Deputy Physician-in-Chief for Breast Cancer Programs Larry Norton was interviewed on PBS NewsHour about a recent recommendation from a National Cancer Institute working group that proposed changing the definition of cancer.
In this “Ask the Expert” feature, Cara Anselmo, a registered dietitiannutritionist, discusses the importance of maintaining a healthy diet while undergoing breast cancer treatment.
A Memorial Sloan-Kettering study suggests that lymphedema of the arm, a swelling that can occur following breast cancer treatment, may be reduced by acupuncture.
Charles Sawyers, Larry Norton, and Kenneth Offit are being honored with special awards at the annual meeting of the world’s leading professional organization for cancer physicians and researchers.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering ClinicalGenetics Service Chief Kenneth Offit discusses ways for women to clearly assess their risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
A New York State law that went into effect this month requires radiologists to inform women if they have dense breasts. Dr. Lee answers questions about the concept of breast density and what women should know.
Dr. Sclafani, who practices at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Commack, wants newly diagnosed patients to leave her office with hope and with a plan of action for treating the cancer.
New, potentially practice-changing research sheds light on the long-term benefits of estrogen-blocking tamoxifentherapy in women with early-stage breast cancer whose disease is estrogen-receptor positive.
A new Memorial Sloan-Kettering study has identified one of the proteins fueling the spread of some breast cancers, and researchers hope their findings will lead to the development of new diagnostic tools and drugs.
Dr. King talks about her research investigating why certain women develop breast cancer and about the long-term relationships she maintains with her patients.
Dr. Mehrara talks about the expertise of Memorial Sloan-Kettering plastic surgeons and how patients with breast cancer and head and neck cancer benefit from recent advances in reconstructive surgery.
A team of investigators from Memorial Sloan-Kettering has shown for the first time that tumor growth, metastasis, and chemotherapyresistance are connected to the same molecular changes inside breast cancer cells.
Dr. Morrow, Chief of Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Breast Surgical Service, discusses how our patients with breast cancer are cared for by a true team of experts in every aspect of treatment and recovery.
A new study confirms that female childhood cancer survivors who were treated with radiation to the chest have a high risk of developing breast cancer at a young age – a risk that is comparable to that of women who have mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.
Dr. Morrow is the first surgeon and the first person from Memorial Sloan-Kettering to receive the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s award, which recognizes breast cancer researchers who are also excellent mentors.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering is the first and only hospital in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to offer a new, more patient-friendly approach for doctors to precisely pinpoint and remove small breast cancers.
Breast Surgical Service Chief Monica Morrow provides perspective on assessing the quality of surgical breast cancer treatment in an editorial in the February 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering medical oncologist Clifford A. Hudis has been elected President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the world’s leading professional organization representing more than 30,000 physicians who care for people with cancer.
Research published in the November 19 issue of The Lancet finds that MRI use for breast cancer screening in women at high risk for the disease – due to family history or a genetic mutation – detects more cancers than screening mammography.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center researchers have identified a feature in the DNA of breast cancer cells that might indicate the likelihood a woman’s disease will become life threatening.
A multicenter study has found that for women who meet certain criteria — about 20 percent of all breast cancer patients — the surgery, called axillary node dissection, is unnecessary and does not improve survival or reduce rates of recurrence.
The new Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Imaging Center opened in October offering patients advanced outpatient services for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
Medical oncologist Larry Norton commented on recommendations from a working group of the National Cancer Institute that suggested changing the definition of cancer.
Surgical oncologist Monica Morrow discussed a study she co-authored that found that more than three-quarters of women who opt for double mastectomies are not getting any benefit because their risk of cancer developing in the healthy breast is no greater than in women without cancer.
Diagnostic radiologist Carol Lee discussed a study that analyzed 30 years of data on breast cancer incidence and suggested that as many as a third of cancers detected through routine mammograms may not be life threatening. EpidemiologistColin Begg also commented on the study in Reuters and Nature, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Breast Disease Management Team authored a letter to the editor about the study that was published in the New York Times.
Watch medical oncologist Larry Norton speaking about the latest in breast cancer research on ABC's The View. Norton is Memorial Sloan-Kettering's Deputy Physician-in-Chief for Breast Cancer Programs as well as the Medical Director of the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center physician-scientists report that women with small, node-negative, HER2-positive breast cancer may obtain a significant benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy with trastuzumab (Herceptin®), a drug previously shown to improve outcomes in advanced cancer and prevent the return of cancer in women diagnosed with higher-risk, early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer. This study appears online in the journal Cancer, and will be published in a future print edition.
An international study led by researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has identified genetic variants in women with BRCA2 mutations that may increase or decrease their risk of developing breast cancer.
