A

• Adjuvant therapy:
• Additional cancer treatment given after the primary treatment to lower the risk that the cancer will come back. Adjuvant therapy may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, or biological therapy.

• Advanced stage breast cancer:
• Cancer that has spread to other places in the body and usually incurable.

• Alopecia:
• Loss of hair from the scalp and/or body. This is a common side effect of chemotherapy.

• Alternative therapies:
• A broad range of treatments, including herbal remedies, therapeutic touch, vitamin supplements, visualization exercises and many others.

• Antibiotic:
• A drug that fights bacterial infections.

• Antibody:
• A special type of protein made by the body's immune system. It disarms or destroys a specific foreign agent (called an antigen) when it appears in the body.

• Antigen:
• A foreign agent, such as an organism, transplanted cell or chemical compound that stimulates the body's immune system to produce antibodies against it.

• Axilla:
• Armpit

• Axillary node dissection:
• An operation to remove all or part of the lymph nodes under the armpit.

B

• Benign:
• Not cancerous.

• Benign tumour:
• A non-cancerous growth that does not spread to surrounding tissues and rarely recurs after it has been completely removed.

• Biologic therapy (biologic, biological):
• A treatment that involves the use of living organisms, substances derived from living organisms, or laboratory-produced versions of such substances to treat disease.

• Biomarker:
• A specific trait used to measure or indicate the effects or progress (biomarkers do not have anything to do with progression of the disease but rather, provide information about the tissue or tumour).

• Biopsy:
• A procedure where a small piece of tissue or cells are removed from the body. The reason for having a biopsy is to study the cells under a microscope to help make a diagnosis. The process of removing tissue or cells is known as "taking a biopsy".

• Blood test:
• A test done on a sample of blood to measure the amount of certain substances in the blood or to count different types of blood cells. Blood tests may be done to look for signs of disease or agents that cause disease, to check for antibodies or tumour markers or to see how well treatments are working.

• Bone scan:
• A procedure to check for abnormal areas or damage in the bones.

• BRCA1:
• A gene on chromosome 17 that normally produces tumour suppression proteins. A person who inherits certain mutations (changes) in a BRCA1 gene has a higher risk of getting female breast and ovarian cancers. This mutation has also been associated with increased risk of other types of cancer.

• BRCA2:
• A gene that normally produces tumour suppression proteins. A person who inherits certain mutations (changes) in a BRCA2 gene has a higher risk of getting female breast and ovarian cancers. This mutation has also been associated with increased risk of other types of cancers.

• Breast implant:
• A round or tear-shaped sac inserted under the skin and muscle of the chest wall to restore the shape of the breast. Breast implants are filled with saline (salt water) or silicone.

• Breast reconstruction:
• The use of plastic surgery to rebuild the breast.

• Breast self-examination (BSE):
• An easy-to-learn procedure for examining your own breasts for changes in the way they look or the way they feel.

• Breast-conserving surgery:
• This type of surgery, also known as a lumpectomy, breast-sparing surgery, or segmental resection aims at keeping the breast, and only removing the tumour and a small amount of normal tissue around it.

C

• Cancer du sein de stade précoce:
• Cancer qui ne s’est pas propagé au-delà du sein ou des ganglions lymphatiques axillaires. Cela comprend le carcinome canalaire in situ et les cancers du sein de stade IA, IIA et IB.

• Carcinoma in situ:
• An early stage of cancer in which tumour cells have not yet invaded surrounding tissues.

• Carcinome:
• Cancer

• Chemotherapy:
• The use of chemical substances to treat cancer. These drugs have cancer-fighting abilities. Chemotherapy drugs are sometimes referred to as anti-cancer agents.

• Chest x-ray:
• A type of high-energy radiation that can go through the body and onto film, making pictures of areas inside the chest, which can be used to diagnose disease.

• Clinical trial:
• Research studies that test new treatments or approaches to determine if they are effective or provide better results than current methods. Strict rules are followed to make sure patients are well informed about the purpose, risks and benefits of any study before they agree to join a clinical trial.

• Combination therapy:
• The use of two or more types of treatment on one cancer patient (e.g., surgery and radiation therapy).

