Generalized breast lumpiness: Breast irregularities and lumpiness, commonplace and noncancerous. Sometimes called "fibrocystic
disease" or "benign breast disease."
Gene: Segment of a DNA molecule and the fundamental biological unit of heredity.
Genetic change: An alteration in a segment of DNA, which can disturb a gene's behavior and sometimes leads to disease.
Higher risk (for breast cancer): A measure of the chances of getting breast cancer when factor(s) known to be associated with the disease are present.
Hormone replacement therapy: Hormone-containing medications taken to offset the symptoms and other effects of the hormone loss that accompanies menopause.
Hormones: Chemicals produced by various glands in the body, which produce specific effects on specific target organs and tissues.
Hyperplasia: Excessive growth of cells. Several types of benign breast conditions involve hyperplasia.
Incisional biopsy: The surgical removal of a portion of an abnormal area of tissue, by cutting into (incising) it, for microscopic examination.
Infection: Invasion of body tissues by microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses.
Infiltrating cancer: Cancer that has spread to nearby tissue, lymph nodes under the arm, or other parts of the body. (Same as Invasive cancer.)
Inflammation: The body's protective response to injury (including infection). Inflammation is marked by heat, redness, swelling, pain, and loss of function.
Intraductal papilloma: A small wartlike growth that projects into a breast duct.
Invasive cancer: Cancer that has spread to nearby tissue, lymph nodes under the arm, or other parts of the body. (Same as Infiltrating cancer.)
Laser beam scanning: a technology being studied in research for breast cancer detection that shines a laser beam through the breast and records the image produced, using a special camera.
Lobes, lobules, bulbs: Milk-producing tissues of the breast. Each of the breast's 15 to 20 lobes branches into smaller lobules, and each lobule ends in scores of tiny bulbs. Milk originates in the bulbs and is carried by ducts to the nipple.
Localization biopsy: The use of mammography to locate tissue containing an abnormality that can be detected only on mammograms, so it can be removed for microscopic examination.
Lumpectomy: Surgery to remove only the cancerous breast lump; usually followed by radiation therapy.
Lymphatic system: The tissues and organs that produce, store, and transport cells that fight infection and disease.
Macrocalcifications: Coarse calcium deposits. They are most likely due to aging, old injuries, or inflammations and usually are associated with benign conditions.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): A technique that uses a powerful magnet linked to a computer to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body.
Malignancy: State of being cancerous. Malignant tumors can invade surrounding tissues and spread to other parts of the body.
Mammary duct ectasia: A benign breast condition in which ducts beneath the nipple become dilated and sometimes inflamed, and which can cause pain and nipple discharge.
Mammogram: An x-ray of the breast.
Mammography: The examination of breast tissue using x-rays.
Mastectomy: Surgery to remove the breast (or as much of the breast as possible).
Mastitis: Infection of the breast. Mastitis is most often seen in nursing mothers.
Menopause: The time when a woman's monthly menstrual periods cease. Menopause is sometimes called the "change of life."
Menstrual cycle: The monthly cycle of discharge, during a woman's reproductive years, of blood and tissues from the uterus.
Microcalcifications: Tiny deposits of calcium in the breast, which can show up on a mammogram. Certain patterns of microcalcifications are sometimes a sign of breast cancer.
Mutation: A change in the number, arrangement, or molecular sequence of a gene.
Needle biopsy: Use of a needle to extract cells or bits of tissue for microscopic examination.
Nipple discharge: Fluid coming from the nipple.
Nonpalpable cancer: Cancer in breast tissue that can be seen on mammograms but that cannot be felt.
One-step procedure: Biopsy and surgical treatment combined into a single operation.
Osteoporosis: A condition of mineral loss that causes a decrease in bone density and an enlargement of bone spaces, producing bone fragility.
