoma accounts for about 80 percent of all breast cancers.
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) – This type of cancer starts in the milk-producing glands (lobules). Like IDC, this cancer can spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body. About 10 to 15 percent of invasive breast cancers are invasive lobular carcinomas.
Ki-67 Rate – A common way to measure proliferation rate. The more cells the Ki-67 antibody attaches to on a tissue sample, the more likely the tumor cells are to grow and divide rapidly.
Latissimus dorsi flap reconstruction – This is a type of reconstruction that uses tissue from your upper back to construct the breast.
Leptomeningeal Metastasis – Cancer that spreads from the original tumor to the meninges (the thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord).
Lesion – Area of abnormal tissue.
Linear Accelerator – The device used during radiation therapy to direct X-rays into the body.
Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS, Lobular Neoplasia in Situ) – A condition where abnormal cells grow in the lobules of the breast. LCIS increases the risk of breast cancer.
Lobules – Ball-shaped sacs in the breast that produce milk.
Local recurrence/loco-regional recurrence – When a recurrence develops either on the chest well near where the breast used to be, or in the axilla, the recurrence is termed as a local or loco-regional recurrence. This is in contrast to a distant recurrence which is a recurrence anywhere else (i.e. liver, lungs, brain, bones).
Local Treatment – Treatment that focuses on getting rid of the cancer from a certain (local) area. In breast cancer, the local area includes the breast, the chest wall and lymph nodes in the underarm area. Local treatment for breast cancer includes surgery and for some people, radiation therapy.
Localized Breast Cancer – Cancer that is contained in the breast and has not spread to nearby tissue, lymph nodes or other organs.
Locally Advanced Breast Cancer – Cancer that has spread beyond the breast to the chest wall, the skin of the breast or to many lymph nodes in the underarm area, but not to distant organs such as the lungs or liver.
Lumpectomy – Surgery to remove a tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue, while leaving the rest of the breast intact. Also called breast-conserving surgery.
Lymph nodes – Small, bean-shaped glands that are part of the immune system. Breast cancer can spread to nearby lymph nodes, often checked during surgery or imaging.
Lymph Node Status – Shows whether or not cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Lymph node-positive means the lymph nodes contain cancer (the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes). Lymph node-negative means the lymph nodes do not contain cancer.
Lymphatic System – The network of lymph nodes and vessels in the body.
Lymphedema (LE) – Swelling, most often in the arm or hand, that can occur after lymph nodes are removed or damaged during treatment.
Lymphoscintigraphy – An imaging method used to check the lymph system for diseases or conditions, such as lymphedema.
Lymphovascular invasion – This is a pathological term for the presence of tumor cells in lymphatic and blood vessels near the primary tumor. It is a sign of aggressiveness, since invasion of blood vessels is the first step in formation of distant metastasis.
Malignant – Cancerous.
Mammogram – An X-ray image of the breast used to screen for or investigate signs of breast cancer.
Margins – After surgery, the goal is clean margins, ie no tumor on the edge of surgical specimen. If there is still tumor at the edge, then the margins are “dirty”. The goal of a curative surgery should always be clean margins, and if the surgeon does not feel this is likely to be possible, consultation with a multidisciplinary team is warranted to evaluate all the options for further treatment.
Mastectomy – Surgery to remove all of the breast tissue, used to treat or reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Mastectomy bra/camisole – Specially designed undergarments that hold a breast form (prosthesis) in place after mastectomy surgery. [See our Mastectomy Products page].
Maximum Tolerated Dose – The highest amount of a drug or treatment that doesn’t cause too many side effects. This dose is determined in clinical trials that find the highest dose with acceptable side effects to participants.
Medical Oncologist – A physician who specializes in the treatment of cancer using chemotherapy, hormone therapy, HER2-targeted therapy and other drug therapies.
Menopausal Hormone Therapy (Postmenopausal Hormone Use, Hormone Replacement Therapy) – The use of hormone pills containing estrogen (with or without progestin) to ease symptoms of menopause.
Metabolized – The chemical process in the body that breaks down drugs and food.
Metastasis – The spread of cancer cells from where they started to another part of the body.
Metastatic Breast Cancer – Breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other organs in the body (most often the bones, lungs, liver or brain). Metastatic breast cancer is not a specific type of breast cancer, but rather the most advanced stage (stage IV) of breast cancer.
Milk Duct – Breast milk ducts are tiny tube-like structures in the breast that carry milk from the milk-producing glands to the nipple
Modified Radical Mastectomy (MRM) – This is the recommended form of surgery for IBC patients. It is sometimes also shortened online as “Mx”.