• Complementary therapies:
• Treatments that are used in addition to standard, conventional medical treatment to reduce symptoms and improve overall health and well-being. Because many of these complementary therapies have not been studied to determine their effectiveness or their potential interference with other therapies, it's important that you consult your doctor or nurse before trying any complementary therapies. Complementary therapies may also be referred to as alternative therapies.

• CT scan (CAT scan):
• Also known as computerized axial tomography, a CT scan takes 3D images of structures in your body. This scan aims to confirm if there is cancer in the breast as well as in the liver, lungs, brain or bones.

• Cyst:
• A sac containing fluid or semi-solid material. The majority of cysts are benign.

D

• DCIS:
• A non-invasive condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lining of a breast duct. The abnormal cells have not spread outside the duct to other tissues in the breast.

• Diagnosis:
• Identification of a disease from signs, symptoms, laboratory tests, radiological results and physical findings.

• Differentiation:
• Describes how much or how little tumour tissue looks like the normal tissue it came from. Well-differentiated cancer cells look more like normal cells and tend to grow and spread more slowly than poorly differentiated or undifferentiated cancer cells. Differentiation is used in tumour grading systems, which are different for each type of cancer.

• Duct:
• Channels in the breast that carry milk to the nipple.

E

• Early stage breast cancer:
• Cancer that has not spread beyond the breast or the axillary lymph nodes. This includes ductal carcinoma in situ and stage IA, stage IB, and stage IIA breast cancers.

• ECG (electrocardiogram):
• A test of the electrical conduction in the heart, and the coordination of muscular activity as a result of conduction.

• Echocardiogram (or echo test):
• A test that uses sound waves (ultrasound) to measure the strength of your heart muscles and heart valves and check the blood flow of your heart.

• Enzymes:
• Substances that promote specific chemical reactions, for example, the digestion of food in the intestine.

• Estrogen:
• A female hormone mostly produced by the ovaries in premenopausal women. It influences such female sexual characteristics as breast development and is necessary for reproduction.

• Estrogen receptor (ER):
• A protein found on some cancer and normal cells to which estrogen will attach. If a woman is estrogen receptor positive (ER positive or ER+), her breast cancer cells need the hormone estrogen to grow. These cells will usually respond to hormone (anti-estrogen) therapy that blocks these receptor sites. Cancer cells that are estrogen negative (ER negative or ER-) do not need the hormone estrogen to grow and usually do not respond to hormone (anti-estrogen) therapy that blocks these receptor sites.

F

• Fine needle aspiration
• Is a type of biopsy where fluid is withdrawn from the lump in the breast.

G

• Genes
• Basic biological units of heredity that transfer traits from cell to cell and from parents to child.

H

• HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2)
• A gene everyone carries that controls a protein on the surface of cells to help them grow.Cancer cells that are HER2 negative may grow more slowly and are less likely to recur (come back) or spread to other parts of the body than cancer cells that have a large amount of HER2 on their surface. Cancer cells that have too much of a protein called HER2 on their surface may grow more quickly and be more likely to spread to other parts of the body.

• HER2 overexpression
• Healthy cells have two copies of the HER2 gene. When there are too many copies of the HER2 gene in a cell, this leads to too much HER2 protein being made, also referred to as an overexpression of HER2.

• Hormone or hormonal therapy
• Hormone therapy for breast cancer slows the growth of hormone-sensitive tumours by blocking the body’s ability to produce hormones.

• Hormone receptor
• A cell protein that binds a specific hormone. The hormone receptor may be on the surface of the cell or inside the cell. Many changes take place in a cell after a hormone binds to its receptor.

• Hormones
• Chemical substances that regulate such specific body functions as metabolism, growth and reproduction.

I

• Immune system
• The body's defense against invading bacteria and foreign chemicals and cells.

• Immunotherapy
• Treatment that stimulates the body's immune system to produce antibodies to fight disease.

• Infection
• Invasion of the body tissues by microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses.

• Injection
• The use of a syringe and needle to introduce fluids into the body. Injections are given under the skin (subcutaneous) in a muscle (intramuscular) or in a vein (intravenous).

