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A Absorption - The uptake of drug into or across tissues. Androgen - One of a group of hormones found in both men and women. Anticancer - Having activity against cancer. Anti-estrogen therapy - Drug that blocks the action of estrogen. Arm Lymphedema - Swelling of the arm, caused by an abnormal collection of too much lymph fluid (clear fluid that contains white blood cells and antibodies, and is circulated throughout the body by the lymphatic system). Aromatase - Enzyme that converts androgen into estrogen. Aromatase inhibitor - Substance that blocks the action of aromatase. Arthralgia - Pain of the tissues in and around the joints. Axillary lymph nodes - Lymph nodes located under the arms. B Benign - Not cancerous; does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body. Bone Scan - Procedure by which an image of the bones is produced by injection of a radioisotope; used to determine if the cancer has spread to the bones. Breast Biopsy - The surgical removal of a small piece of breast tissue for microscopic examination to determine if cancer cells are present. Breast Cancer Survivor - Someone living with, through and beyond a breast cancer diagnosis. C Carcinoma in situ - Breast cancer that is contained and has not spread outside of the duct or lobule. CAT scan (Computerized Axial Tomography) - Special type of X-ray that produces detailed images of the human body. Chemotherapy - The use of drugs to treat disease; when used to treat cancer, the goal is to kill cancer cells. Clinical Trials - A scientific study to determine the safety and effectiveness of a new treatment. New treatments are tested on people only after they are found to be safe and effective in both test tube and animal studies. D Ductal carcinoma - Cancer located in one of the ducts of the breast. Dyspnea - Difficulty in breathing. E Early breast cancer - Cancer that has not progressed beyond the breast tissue and local axillary lymph nodes. Enzyme - Protein produced by a living cell that enables the body to carry out necessary chemical reactions. Estrogen - Primarily female sex hormone; one of a group of hormones found in both men and women. Estrogen receptor - Protein inside certain cells that binds to estrogen. Estrogen receptor-negative - Cancer cells that do not contain estrogen receptors. Extended Adjuvant Therapy - Treatment following 5 years of standard tamoxifen therapy. G Gastrointestinal tract - Organs of digestion, including the stomach and intestines. Growth factor - Any substance that promotes the growth of cells within the body. H Hormonal therapy - Any therapy that blocks hormonal stimulation of the growth of cancer cells. Hormone - Substance produced by living cells that circulates in the bloodstream and affects cells and tissues far from where it originates. Hormone dependent - Cells that require the action of hormones for their growth. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) - Estrogen given in pill form to replace the estrogen lost after menopause; may or may not be given in conjunction with progesterone. I Infiltrating/Invasive Carcinoma - Cancer that has spread beyond the layer of tissue in which it started, growing into surrounding, normal tissues. L Lobular carcinoma - Breast cancer that begins in the lobules of the breast. Lumpectomy - Removal of a cancerous lump and the breast tissue surrounding it. Lymph - A liquid that contains cells that help the body fight infection. Lymph node/nodes - Small, bean-shaped organs that make and store the cells that fight infection; they are found in many places in the body, including under the arms, behind the ears, and more. M Mammogram - An X-ray picture of the breast. Mastectomy - Surgery that removes the entire breast. Menopause - Cessation of menstruation (usually between the ages of 45 and 55). Metastasis - The spread of cancer cells from the original site to other parts of the body. N Nodal status - Whether or not the cancer has spread from the original site to the lymph nodes. Non-invasive cancer - Cancer cells that remain within the borders of a duct or lobule and have not grown into the surrounding tissues. These tumors are also known as "in situ" tumors (tumors that remain "in the site" of origin). O Oncologist - A doctor who specializes in taking care of people with cancer. Some specialize in one type of cancer treatment. For example, a radiation oncologist treats cancer with radiation, and a medical oncologist treats cancer with medications. Some oncologists also specialize in one kind of cancer. For example, a breast cancer oncologist diagnoses and treats breast cancer. Osteoporosis - The weakening of bone, wherein bone mass reaches the low end of a normal range. Ovaries - The pair of female reproductive organs on either side of the uterus that produce eggs and hormones. P Postmenopausal - Refers to the time after menopause when menstruation has stopped. Premenopausal - Refers to the years when menstruation is still ongoing. Prognosis - The probable outcome or course of a disease; the chance of recovery. Prostheses - A specially made replacement for a part of the body that has been removed, such as a breast or a limb. R Radiation - High-energy emissions from X rays, gamma rays, neutrons, and other sources. Radiation therapy - The use of electromagnetic radiation for the local treatment of cancer. Receptor - A "lock" inside the cell; in the case of a cancer cell, the hormone is the key, and when it binds to the receptor, it triggers the growth process. Reconstruction - Surgery to rebuild a breast’s shape after a mastectomy Recurrence - When cancer comes back after treatment, either in the same place, or in a new area of the body. Remission - Complete or partial disappearance of the signs and symptoms of disease. A remission, however, is not necessarily a cure. Response - Term used to indicate the result of therapy as it applies to shrinking tumors. S Stages/Staging - A way to describe the extent of the cancer, based on such factors as tumor size, whether lymph nodes have been affected, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. Surgery - When related to the treatment of cancer, any operative procedure in which the cancer is manually removed. T Tamoxifen - An oral anti-estrogen used in the treatment of breast cancer. Thromboembolic events - Symptoms caused by blood clots reducing or blocking the flow of blood to important tissues. Toxicity - A specific harmful effect associated with therapy. Tumor - A group of cancerous cells. Tumor properties - Characteristics of the tumor, including size and whether or not it is hormone receptor positive. |
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