Breast Cancer Terms (in alphabetical order)

Targeted therapy drugs are designed to attack specific proteins on cancer cells, slowing down or destroying their growth. Examples include biologic therapies for HER2-positive cancers.

A benign tumor is not cancerous or malignant.

BRCA stands for 'BReast CAncer' gene mutation. There are two types, BRCA1 and BRCA2, both of which can increase a person's risk of developing breast cancer.

A biopsy is a medical test that removes a sample of tissue or fluid from a suspicious area, which is then examined in a laboratory to check for cancer or other abnormalities.

Chemotherapy uses a combination of drugs to destroy or slow the growth of cancer cells throughout the body. It can be given by IV or as an oral pill.

Chemo brain is a term describing cognitive side effects of chemotherapy, including brain fog, memory problems, and difficulty with concentration.

Dense breast tissue has a high concentration of fibroglandular tissue, which increases breast cancer risk and can make mammograms harder to interpret.

DCIS is an early and non-invasive type of breast cancer where abnormal cells are found in the milk ducts, but have not spread outside the ducts. It is considered Stage 0 breast cancer.

Breast cancer is graded from 1 to 3 based on how much the cancer cells resemble normal cells: Grade 1 (slow-growing, less likely to spread), Grade 2 (intermediate growth), Grade 3 (fast-growing, more likely to spread).

HER2-positive breast cancer has abnormally high levels of HER2 proteins, which can make the cancer grow faster. It is generally treated with targeted therapy drugs like Herceptin (trastuzumab).

Hormonal therapy is a drug treatment that blocks breast cancer cells from receiving estrogen and progesterone. It is not used for triple negative breast cancer.

IBC is a rare, aggressive form of breast cancer where cancer cells block lymph vessels in the breast skin, making it hard to diagnose. It often spreads quickly and occurs in younger women, typically classified as Stage 3 or Stage 4 when widely spread.

IDC begins in the milk ducts and spreads to surrounding tissue (most common type, 70-80%). ILC starts in the lobules (milk glands) and then spreads (second most common, 12-15%).

A lumpectomy removes the tumor and a margin of healthy tissue, preserving most of the breast. A mastectomy removes all breast tissue and possibly surrounding structures, and may be used preventatively for those at high risk.

Metastatic breast cancer (Stage 4) occurs when breast cancer has spread to other organs such as the bones, lungs, liver, or brain. It is not curable but is treatable.

Palliative care focuses on the management of symptoms or side effects to improve quality of life, but does not replace primary cancer treatment.

A PET scan uses a radioactive tracer to check for the spread of breast cancer throughout the body, identifying areas that may not be visible on other scans.

Local recurrence means the cancer returns in the same breast, regional recurrence is in nearby lymph nodes, and distant recurrence is in other parts of the body (such as bones or liver), often classified as metastatic breast cancer.

Stage 0: Non-invasive, early. Stage 1: Early invasive, localized. Stage 2: Growing, possibly in some lymph nodes. Stage 3: Advanced, has invaded nearby tissues or lymph nodes. Stage 4: Metastatic, spread to distant organs.

TNBC lacks estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, so hormone therapy and HER2-targeted therapy are ineffective. Chemotherapy is the preferred treatment.

Tamoxifen is a hormone therapy drug that helps prevent recurrence of breast cancer and the development of new ones. It is usually taken for 5 years after treatment.

Targeted therapy drugs are designed to attack specific proteins on cancer cells, slowing down or destroying their growth. Examples include biologic therapies for HER2-positive cancers.

A benign tumor is not cancerous or malignant.