The decision regarding treatment following breast-conserving surgery for patients diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) has long been an area of discussion and confusion for patients and physicians alike. While the mortality rates for DCIS remain low, the risk of local recurrence in the breast is high. In an attempt to help physicians and patients weigh the risks and benefits of the available options, researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) are reporting in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on the development of a new prediction tool that calculates a patient’s individualized risk for recurrence five and ten years after surgery.
Cancer progression is commonly thought of as a process involving the growth of a primary tumor followed by metastasis, in which cancer cells leave the primary tumor and spread to distant organs. A new study by researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center shows that circulating tumor cells - cancer cells that break away from a primary tumor and disseminate to other areas of the body - can also return to and grow in their tumor of origin, a newly discovered process called “self-seeding.”
There is concern that mastectomy is over-utilized in the United States, which raises questions about the role of surgeons and patient preference in treatment selection for breast cancer. New data from an observational study published in the October 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on surgical care, found that breast-conserving surgery was presented and provided in the majority of patients evaluated.
The new Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Imaging Center have opened, offering patients the most advanced outpatient services for cancer diagnosis and breast cancer treatment and detection.
New research led by investigators at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center sheds light on a genetic function that gives breast cancer cells the ability to survive and spread to the bone years after treatment has been administered.
A study led by researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has uncovered how breast tumors use a particular type of molecule to promote metastasis - the spread of cancer cells.
A new pilot study by investigators at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center found that breast cancer patients can be treated safely with a “dose-dense” regimen of standard chemotherapy agents and the antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin®), a drug that has previously been shown to cause cardiactoxicity.
ATLANTA, June 5, 2006 - A new multicenter study is the first to suggest that the prophylactic removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes may provide a different benefit for women who carry a genetic mutation in the BRCA2 gene than for those who have a BRCA1 genetic mutation. The results of the study, which are being presented today at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting, also provide the strongest evidence to date that this surgery significantly reduces the overall risk of BRCA-associated breast and ovarian cancers.
June 5, 2006
acupuncture (AK-yoo-PUNK-cher)
The technique of inserting thin needles through the skin at specific points on the body to control pain and other symptoms. It is a type of complementary and alternative medicine.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
advanced cancer (ad-VANST KAN-ser)
Cancer that has spread to other places in the body and usually cannot be cured or controlled with treatment.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
antibody (AN-tee-BAH-dee)
A protein made by plasma cells (a type of white blood cell) in response to an antigen (a substance that causes the body to make a specific immune response). Each antibody can bind to only one specific antigen. The purpose of this binding is to help destroy the antigen. Some antibodies destroy antigens directly. Others make it easier for white blood cells to destroy the antigen.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
axillary (AK-sih-LAYR-ee)
Pertaining to the armpit area, including the lymph nodes that are located there.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
breast (brest)
Glandular organ located on the chest. The breast is made up of connective tissue, fat, and breast tissue that contains the glands that can make milk. Also called mammary gland.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
breast cancer (brest KAN-ser)
Cancer that forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
breast density (brest DEN-sih-tee)
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.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
breast-conserving surgery (brest-kun-SER-ving SER-juh-ree)
An operation to remove the breast cancer but not the breast itself. Types of breast-conserving 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-sparing surgery.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
cancer (KAN-ser)
A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
cancer screening
Clinical testing designed to identify the presence of a specific cancer in an asymptomatic individual or population thought to be at risk of that specific cancer. The intent is to find cancers at the earliest possible stage in their development, in order to improve the chances for disease cure.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
carcinoma (KAR-sih-NOH-muh)
Cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
cardiac (KAR-dee-ak)
Having to do with the heart.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
chemotherapy (KEE-moh-THAYR-uh-pee)
Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
clinical (KLIH-nih-kul)
Having to do with the examination and treatment of patients.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
confusion (kun-FYOO-zhun)
A mental state in which one is not thinking clearly.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
DCIS
A noninvasive 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. In some cases, DCIS may become invasive cancer and spread to other tissues, although it is not known at this time how to predict which lesions will become invasive. Also called ductal carcinoma in situ and intraductal carcinoma.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
diagnosis (DY-ug-NOH-sis)
The process of identifying a disease, such as cancer, from its signs and symptoms.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
diet (DY-et)
The things a person eats and drinks.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
dietitian (dy-eh-TIH-shun)
A health professional with special training in nutrition who can help with dietary choices. Also called nutritionist.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
disseminate (dih-SEH-mih-NAYT)
Scatter or distribute over a large area or range.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
DNA
The molecules inside cells that carry genetic information and pass it from one generation to the next. Also called deoxyribonucleic acid.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
drug (drug)
