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: Cancer that is confined to the cells where it began, and has not spread into surrounding tissues.
Core needle biopsy: The use of a small cutting needle to remove a core of tissue for microscopic examination.
Ducts: Channels that carry body fluids. Breast ducts transport milk from the breast's lobules out to the nipple.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): Cancer that is confined to the ducts of the breast tissue.
Excisional biopsy: The surgical removal (excision) of an abnormal area of tissue, usually along with a margin of healthy tissue, for microscopic examination. Excisional biopsies remove the entire lump from the breast.
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.
Infiltrating cancer: Cancer that has spread to nearby tissue, lymph nodes under the arm, or other parts of the body.
Lumpectomy: Surgery to remove only the cancerous breast lump; usually followed by radiation therapy.
Malignancy: State of being cancerous. Malignant tumors can invade surrounding tissues and spread to other parts of the body.
Mammography: The examination of breast tissue using x-rays.
Mastectomy: Surgery to remove the breast (or as much of the breast as possible).
Radiation: Energy carried by waves or by streams of particles. Various forms of radiation can be used in low doses to diagnose disease and in high doses to treat disease.
Screening mammogram: Breast x-ray used to look for signs of disease such as cancer in people who are symptom-free.
Sentinel Node Biopsy: A sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a procedure in which the sentinel lymph node is identified, removed, and examined to determine whether cancer cells are present.
Tamoxifen: A hormonally related drug that has been used to treat breast cancer and is being tested as a possible preventive strategy. Women on this medication should have regular ultrasounds.