Molecular Breast Imaging (Nuclear Medicine Imaging of the Breast) – An imaging technique that uses short-term radioactive agents given through an IV. Cancer cells absorb these agents and can be imaged with a special camera. Molecular breast imaging is not a standard breast cancer screening tool. Breast-specific gamma imaging and positron emission mammography are types of molecular breast imaging.
Monoclonal antibody – A type of protein made in the laboratory that can bind to substances in the body, including tumor cells. There are many kinds of monoclonal antibodies. Each monoclonal antibody is made to find one substance. Monoclonal antibodies are being used to treat some types of cancer and are being studied in the treatment of other types. They can be used alone or to carry drugs, toxins, or radioactive materials directly to a tumor.
Morphea (Radiation-Induced Morphea, Post-Irradiation Morphea) – A rare scleroderma-like condition caused by radiation therapy to the breast. The skin and connective tissue of the breast hardens and tightens, causing pain and affecting the look and shape of the breast. (This is a more severe condition than the usual skin changes people getting radiation therapy may have.)
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) – An imaging technique that uses a magnet linked to a computer to make detailed pictures of organs or soft tissues in the body.
mTOR (Mammalian Target of Rapamycin) Inhibitors – A class of drugs that may increase the benefit of hormone therapy. Everolimus (Afinitor) is an example of an mTOR inhibitor.
Multifocal Tumors (Multicentric Tumors) – One or more tumors that develop from the original breast tumor.
Multimodality Therapy – Use of 2 or more treatment methods (such as surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and HER2-targeted therapy) in combination, or one after the other, to get the best results.
Mutation (Gene Mutation) – Any change in the DNA (the information contained in a gene) of a cell. Gene mutations can be harmful, beneficial or have no effect.
Naturopathy (Naturopathic Medicine) – A medical system based on a belief in using natural elements to maintain health and to help the body heal itself. It includes nutrition and massage.
NED – No evidence of disease (ie on scans and physical exam)
Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy (Induction Chemotherapy, Primary Chemotherapy, Preoperative Chemotherapy) – Chemotherapy used as a first treatment (before surgery). Often used for large or locally-advanced breast cancers (including inflammatory breast cancer) to shrink tumors before surgery.
Neoadjuvant Hormone Therapy – Hormone therapy used as a first treatment (before surgery). Often used for large or locally-advanced breast cancers to shrink tumors before surgery.
Neoadjuvant therapy – Treatment (such as chemotherapy) given before the main treatment, often to shrink a tumor before surgery.
Neoplasia – Abnormal growth.
Neoplasm – Excess number of cells in a mass that can be either benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancerous).
Neutropenia – Low numbers of neutrophila (a type of white blood cell), which can be a frequent side effect from some types of chemotherapy (such as doxorubicin).
Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) – This is a type of mastectomy in which the breast tissue is removed, but the nipple is conserved, usually in preparation for a subsequent reconstruction. In IBC because of skin involvement, this is not recommended. A non-skin-sparing mastectomy is the recommended surgery for IBC patients.
Node-Negative (Lymph Node-Negative) – Cancer that has not spread to the lymph nodes.
Node-Positive (Lymph Node-Positive) – Cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes.
Non-Invasive – 1. In treatment, describes a procedure that doesn’t penetrate the skin (or any body opening) with a needle or other instrument. 2. In breast cancer pathology, describes a cancer that has not spread beyond the milk ducts or lobules where it began (see Carcinoma in Situ).
Nonpalpable – Describes a breast lump or abnormal area that cannot be felt but can be seen on an imaging test (such as a mammogram).
Nucleus – The part a cell that contains the genetic material DNA. Nuclei is the plural of nucleus.
Oligometastasis – Cancer cells that have spread (metastasis) from the original tumor and formed a small number of new metastatic tumors in a few other parts of the body. These tumors may grow more slowly than other metastatic tumors.
Oncologist – A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer. You may work with a surgical oncologist, medical oncologist, and/or radiation oncologist.
Oophorectomy – Surgical removal of the ovaries.
Ovarian Suppression – The use of drug therapy or surgery to prevent the ovaries from making estrogen. It stops menstrual periods and lowers hormone levels in the body (similar to a natural menopause). This slows the growth of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer in premenopausal women by preventing the tumor from getting the estrogen it needs to grow. Ovarian suppression is always given in combination with tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor.
Paget Disease of the Breast (Paget Disease of the Nipple) – A rare cancer in the skin of the nipple or in the skin closely surrounding the nipple that is usually, but not always, found with an underlying breast cancer (ductal in situ carcinoma or invasive breast cancer). In these cases, the tumor grows from underneath the nipple and breaks out onto the surface of the nipple.
