Words related to breast cancer

1. BRCA1
A gene on chromosome 17 that normally helps to suppress cell growth. A person who inherits certain changes in a BRCA1 gene has a higher risk of getting breast, ovarian, prostate, and other types of cancer.

2.BRCA2
A gene on chromosome 13 that normally helps to suppress cell growth. A person who inherits certain mutations changes in a BRCA2 gene has a higher risk of getting breast, ovarian, prostate, and other types of cancer.

3.BRCAPro
A computer program that uses statistics to predict whether a person has an inherited mutation (change) in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. People who have certain mutations in these genes have a higher than normal risk of breast, ovarian, prostate, and other types of cancer. The program is based on personal and family medical histories of breast and ovarian cancer.

4.Breast Duct
A thin tube in the breast that carries milk from the breast lobules to the nipple. Also called milk duct.

5.Breast Density
Describes the relative amount of different tissues present in the breast. A dense breast has less fat than glandular and connective tissue. Mammogram films of breasts with higher density are harder to read and interpret than those of less dense breasts.

6.Breast-Sparing Surgery
An operation to remove the breast cancer but not the breast itself. Types of breast-sparing surgery include lumpectomy (removal of the lump), quadrantectomy (removal of one quarter, or quadrant, of the breast), and segmental mastectomy (removal of the cancer as well as some of the breast tissue around the tumor and the lining over the chest muscles below the tumor). Also called breast-conserving surgery.

7. Breast Carcinoma In Situ
There are 2 types of breast carcinoma in situ: ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). DCIS is a noninvasive condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lining of a breast duct (a tube that carries milk to the nipple). The abnormal cells have not spread outside the duct to other tissues in the breast. In some cases, DCIS may become invasive cancer and spread to other tissues, although it is not known how to predict which lesions will become invasive cancer. LCIS is a condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lobules (small sections of tissue involved with making milk) of the breast. This condition seldom becomes invasive cancer; however, having LCIS in one breast increases the risk of developing breast cancer in either breast. Also called stage 0 breast carcinoma in situ.