Axillary
The lymph nodes or lymph glands in the underarm area.

Benign
A relatively harmless non-cancerous swelling or tumour that does not spread into the surrounding area or to other parts of the body. A benign tumour does not recur after surgical removal.

Breast Cyst
A breast cyst is a fluid-filled sac. It is an entirely benign, common condition which may feel tender.

Core Biopsy
Removal of a small piece of tissue for examination by a pathologist.

Chemotherapy
Treatment using drugs therapy orally or intravenously (via the vein) for a specified duration and works across the whole of the body to destroy any cancer cells. This may be given before (neo-adjuvant) or after (adjuvant) surgery.

CT (Computed Tomography) or CAT scan
A method of scanning around the body using special x-ray equipment to obtain images from different angles. Particularly good for showing cross-sections of body
tissues and organs.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
A type of pre-invasive cancer. It may remain contained or can develop to become invasive.

Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)
Cells drawn from a suspicious lump using a fine needle and syringe for examination by a pathologist.

Fibroadenomas
A fibroadenoma is a smooth, firm breast lump made up of largely fibrous tissue with some glandular tissue.

HRT
Hormone Replacement Therapy. This is often prescribed to menopausal or post- menopausal women in order to improve their quality of life.

Hormone Receptor Tests
Tests performed on tissue removed by biopsy to determine whether the presumed cancer is likely to be sensitive to hormone treatment.

Invasive breast cancer
Breast cancer starts in the ducts or
lobules of the breast. If the cancer cells spread outside the ducts or lobules into the surrounding tissue this is called ‘invasive’ breast cancer.

Invasive ductal carcinoma
This is the most common type of breast cancer (accounting for nearly 90% of all invasive breast cancers) arising in the
lining of the milk ducts.

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
A type of pre-invasive cancer. It may remain contained or can develop to become invasive.

Lymph glands or lymph nodes
Part of the lymphatic system connected by minute lymph vessels. They are vitally concerned with fighting infection and disease in all areas of the body.

Lymphoedema
Swelling of the arm after surgery or radiotherapy for breast cancer. It occurs because the lymph is not draining adequately from the arm, due to damage to the underarm lymph nodes.

Malignant
Another term for cancer. Malignant cells tend to interfere with normal cells by ‘pushing’ normal cells out of the way. Malignant cells also have the ability to spread to other areas of the body.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan
This type of scan uses radio waves and a magnetic field (rather than X-rays) to build up a picture of the inside of the body.

Mammography
This is an x-ray of the breast, carried out by a specialist radiographer. Each breast is compressed between two x-ray plates after which two images of each breast are taken.

Mastectomy
Removal of all the breast tissue as surgical treatment for breast cancer.

Neo-adjuvant treatment
Therapy (e.g. hormonal, chemotherapy) given before surgery in order to try and shrink larger tumours down to an operable size.

Oncology
The medical name for the study and treatment of cancers.

Paget’s disease
This is a rare form of breast cancer that begins within the ducts and spreads into the skin of the nipple and areola. It is often picked up by an unusual eczema-like scabbing of the nipple and the immediate surrounding area.

Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is the use of high energy x-rays (radiation) given as a precaution after breast cancer surgery.

Sentinel lymph node
The ‘chief’ lymph node in the armpit.

Tumour
A tumour is a swelling caused by an abnormal cell multiplying to produce millions of cells that form a lump.

Ultrasound scan
An ultrasound uses sound waves to build up a picture of the breast. A small hand-held sensor is pressed against the skin surface. The pictures are displayed on a TV monitor.