Palliative Care (Palliative Therapy, Palliation) – Care at any stage of disease focused on relieving or preventing symptoms (like pain) rather than treating disease. It’s part of care for people with early breast cancer as well as for those with metastatic breast cancer.
Papilloma – Breast papillomas are common, non-cancerous growths that develop within the milk ducts of the breast
PARP (Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase) Inhibitors – A class of drugs that blocks an enzyme involved in tumor DNA repair (called PARP enzyme). These drugs can help chemotherapy better kill cancer cells. Olaparib (Lynparza) is an example of a PARP inhibitor used to treat breast cancer.
Pathologic Response – A measure describing how much of the tumor is left in the breast and lymph nodes after neoadjuvant (before surgery) therapy. The pathologic response gives some information about prognosis. A complete pathologic response means there is no invasive cancer in the tissue removed during breast surgery.
Pathologist – A doctor who identifies diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope.
Pathology report – A document from a lab describing what was found in a biopsy or surgical tissue sample, including whether cancer is present and its characteristics.
Patient Navigator – A person who works to help patients effectively navigate a fragmented health care system by removing an individual’s barriers to quality care.
Peer mentoring – Being matched with someone who has had a similar breast cancer experience, for one-on-one support and shared understanding. [See our Support Groups page].
Peripheral neuropathy – A side effect from taxane chemotherapy that refers to numbness, tingling or shooting pain in the fingers or toes.
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) – A small tube used to deliver medicine to the body through a vein. Instead of being reinserted for each use, a PICC is left in place to allow access for a long period of time (weeks to months).
Permanent Section – A preserved tissue sample for diagnosis. Thin slices of tissue are processed and put on a slide so that a pathologist can study them under a microscope. These sections are of better quality than frozen sections.
PET (Positron Emission Tomography) – A procedure where a short-term radioactive sugar is given through an IV so a scanner can show which parts of the body are consuming more sugar. Cancer cells tend to consume more sugar than normal cells do. PET is sometimes used as part of breast cancer diagnosis.
Phyllodes Tumor – A rare sarcoma (cancer of the soft tissue) in the breast.
PI3 Kinase Inhibitors – A class of drugs designed to interrupt PI3 kinase signals and stop the growth of cancer cells with PIK3CA gene mutations. Alpelisib (Piqray) is an example of a PI3 kinase inhibitor used to treat breast cancer.
Predictive Factors – Factors (such as hormone receptor status) that help guide treatment for a person’s cancer.
Primary Tumor – The original cancer.
Progesterone – A hormone made by the body that is important in menstrual cycles and pregnancy. May be made in a lab (called progestin) and used in birth control pills, menopausal hormone therapy and other types of hormone treatment.
Progesterone Receptor – Specific proteins in cells that progesterone hormones attach to. A high number of progesterone receptors in a breast cancer cell often means the cancer cell needs progesterone to grow.
Progestin – Any substance (natural or made in a lab) that has some or all of the effects of progesterone in the body.
Prognosis – The expected or probable outcome or course of a disease (the chance of recovery or survival).
Prognostic Factors – Factors (such as tumor type, size and grade) that help determine prognosis.
Progression – The growth or spread of cancer, with or without treatment.
Progression-Free Survival – The length of time a person lives with metastatic cancer (such as metastatic breast cancer) before the cancer grows or spreads.
Proliferative – Rapidly growing and increasing in number.
Prosthesis (breast form) – An artificial breast shape worn inside a bra or camisole after a mastectomy or lumpectomy, to restore shape and balance.
Protein – A molecule made up of amino acids that are needed for the body to function properly. Proteins are the basis of body structures such as skin and hair and of substances such as enzymes, cytokines, and antibodies.
Protocol – An outline or plan for the use of an experimental drug, treatment or procedure in cancer therapy or diagnosis.
Punch Biopsy – Removal of a small circle of skin (with a special instrument called a punch or trephine) to be tested for cancer cells.
Quadrantectomy – Surgery where one quadrant or 25 percent of the breast is removed. See Lumpectomy.
Quality of Care – Measures of how well breast cancer is treated and how well a person is cared for during and after treatment.
Quality of Life – A measure of a person’s well-being and overall enjoyment of life.
RAD (Dose of Radiation) – Short for “radiation absorbed dose.” This term describes the amount of radiation absorbed by the tissues. One RAD is equal to 1 centigray. See Centigray.
Radial Scars (Complex Sclerosing Lesions) – A benign (not cancer) breast condition with a core of connective tissue fibers. Milk ducts and lobules grow out from this core.