Any substance, other than food, that is used to prevent, diagnose, treat or relieve symptoms of a disease or abnormal condition. Also refers to a substance that alters mood or body function, or that can be habit-forming or addictive, especially a narcotic.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
early-stage breast cancer (ER-lee-stayj brest KAN-ser)
Breast cancer that has not spread beyond the breast or the axillary lymph nodes. This includes ductal carcinoma in situ and stage I, stage IIA, stage IIB, and stage IIIA breast cancers.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
epidemiologist (EH-pih-DEE-mee-AH-loh-jist)
A scientist who studies the patterns, causes, and control of disease in groups of people.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
experimental (ek-SPAYR-ih-men-tul)
In clinical trials, refers to a drug (including a new drug, dose, combination, or route of administration) or procedure that has undergone basic laboratory testing and received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be tested in human subjects. A drug or procedure may be approved by the FDA for use in one disease or condition, but be considered experimental in other diseases or conditions. Also called investigational.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
family history (FA-mih-lee HIH-stuh-ree)
A record of the relationships among family members along with their medical histories. This includes current and past illnesses. A family history may show a pattern of certain diseases in a family. Also called family medical history.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
gene (jeen)
The functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring. Genes are pieces of DNA, and most genes contain the information for making a specific protein.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
genetic (jeh-NEH-tik)
Inherited; having to do with information that is passed from parents to offspring through genes in sperm and egg cells.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
genetics (jeh-NEH-tix)
The study of genes and heredity. Heredity is the passing of genetic information and traits (such as eye color and an increased chance of getting a certain disease) from parents to offspring.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
head and neck cancer (... KAN-ser)
Cancer that arises in the head or neck region (in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, salivary glands, throat, or larynx [voice box]).
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
imaging (IH-muh-jing)
In medicine, a process that makes pictures of areas inside the body. Imaging uses methods such as x-rays (high-energy radiation), ultrasound (high-energy sound waves), and radio waves.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
incidence (IN-sih-dents)
The number of new cases of a disease diagnosed each year.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
lymphedema (LIM-fuh-DEE-muh)
A condition in which extra lymph fluid builds up in tissues and causes swelling. It may occur in an arm or leg if lymph vessels are blocked, damaged, or removed by surgery.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
mammography (ma-MAH-gruh-fee)
The use of film or a computer to create a picture of the breast.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
mastectomy (ma-STEK-toh-mee)
Surgery to remove the breast (or as much of the breast tissue as possible).
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
medical oncologist (MEH-dih-kul on-KAH-loh-jist)
A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer using chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy, and targeted therapy. A medical oncologist often is the main health care provider for someone who has cancer. A medical oncologist also gives supportive care and may coordinate treatment given by other specialists.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
metastasis (meh-TAS-tuh-sis)
The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another. A tumor formed by cells that have spread is called a “metastatic tumor” or a “metastasis.” The metastatic tumor contains cells that are like those in the original (primary) tumor. The plural form of metastasis is metastases (meh-TAS-tuh-SEEZ).
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
molecule (MAH-leh-kyool)
The smallest particle of a substance that has all of the physical and chemical properties of that substance. Molecules are made up of one or more atoms. If they contain more than one atom, the atoms can be the same (an oxygen molecule has two oxygen atoms) or different (a water molecule has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom). Biological molecules, such as proteins and DNA, can be made up of many thousands of atoms.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
mortality (mor-TA-lih-tee)
The state of being mortal (destined to die). Mortality also refers to the death rate, or the number of deaths in a certain group of people in a certain period of time. Mortality may be reported for people who have a certain disease, live in one area of the country, or who are of a certain gender, age, or ethnic group.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
MRI
A procedure in which radio waves and a powerful magnet linked to a computer are used to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures can show the difference between normal and diseased tissue. MRI makes better images of organs and soft tissue than other scanning techniques, such as computed tomography (CT) or x-ray. MRI is especially useful for imaging the brain, the spine, the soft tissue of joints, and the inside of bones. Also called magnetic resonance imaging, NMRI, and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
multicenter study (MUL-tee-SEN-ter STUH-dee)
A clinical trial that is carried out at more than one medical institution.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
mutation (myoo-TAY-shun)
Any change in the DNA of a cell. Mutations may be caused by mistakes during cell division, or they may be caused by exposure to DNA-damaging agents in the environment. Mutations can be harmful, beneficial, or have no effect. If they occur in cells that make eggs or sperm, they can be inherited; if mutations occur in other types of cells, they are not inherited. Certain mutations may lead to cancer or other diseases.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
National Cancer Institute (NA-shuh-nul KAN-ser IN-stih-TOOT)
The National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's principal agency for cancer research. The National Cancer Institute conducts, coordinates, and funds cancer research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer. Access the National Cancer Institute Web site at . Also called NCI.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
node-negative (node-NEH-guh-tiv)
Cancer that has not spread to the lymph nodes.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
nutritionist (noo-TRIH-shuh-nist)
A health professional with special training in nutrition who can help with dietary choices. Also called dietitian.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
observational study (OB-ser-VAY-shuh-nul STUH-dee)
A type of study in which individuals are observed or certain outcomes are measured. No attempt is made to affect the outcome (for example, no treatment is given).