• Intravenous (“IV”)
• When fluids or drugs are put directly into a vein, the term used is intravenous ("venous" means vein). Anti-cancer drugs are often given by intravenous injection.

• Invasive cancer
• Cancer that has spread from its original location to nearby tissues or organs.

L

• Lobe
• A portion of an organ, such as the liver, lung, breast, thyroid or brain.

• Lobular
• Lobular means that the cancer began in the milk-producing lobules, which empty out into the ducts that carry milk to the nipple.

• Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
• A condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lobules of the breast. This condition seldom becomes invasive cancer. However, having lobular carcinoma in situ in one breast increases the risk of developing breast cancer in either breast.

• Lobule
• A small lobe or a subdivision of a lobe.

• Lumpectomy
• Surgical removal of a breast tumour along with a small amount of nearby normal tissue; sometimes referred to as a partial mastectomy.

• Lymph
• A clear, yellowish fluid that carries lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell), antibodies, and nutrients throughout the body.

• Lymph nodes
• Bean-shaped glands that filter out impurities picked up by the lymphatic fluid.

• Lymphedema
• Tissue swelling caused by a blockage in nearby lymphatic vessels or nodes.

M

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• An imaging test that uses powerful magnetic forces and radiofrequency waves to make detailed 3D pictures of organs, soft tissues, bone and most other internal body structures. An MRI can find tumours in the brain, spinal cord, head, neck, bones, breast, muscles or other soft tissue.

• Malignant
• The term malignant means cancerous.

• Malignant tumour
• A tumour consisting of cancer cells. Cells from a malignant growth can break away and start secondary tumours, elsewhere in the body, also known as metastases.

• Mammogram
• Uses small amounts of x-rays to get a clear picture of the soft tissue inside the breast.

• Mastectomy
• Surgical removal of a breast. (See also Extended radical mastectomy, Modified radical mastectomy, Simple (or total) mastectomy, Partial mastectomy).

• Medical oncologist
• This doctor works in treating cancer using something called systemic treatments (i.e. medications) that are delivered to the entire body such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, biologic therapies and other medications.

• Menopause
• The stage in a woman's life where she has stopped having monthly periods.

• Metastatic Breast Cancer
• Breast cancer that has spread to another part of the body.

• Metastatic cancer
• The spread of cancer cells from the original tumour to other parts of the body by way of the lymph system or bloodstream.

• Metastatic therapy/treatment
• Treatment given when the cancer has spread from its original location.

• Modified radical mastectomy
• A surgical removal of the breast, mammary and underarm lymph nodes, and fat.

• Monoclonal antibody
• An antibody of a single specific type produced by a family of cells (clone) which are derived from one parent cell. Monoclonal antibodies are designed to attach to specific proteins on cancer cells to stop their growth and help prevent the further spread of cancer.

• MUGA scan
• Also known as multi-gated acquisition scan, this is another test to check your heart's health. A MUGA scan will help determine how well your heart is pumping blood.

• Multigated acquisition (MUGA)
• Also known as multi-gated acquisition scan, this is another test to check your heart's health. A MUGA scan will help determine how well your heart is pumping blood.

N

• Neoadjuvant therapy
• Treatment given before the primary treatment. Neoadjuvant therapy can be chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy or a targeted therapy. For example, you may receive chemotherapy before your surgery to help shrink the tumour.

• Neutropenia
• A condition that describes an abnormal decrease in the level of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell in your body. This decrease of white blood cells can make your body more susceptible to infections. A person with neutropenia is called neutropenic. Neutropenia can be caused by chemotherapy or other therapies such as biologic therapies.

• Nodal status
• Shows weather or not the lymph nodes in the area under the arm (axillary nodes) contain cancer. Status is negative if cancer is not detected, and positive if cancer is detected

P

• Palliative care
• Specialized medical care for people living with a serious or life-threatening illness such as cancer. It focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve the quality of life for both the person living with cancer and their family.

• Palliative therapy
• Treatment given to relieve the symptoms and reduce the suffering caused by cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Palliative cancer therapies are given together with other cancer treatments, from the time of diagnosis, through treatment, survivorship, recurrent or advanced disease and at the end of life.

