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Glossary of Terms
Anti-hormonal therapy: Treatments that stop the production of or block the effects of hormones on cancer cells.
Anthracyclines: A class of chemotherapy agent used in the treatment of breast cancer.
Aromatase inhibitors: Drugs that inhibit the aromatase enzyme, which is key in the synthesis of oestrogens, and are used to treat tumours that are hormone-receptor positive. Common treatments include letrozole, exemestane and anastrozole.
Axilla: The armpit
Axillary lymph nodes: Lymph nodes in the area around the armpit, which receive drainage from the shoulder, arm, breast and chest wall.
Axillary lymph-node: A procedure in which lymphatic tissue (ie at least 10 dissection (ALND) lymph nodes) is surgically removed from the armpit.
Benign: Non-cancerous. Benign breast conditions may or may not need treatment.
Biopsy: A procedure that involves obtaining a tissue specimen for microscopic (pathology) analysis to establish a precise diagnosis and assess hormone receptor and HER2 status.
Carcinoma: Latin for cancer.
Chromogenic in situ: One of three tests for the detection of HER2 hybridisation (CISH) overexpression. CISH is the latest generation of HER2 test. It identifies HER2 genetic material using a light microscope (rather than a fluorescence microscope, as is used for FISH). Test results can be evaluated under a normal light microscope.
Connective tissue: A term usually used to describe less specialised tissue that is rich in structural proteins and surrounds other more highly ordered tissues and organs.
Contrast medium: A special substance used to highlight tissues and organs that would not otherwise be visible.
Cyst: Any closed cavity or sac that is lined by epithelium. They often contain liquid or semi-solid material.
Diagnosis: Identification of an abnormality or the cause of an abnormality.
Diagnostic tool: A tool that helps in diagnosis.
Differentiation: Changes in cell shape and physiology associated with the production of the final cell types of a particular organ or tissue Duct A passage with well-defined walls. This most often applies to tubes through which excretions or secretions will be passed, eg. milk.
Ductal carcinoma: A cancer inside the ducts of the breast that is still In situ(DCIS) confined to the site where it originated and has neither invaded neighbouring tissues nor metastasised away from the site. Good prognosis is associated with in situ cancers.
ER/PgR positive: Cells that carry high numbers of receptors for oestrogen or progesterone on their surface.
Eczema: An inflammatory disease of the skin characterised by redness, itching and small blisters that may weep and crust.
Fibroma: A benign tumour consisting of fibrous or connective tissues.
Fluorescence in situ: One of three tests for HER2 overexpression. FISH tests hybridisation (FISH) for the number of copies of HER2 genes found in a cell using a special fluorescent fragment that binds to the DNA. The number of fluorescent spots determines HER2 gene overexpression. A fluorescence microscope is required.
Genes/genetic: Relating to inheritance.
Grading: A measure of how closely cancer cells resemble normal healthy cells.
Growth factor: A substance that is made naturally within the body that I influences the actions of certain cells.
HER2: An abbreviation for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2.
High-grade: A fast-growing tumour.
Hormone/hormonal: Substances made naturally by the body that influence the actions of other cells or organs.
Hormone receptor: The number of receptors for a particular hormone that status are present on the surface of a cell.
Human epidermal: A receptor which, when overexpressed on breast cancer growth factor cells, indicates a distinct form of breast cancer that receptor 2 (HER2) demands special attention because HER2-positive tumours are fast growing.
In situ: Latin for ‘in place’. A tumour that remains in a confined area, ie. is not invasive.
Immunohistochemistry: One of three tests for HER2 overexpression. IHC uses (IHC) special antibody markers that stain a particular colour when bound to HER2 proteins. The amount and localisation of staining is used to assess whether HER2 protein is overexpressed.
Inflammation: An immune reaction in the breast. The clinical signs are breast swelling, pain, tenderness, redness and/or heat. Pathologists may see inflammatory white blood cells during their examination. Infection of breast tissue may be caused by bacteria and is therefore treated with antibiotics.
Inflammatory: A form of breast cancer that has the same clinical breast cancer appearance as breast inflammation caused by tumour cells in breast lymph vessels.
Internal mammory: The lymph nodes that lie either side of the breast bone lymph nodes and filter the lymph fluid away from the breast.
Invasive: A general term to describe: a) puncture or incision of the skin or insertion of an instrument or foreign material into the body (especially in diagnostic cases); b) the degree to which a tumour can or has spread outside of the confines of its original source.
Imaging: Visualisation of an area of the body using X-rays, ultrasound or magnetic resonance.
