Breast Cancer Terms
It may help to understand some to the key words used to describe breast cancer.
Adenocarcinoma: An adenocarcinoma is a type of carcinoma that starts in glandular tissue (tissue that makes and secretes a substance). the ducts and lobules of the breast are glandular tissue (they make breast milk in woman), so cancers starting in these areas are sometimes called adenocarcinomas.
Angiosarcoma: This is a form of cancer that starts in cells that line blood vessels or lymph vessels. It rarely occurs in the breasts. When it does, it usually develops as a complication of previous radiation treatments. This is an extremely rare complication of breast radiation therapy that can develop about 5 to 10 years after radiation. Angiosarcoma can also occur in the arms of women who develop lymphedema as a result of lymph node surgery or radiation therapy to treat breast cancer.
Bilateral mastectomy: Removal of both breasts but not axillary lymph nodes.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes: The principal genes that, when altered, indicate an inherited susceptibility to breast cancer and possibly ovarian cancer. These gene alterations are present in 80 to 90 percent of hereditary cases of breast cancer.
Calcifications: Small deposits of calcium in tissue, which can be seen on mammograms.
Carcinoma: Cancer that begins in tissues lining or covering the surfaces (epithelial tissues) of organs, glands, or other body structures. Most cancers are carcinomas.
Carcinoma in situ: This term is used to the early stage of cancer, when it is confined to the layer of cells where it began. In breast cancer, in situ means that the abnormal cells remain confined to ducts (ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS) or lobules (lobular carcinoma in situ, or LCIS). They have not invaded into deeper tissues in the breast or spread to other organs in the body, and are sometimes referred to as non-invasive breast cancers
Diagnostic mammogram: The use of a breast x-ray to evaluate the breast of a woman who has symptoms of disease such as a lump, or who's screening mammogram shows an abnormality.
Digital mammography: A technique for recording x-ray images in computer code, which allows the information to enhance subtle, but potentially significant, changes.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): Cancer that is confined to the ducts of the breast tissue.
Invasive (or infiltrating) lobular carcinoma: Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) starts in the milk-producing glands (lobules). Like IDC, it can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. About 1 in 10 invasive breast cancers is an ILC. Invasive lobular carcinoma may be harder to detect by a mammogram than invasive ductal carcinoma.
Invasive (or infiltrating) ductal carcinoma: This is the most common type of breast cancer. Invasive (or infiltrating) ductal carcinoma (IDC) starts in a milk passage (duct) of the breast, breaks through the wall of the duct, and grows into the fatty tissue of the breast. At this time, it may be able to spread (metastasize) to other part of the body through the lymphatic system and bloodstream.
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.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): A technique that uses a powerful magnet linked to a computer to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body.
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).
Prophylactic mastectomy: Surgery to remove a breast that is not known to contain breast cancer, for the purpose of reducing an individual’s cancer risk.
Sarcoma: Sarcomas are cancers that start in connective tissues such as muscle tissue, fat tissue, or blood vessels. Sarcomas of the breast are rare.
Screening mammogram: Breast x-ray used to look for signs of disease such as cancer in people who are symptom-free.
Sonogram: The image produced by ultrasound.
Ultrasound:
The use of sound waves to produce images of body tissues.
The information you find on our site is for education only it does not take the place of you seeking medical help from a license professional if you have any signs of breast cancer or any other medical issues.