A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z 5-FU A chemotherapy drug; also called fluorouracil. Abnormal cells Cells that do not look or act like the healthy cells of the body. Adriamycin A chemotherapy drug (chemical name: doxorubicin). Aggressive cancer cells Cells that are fast-growing and can spread beyond the area where they started. Arimidex An aromatase inhibitor (chemical name: anastrozole). Aromasin An aromatase inhibitor (chemical name: exemestane). Aromatase inhibitor A drug that reduces the amount of estrogen made in the body after menopause. This can help slow down or stop the growth of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Axillary lymph nodes Lymph nodes under your arms. Benign Not cancerous. Biopsy An operation to take out tissue to check if it is cancer or not. Clear margins Means that the normal tissue around the tumor (that was removed) is free of cancer cells. Clinical trial A test of a new treatment compared to the best-known treatment. Cytoxan A chemotherapy drug (chemical name: cyclophosphamide). Close margins Means that cancer cells come near the outer edge of the tissue around the tumor. Colloid A type of invasive cancer that grows into the normal tissue around it; it usually grows slowly. Comedo A type of non-invasive cancer that usually does not spread; it tends to grow fast. Cribriform A type of non-invasive cancer that does not spread and usually grows slowly Ductal Carcinoma. Ductal Carcinoma A non-invasive cancer that stays inside the milk pipes and usually doesn't spread. ERDs (estrogen receptor down regulators) Drugs that slow down or stop the growth of breast cancer by destroying estrogen receptors. ER-negative A cancer that does not have estrogen receptors. ER-positive A cancer that has estrogen receptors (parking places for estrogen). Estrogen A hormone that signals some breast cancer cells to grow. Evista A SERM (chemical name: raloxifene). This drug helps build bone strength in postmenopausal women. It is being tested for reducing breast cancer risk. Excisional biopsy Surgery that takes out the breast abnormality and a rim of normal tissue around it. Fareston A SERM (chemical name: toremifene). Faslodex An ERD (chemical name: fulvestrant). Femara An aromatase inhibitor (chemical name: letrozole). FISH (Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization) test A test for the HER2 gene. Fluorouracil A chemotherapy drug; also called 5-FU. Gene Part of the body's code for making new cells and controlling the growth and repair of the cells. Grade Tells you how much the tumor cells look different from normal cells. HER2 A gene that helps control the growth and repair of cells. HER2-positive Breast cancers that have too many HER2 genes or too much HER2 protein. Herceptin An immune treatment for advanced breast cancer (chemical name: trastuzumab). It only works for cancers that are HER2-positive. Hormone receptors Tiny areas like ears on cells that listen and respond to signals from hormones. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) Hormone treatment to ease symptoms of menopause, like hot flashes. Hormone therapy Breast cancer treatment that blocks or lowers the amount of estrogen. This can help slow down or stop the growth of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. IHC (immunohisto chemistry) test A test for the Estrogen, progesterone or HER2 protein receptor. Immune system The body's own system for fighting disease. Immune therapy Treatment that helps the immune system fight disease. In situ A cancer that stays inside the part of the breast where it started;it usually does not spread. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) A cancer that begins in the milk duct but grows into the normal breast tissue around it. Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (lLC) A cancer that starts inside the milk-making gland, but grows into the normal breast tissue around it. Invasive A cancer that spreads beyond the place where it started. Ki-67 Test A test that shows how fast cancer is growing. Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS) Cells that are not normal but that stay inside the milk-making part of the breast. Lumpectomy Surgery that takes out the breast lump or cancer and a rim of normal tissue around it. Lymph nodes Filters along the lymph fluid channels; they try to catch and trap cancer cells before they reach other parts of the body. Lymphatic invasion Means that cancer cells are found in the lymph vessels. Margins The normal tissue around the tumor that was taken out. Mastectomy Surgery that removes the whole breast, including the nipple. Medullary A type of invasive cancer that grows into the normal tissue around it. Menopause A time in a woman's life when her menstrual periods stop for at least a year. Methotrexate A chemotherapy drug. Milk ducts Tiny tubes in the breast through which milk flows to the nipple. Milk lobules Milk making glands in the breast. Modified radical mastectomy Surgery that removes the breast and lymph nodes under the arm. Mucinous A type of invasive cancer that spreads into the normal tissue around it. Negative margins Means that the tissue around the tumor is free of cancer cells. Non-invasive A cancer that stays inside the breast part where it started. Papillary A type of non-invasive cancer that does not spread and tends to grow slowly. Pathologist A doctor who looks at tissue under a microscope to see if it's normal or affected by disease. Port A small device placed under the skin that empties into a blood vessel. A port makes it easier to give chemotherapy and take blood for tests. Positive margins Means that cancer cells come up to the edge of the normal tissue around the tumor. Pre-cancerous A tumor that is not considered a cancer; it is a warning sign that you may get cancer in the future. PR-negative A cancer that does not have progesterone receptors. Progesterone A female hormone. PR-positive A cancer that has progesterone receptors. Radiation therapy A high energy beam that helps kill cancer cells. It is carefully designed to target the area at risk for cancer recurrence and avoid normal tissue. Radical mastectomy Surgery that takes out the breast, chest muscles under the breast, and lymph nodes under the arm. Reconstructive surgery Surgery that rebuilds the breast after it's been removed. Recurrence When a cancer comes back again. Re-excision surgery Surgery that takes out more tissue from the place where the cancer was removed. This is done to get clear margins and reduce the chance of cancer cells being left behind. Sentinel node removal Surgery that takes out just one or a few key lymph nodes to see if cancer has spread outside the breast. SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators) Drugs that blocks estrogen by filling up its receptors on breast cancer cells. This can help stop or slow down the growth of hormone-receptor positive breast cancer. S-phase fraction test A test that shows how fast a cancer is growing. Tamoxifen Medicine that stops estrogen from reaching hormone receptors on cancers . Taxol A chemotherapy drug (chemical name: paclitaxel). Taxotere A chemotherapy drug (chemical name: docetaxel). Tubular A type of invasive cancer that grows into the normal tissue around it; it usually grows slowly. Vascular invasion Means that cancer cells are found in the blood vessels. Zoladex A drug that stops the ovaries from making estrogen. This can help stop or slow down the growth of hormone-receptor-positive breast. Sallie Astor Burdine Foundation | 17050 Medical Center Drive | Baton Rouge, LA 70816 | 225.755.1174 P | 225.755.1189 F