Radiation Oncologist – A physician specializing in the treatment of cancer using targeted, high-energy X-rays.
Radiation therapy – Treatment that uses targeted high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells, usually given after surgery to lower the risk of the cancer returning in that area.
Radical Mastectomy (Halsted Radical) – Surgical removal of the breast, chest muscles and underarm lymph nodes. Used only when the breast tumor has spread to the chest muscles.
Radiologist – A physician who reads and interprets X-rays, mammograms and other scans related to diagnosis or follow-up. Radiologists also perform needle biopsy and wire localization procedures.
Raloxifene – A drug first used to treat osteoporosis and now also used to lower the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women at high risk.
Receptor – A protein that is located on the surface of a cell that binds to a hormone or growth factor. Some specific examples of relevance in IBC include the Estrogen Receptor (ER) and HER2.
Reconstruction (breast reconstruction) – Surgery to rebuild the shape of the breast after a mastectomy or lumpectomy, which may happen at the same time as the initial surgery or later.
Recurrence (Relapse) – Return of cancer. Local recurrence is the return of cancer to the same breast or the same side chest wall. Distant recurrence is the return of cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, liver, bones or brain. See Metastases.
Regimen – A treatment plan.
Regression – The shrinking of a tumor.
Risk Reduction – Anything that lowers the chance of getting a disease is called a protective factor. With regard to breast cancer, that encompasses maintaining a healthy weight, reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption, increasing activity, as well as the use of risk reducing medications and prophylactic surgery when appropriate.
RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) – A molecule made by cells containing genetic information that has been copied from DNA. RNA performs functions related to making proteins.
Saline – A saltwater solution similar to that found in IV fluids. Saline can be used to fill a breast implant.
Scalp Cooling – The use of a cap filled with a chilled substance during chemotherapy to reduce hair loss due to chemotherapy.
Screening – Regular testing (such as mammograms) done to detect breast cancer in people who don’t yet have symptoms.
Screening Mammogram – A test used to find early signs of breast cancer in a woman who does not have any known breast problems or symptoms.
Second Primary Tumor – A second breast cancer that develops in a different location from the first. This is different from a recurrence, which is the return of the first breast cancer.
Selective estrogen receptor down-regulators (SERD) – This is a type of endocrine therapy that works via degrading the estrogen receptor, therefore limiting the effects of estrogen. Examples of these drugs include Fulvestrant and ARN-810.
Selective estrogen-receptor modulators (SERM) – These are a type of endocrine therapy used in ER or PR positive breast cancer patients to reduce recurrence. Examples of SERMs that are used clinically include tamoxifen and raloxifene.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy – A procedure to remove and test the first lymph node(s) cancer would likely spread to, to check whether cancer has spread beyond the breast.
Skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) – This is a type of mastectomy in which some skin is not removed to make future reconstruction more straightforward. This is not recommended for IBC patients due to baseline skin involvement.
Silicone Gel – Medical-grade, solid form of silicone used for breast implants. Silicone implants can mimic the feel of a natural breast better than saline implants.
Simple Cyst – A round or oval-shaped fluid-filled sac. Findings from a breast ultrasound show the cyst only contains fluid.
Staging – A system (Stage 0–IV) used to describe the size of a cancer and how far it has spread. Staging helps guide treatment decisions.
Standard Treatment (Standard of Care) – The usual treatment of a disease or condition currently in widespread use and considered to be of proven effectiveness on the basis of scientific evidence and past experience.
Stereotactic Needle Biopsy – Core needle biopsy done with the use of stereotactic (3-dimensional) mammography guidance.
Stereotactic Mammography – Three-dimensional mammography used to guide a needle biopsy.
Supraclavicular Lymph Nodes – The lymph nodes above the clavicle (collarbone). See Lymph Nodes.
Surgical Oncologist – A physician specializing in the treatment of cancer using surgical procedures.
Survivor / Thriver – Terms often used interchangeably to describe someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, at any point from diagnosis onward. To Life! uses both terms, reflecting the different ways people describe their own experience.
Survivorship – The experience of living with, through, and beyond a cancer diagnosis — including physical, emotional, and practical aspects of life after treatment.
Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) – A hormone therapy drug (taken in pill form) used to treat early and advanced stage breast cancers that are hormone receptor-positive. These breast cancers need estrogen to grow. Tamoxifen stops or slows the growth of these tumors by blocking estrogen from attaching to hormone receptor in the cancer cells.
Targeted therapy – Treatment designed to act on specific characteristics of cancer cells (such as HER2 status), aiming to be more precise than traditional chemotherapy.