• Partial mastectomy
• The breast tumour is removed along with some nearby normal breast tissue and sometimes the skin. Also called a lumpectomy.

• Patient navigator
• A health care professional who helps guide women and their families through the health care and cancer systems.

• Pharmacist
• A person who specializes in preparing and dispensing drugs. He or she can give you expert advice on drug use and about any side effects that you may experience if you are taking drugs.

• Physiotherapy
• The use of exercises to help improve joint movement, reduce swelling and reduce pain associated with surgery, with the help of a physical therapist/physiotherapist.

• Positron emission tomography (PET)
• A nuclear medicine imaging test that uses a form of radio-labelled sugar to create images of body function and metabolism. PET imaging can be used to evaluate normal and abnormal biological function of cells and organs. A PET scan can diagnose cancer in certain cases, find out if treatment is working or check if cancer has come back.

• Progesterone
• A female hormone produced by the ovaries, and in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands, and during pregnancy in the placenta.

• Progesterone receptor (PR)
• A protein found on some cancer and normal cells to which progesterone will attach. If a woman is progesterone receptor positive (PR positive or PR+), her breast cancer cells need the hormone progesterone to grow. These cells will usually respond to hormone therapy that blocks these receptor sites. Cancer cells that are progesterone negative (PR negative or PR-) do not need the hormone progesterone to grow and usually do not respond to hormone therapy that blocks these receptor sites.

• Protein(s)
• Large molecules required for the structure, function and regulation of the body's cells, tissues and organs.

R

• Radiation oncologist
• A doctor who has had special training in using radiation to treat human disease.

• Radiation therapy (radiotherapy)
• The use of gamma rays or high energy x-rays to damage or destroy cancer cells. The radiation therapist works with the radiation oncologist to plan and deliver your radiation treatment and help manage the side effects.

• Registered dietitian
• A qualified expert in the field of food and nutrition. They provide people with nutritional assessments and counselling. They also translate scientific information about food and nutrition into practical advice that people can use in their daily lives.

• Risk factors
• Things that increase your chances of getting a disease. Risk factors can be environmental or hereditary.

S

• Sentinel lymph node biopsy
• Also called sentinel node dissection, this procedure is usually conducted before surgery. A dye or radiolabelled substance is injected near the tumour. This material flows into the sentinel lymph node(s) (the first lymph node(s) where cancer is likely to spread from the primary tumour). A surgeon then looks for the dye or uses a scanner to find the sentinel lymph node(s) and removes it / them in order to check for the presence of tumour cells.

• Simple (or total) mastectomy
• The entire breast is removed.

• Social worker
• A health care professional who supports and gives advice to patients and families. A social worker may provide referrals to support groups, explain financial assistance options and provide other educational resources. They can also give counselling to help manage feelings of isolation or loneliness, as well as counselling and support for your partner and children.

• Statut ganglionnaire
• montre si les ganglions lymphatiques dans la zone de l’aisselle (ganglions axillaires) contiennent des cellules cancéreuses. Le statut est négatif en l’absence de cellules cancéreuses et positif en présence de cellules cancéreuses.

• Surgical oncologist
• Also called an oncology surgeon, this doctor performs surgery to remove tumours and manage certain cancer-related symptoms. This professional uses special training in specific surgical techniques required for treating various cancers. Depending on where you are treated, your surgery may be performed by a surgical oncologist or a general surgeon.

• Systemic treatment
• Treatment that uses substances that travel through the bloodstream, reaching and affecting cells all over the body. Chemotherapy is an example of a systemic treatment.

T

• Targeted therapy
• Targeted therapies are drugs that are designed to target specific molecules that are involved in the growth, progression, and spread of cancer.

• Tumour
• A mass of abnormally growing cells that serve no useful bodily function. Tumours can be either benign or malignant.

U

• Ultrasound
• A diagnostic technique that uses sound waves to detect abnormal bodily structures. Sound waves are bounced off internal organs; a computer picks up their echoes, processes the information and forms a detailed picture of the area.

W

• White blood cells
• White blood cells are responsible for fighting infection caused by germs. Chemotherapy often causes a reduction in the white blood cell count, thus putting the patient at a higher risk of developing an infection. This decrease in white blood cells is called neutropenia.