Lipoma: A benign growth consisting of fat cells, often found in the breast.
Lobular: Pertaining to lobes or lobules.
Lobular carcinoma: A cancer inside the lobule of the breast that is still in situ (LCIS) confined to the site where it is originated and has neither invaded neighbouring tissues nor metastasised away from the site. Good prognosis is associated with in situ cancers
Lobule: A small lobe or subdivision of a lobe.
Low-grade: A slow-growing tumour.
Lumpectomy: Surgical removal of a small area of the breast.
Lymph: An almost colourless fluid that travels through the lymphatic system and carries cells that help fight infection and disease.
Lymph node: A small bean-shaped organ made up of a loose meshwork of net-like tissue in which are enmeshed large numbers of cells that fight infection. Lymph nodes form part of the lymphatic system.
Lymphoedema: Swelling of the subcutaneous tissues caused by obstruction of the lymphatic drainage. It results from fluid accumulation and may arise from surgery, radiation or the presence of a tumour in the area of the lymph nodes.
Lymphatic system: The drainage system of the body; it removes waste products and infectious agents.
Macrocalcification: See ‘Calcification’.
Magnetic resonance: An imaging technique that uses radio waves to create a detailed digital image the imaging (MRI) of breast.
Malignant: Cancerous
Mammogram: A method of picturing a breast abnormality using X-rays mammography.
Margins: The outside edges of a tumour or cell mass.
Mastectomy: Surgical removal of a breast.
Mass: An unusual cluster of cells with no obvious cause.
Medical history: A detailed account of previous or current medical conditions and their treatments.
Metastases: A cancer that starts from cancer cells that originated in a different location in the body (see also ‘metastasis’).
Metastasis: The spread of a tumour from its primary site (eg. the breast) to other parts of the body. The most common sites for the occurrence of breast cancer metastases are the bones, lung and liver.
Metastatic cancer: A cancer that has undergone metastasis.
Microcalcification: See ‘Calcification’.
Milk ducts: Ducts that direct milk from the milk lobes to the nipple.
Milk lobules: Lobes, or groups, of cells that produce milk, which is secreted into the milk ducts.
Nipple inversion: A drawing in of the nipple.
Oestrogen receptors: A receptor in cells that is sensitive to oestrogen, a (ERs) hormone that affects cellgrowth and replication.
Paget’s disease: A condition of the nipple that can resemble eczema but may, in fact, be invasive or pre-invasive breast cancer.
Pathologist: A physician who specialises in identifying diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope.
Pathology: The branch of medicine that is concerned with disease diagnosis, especially with its structure and its functional effects on the body.
Pectoralis major: A large fan-shaped muscle located in the upper chest that provides support for the breasts and is necessary for arm movements.
Pre-invasive: Cancer that is confined to one area of the body only.
Pre-malignant: Tissue that has undergone changes but is not yet defined as cancerous.
Progesterone receptors: A receptor in cells that is sensitive to progesterone, a (PgRs) hormone that affects cell growth and replication and balances the effects of oestrogen.
Prognosis: A forecast of the probable course/outcome of a disease. This is usually made once all diagnostic test results are available and can vary depending on the stage of the disease and its response to treatment.
Progressed/progression: A disease that is moving towards a more advanced state.
Radiologist: A physician who specialises in the use of imaging techniques for diagnosis or assisting treatment.
Receptor: A protein that is present on the surface of a cell for other proteins or chemicals within the body to attach to.
Receptor status: The presence or absence of certain receptors on a cell surface.
Secondary tumour: A tumour that occurs due to the spread of cancer cells from another part of the body.
Sentinel lymph node: The first node(s) that filters lymph fluid from the tumour site.
Sentinel lymph: A procedure in which the sentinel lymph nodes for a node dissection (SLND) tumour are identified using a dye and/or a radioactive marker. These lymph nodes alone are removed for analysis. Less invasive than ALND.
Staging: Grouping of cancer according to its size and spread.
Targeted therapy: Therapy aimed at a specific tumour biological characteristic.
TNM: A form of cancer staging that takes in tumour size, lymph-node infiltration and degree of metastasis.
Treatment plan: A description of your agreed treatments and their timings compiled by you and your Doctor.
Tumour: A mass of tissue or lump that can be either cancerous or non-cancerous. May be caused by swelling or anything that causes an increase in cell volume.
Ultrasound: A method of picturing a breast abnormality using high-frequency sound waves.
X-rays: A type of irradiation used for imaging purposes that uses energy beams of very short wavelengths, with the image captured on photographic film. This is the most common form of imaging technique used in clinical practice everywhere in the world.
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