Taxanes – A class of chemotherapy that is frequently used in IBC. These drugs work via interfering with processes important in cell division. Examples include Paclitaxel (Taxol) and Docetaxel (Taxotere).
Therapeutic Touch – A complementary or integrative therapy where trained practitioners enter a semi-meditative state and hold their hands just above a person’s body to sense energy imbalances due to illness. Healing energy is then said to transfer to the person.
The TNM Staging System – The TNM system is the most widely used cancer staging system. Most hospitals and medical centers use the TNM system as their main method for cancer reporting. You are likely to see the cancer described by this staging system in the pathology report, unless the have a cancer for which a different staging system is used. Examples of cancers with different staging systems include brain and spinal cord tumors and blood cancers.
TNM staging – This is the usual method in which tumors are staged. T takes into account tumor size; N takes into account the number and location of positive lymph nodes, and M tells you whether you have distant metastases or not. By definition IBC patients are T4d. Most are N1-N3 due to lymph node involvement. If diagnosed with stage 4 disease (ie distant metastases) then M1 is the designation.
TRAM flap – A TRAM flap (transverse rectus abdominus muscle) reconstruction is a type of breast construction using tissue from your lower abdomen, including the rectus abdominus muscle.
Trastuzumab (Herceptin) – A drug that is a specially made antibody that targets cancers with a lot of HER2 protein on the cancer cells. When attached to the HER2 protein, trastuzumab slows or stops the growth of the cancer cells. Trastuzumab is used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer. Herceptin is the brand name for trastuzumab.
Tri-modal therapy – This refers to the overall plan for IBC treatment involving all 3 modalities of cancer therapy – chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) – A type of breast cancer that tests negative for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2. It grows and spreads faster than most other types and has fewer targeted treatment options.
Triple Positive Breast Cancer – A breast cancer that is estrogen receptor-positive, progesterone receptor-positive and HER2-positive.
Tumor – An abnormal mass of tissue. Tumors can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Tumor Grade – Describes how closely cancer cells look like normal cells. Grade 1 tumors have cells that are slow-growing and look the most like normal cells. Grade 3 tumors have cells that are fast-growing and look very abnormal. Grade 2 tumors fall in between grade 1 and grade 3.
Tumor Heterogeneity – Differences between cancer cells within the same tumor.
Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) – Immune cells that have moved from the blood to a tumor. Higher levels of TILs in early-stage triple negative breast cancers may be related to improved treatment response and better survival.
Tumor Marker – A substance found in blood that may be a sign of metastatic breast cancer. Tumor markers are found in both normal cells and cancer cells, but they are made in larger amounts by cancer cells. A tumor marker may help indicate metastatic breast cancer treatment activity. The term tumor marker may also be used more broadly to refer to characteristics of tumor cells such as hormone receptors.
Tumor Profiling (Gene Expression Profiling, Molecular Profiling, Genomic Testing) – Tests that give information about thousands of genes in cancer cells. Specific genes (or combinations of genes) may give information useful in prognosis and in making treatment decisions.
Two-Step Procedure – Biopsy and further surgical treatment done at 2 separate times.
Tyrer-Cuzick Risk Model – The Tyrer-Cuzick score estimates an individual’s risk of developing breast cancer over 10 years and a lifetime, expressed as a percentage based on personal, family, and clinical factors.
Tyrosine-Kinase Inhibitors – A class of drugs that target enzymes important for cell functions (called tyrosine-kinase enzymes). These drugs can block tyrosine-kinase enzymes at many points along the cancer growth pathway. Lapatinib (Tykerb) is an example of a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor used to treat breast cancer.
Ultrasound (Sonogram) – Diagnostic test that uses sound waves to make images of tissues and organs. Tissues of different densities reflect sound waves differently.
Variant (Gene Variant) – Any change in the DNA (the information contained in a gene) of a cell. A gene variant can be harmful, beneficial or have no effect.
Wig fitter – A trained professional who helps individuals select and fit wigs and head coverings for hair loss related to cancer treatment. [See our Wigs, Hats, and Head Coverings page].
Wire Localization (Needle Localization) – Insertion of a very thin wire into the breast to highlight the location of an abnormal area so it can be removed during a biopsy or a lumpectomy.
X-Ray – Radiation that, at low levels, can be used to make images of the inside of the body. For example, a mammogram is an X-ray image of the breast. At high levels of radiation, X-rays can be used in cancer treatment.
External-beam radiation (XRT) – Radiation used for chest wall or whole breast radiation. The radiation beams are generated in a linear accelerator, i.e. outside the body.
*This glossary is intended for general education and does not replace advice from your medical team. If you have questions about your own diagnosis or treatment, please talk with your doctor.