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
oncologist (on-KAH-loh-jist)
A doctor who specializes in treating cancer. Some oncologists specialize in a particular type of cancer treatment. For example, a radiation oncologist specializes in treating cancer with radiation.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
oncology (on-KAH-loh-jee)
The study of cancer.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
outpatient (OWT-pay-shunt)
A patient who visits a health care facility for diagnosis or treatment without spending the night. Sometimes called a day patient.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
ovarian (oh-VAYR-ee-un)
Having to do with the ovaries, the female reproductive glands in which the ova (eggs) are formed. The ovaries are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
pilot study (PY-lut STUH-dee)
The initial study examining a new method or treatment.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
primary tumor (PRY-mayr-ee TOO-mer)
The original tumor.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
progression (pruh-GREH-shun)
In medicine, the course of a disease, such as cancer, as it becomes worse or spreads in the body.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
prophylactic (PROH-fih-LAK-tik)
In medicine, something that prevents or protects.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
radiation (RAY-dee-AY-shun)
Energy released in the form of particle or electromagnetic waves. Common sources of radiation include radon gas, cosmic rays from outer space, medical x-rays, and energy given off by a radioisotope (unstable form of a chemical element that releases radiation as it breaks down and becomes more stable).
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
radiologist (RAY-dee-AH-loh-jist)
A doctor who specializes in creating and interpreting pictures of areas inside the body. The pictures are produced with x-rays, sound waves, or other types of energy.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
reconstructive surgery (REE-kun-STRUK-tiv SER-juh-ree)
Surgery that is done to reshape or rebuild (reconstruct) a part of the body changed by previous surgery.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
recurrence (ree-KER-ents)
Cancer that has recurred (come back), usually after a period of time during which the cancer could not be detected. The cancer may come back to the same place as the original (primary) tumor or to another place in the body. Also called recurrent cancer.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
regimen (REH-jih-men)
A treatment plan that specifies the dosage, the schedule, and the duration of treatment.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
resistance
Failure of a cancer to shrink after treatment.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
screening (SKREE-ning)
Checking for disease when there are no symptoms. Since screening may find diseases at an early stage, there may be a better chance of curing the disease. Examples of cancer screening tests are the mammogram (breast), colonoscopy (colon), and the Pap test and HPV test (cervix). Screening can also include checking for a person’s risk of developing an inherited disease by doing a genetic test.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
significant (sig-NIH-fih-kunt)
In statistics, describes a mathematical measure of difference between groups. The difference is said to be significant if it is greater than what might be expected to happen by chance alone. Also called statistically significant.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
surgeon (SER-jun)
A doctor who removes or repairs a part of the body by operating on the patient.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
surgery (SER-juh-ree)
A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
surgical oncologist (SER-jih-kul on-KAH-loh-jist)
A doctor who performs biopsies and other surgical procedures in cancer patients.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
tamoxifen (tuh-MOK-sih-FEN)
A drug used to treat certain types of breast cancer in women and men. It is also used to prevent breast cancer in women who have had ductal carcinoma in situ (abnormal cells in the ducts of the breast) and in women who are at a high risk of developing breast cancer. Tamoxifen is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. It blocks the effects of the hormone estrogen in the breast. Tamoxifen is a type of antiestrogen. Also called tamoxifen citrate.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
therapy (THAYR-uh-pee)
Treatment.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
toxicity (tok-SIH-sih-tee)
The extent to which something is poisonous or harmful.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
trastuzumab (tras-TOO-zoo-mab)
A drug used to treat breast cancer that is HER2-positive (expresses the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2). It is also used with other drugs to treat HER2-positive stomach cancer that has not already been treated and has spread to other parts of the body. It is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Trastuzumab binds to HER2 on the surface of HER2-positive cancer cells, and may kill them. It is a type of monoclonal antibody. Also called Herceptin.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
tumor (TOO-mer)
An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancer), or malignant (cancer). Also called neoplasm.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
ultrasound (UL-truh-SOWND)
A procedure in which high-energy sound waves are bounced off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echo patterns are shown on the screen of an ultrasound machine, forming a picture of body tissues called a sonogram. Also called ultrasonography.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
vaginal (VA-jih-nul)
Having to do with the vagina (the birth canal).
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)
will (wil)
A legal document in which a person states what is to be done with his or her property after death, who is to carry out the terms of the will, and who is to care for any minor children.
Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms (http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)