Glossary

Breast biopsy - is the removal of breast tissue for examination by a pathologist. This can be accomplished surgically or by extracting, or withdrawing, tissue through a needle. The breast biopsy procedure involves taking a sample of the tissue from the suspicious area to determine whether the breast lump is cancerous

Benign
A benign growth or benign tumor is not malignant (cancerous) and can not spread to other parts of the body. Benign growths are almost always less dangerous than malignant ones.

BRCA1 (BReast CAncer 1) Gene and BRCA2 (BReast CAncer 2) Gene
The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes normally help to control cell growth. Mutations in either gene significantly increase a person's risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. In addition to having a higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, women with mutations in either BRCA1 or BRCA2 tend to develop the disease at a much earlier age than women in the general population.

Breast Implants
Breast implantation is a surgical procedure for enlarging the breast. Breast-shaped sacks made of a silicone outer shell and filled with silicone gel or saline (salt water), called implants, are used. Breast implantation is performed to make breasts larger for cosmetic purposes. Implants can also make it more difficult to read and interpret mammogram, with a possibility of delaying detection of breast cancer.

Chromosomes (KRO-mo-some)
The part of the cell that contains genetic information. People have 23 pairs of chromosomes, 46 in all: 44 autosomes and two sex chromosomes. Each parent contributes one chromosome to each pair, so children get half of their chromosomes from their mothers and half from their fathers.

Ductal Lavage

Ductal lavage is a minimially invasive procedure that is used to sample cells within the ducts of the breast where the majority of breast cancers occurs.  During the ductal lavage procedure, breast cells are removed by a catheter (thin tube) from the milk duct (nipple) in the breast. Ductal lavage is done at Advanced Breast Care Specialists.

First Degree Relative
A relative who is a person's biological mother, father, full sibling, or child. Step parents, step children, or half siblings are not first degree relatives.

Gene
A segment of DNA that contains the instructions to make a specific protein (or part of a protein). Genes are contained on chromosomes. Chromosomes, and the genes on those chromosomes, are passed on from parent to child. Errors in the DNA that make up a gene are called mutations and can lead to diseases.

Disease-Causing Mutation
A change or alteration that occurs in the DNA. These mutations cause or predispose an individual to a specific disease.

Hereditary
A gene change in the body's reproductive cells (egg or sperm) that becomes incorporated into the DNA of every cell in the body of offspring; hereditary mutations are passed on from parents to offspring. Also called germline mutation.

Mutation
Any alteration in a gene from its natural state. The alterations may be disease-causing or just a normal variation that causes no harm.

Oncoplastic Surgery (breast reconstruction)

This surgical technique addresses both concerns of treating the cancer and plastic surgery (reconstruction of the breast).  Dr. Lisa Curcio is among a select group of surgeons trained in this promising field of breast cancer reconstructive surgery.

Prophylactic Mastectomy
Surgery to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by removing one or both breasts before disease develops. Also called preventive mastectomy.

Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM)
A drug that acts like estrogen on some tissues but blocks the effect of estrogen on other tissues. Tamoxifen and raloxifene are SERMs.

Contact Dr. Lisa Curcio to discuss your risk for breast cancer . Dr. Curcio is a breast cancer heredity risk specialist and she can advise you on your breast cancer risk.

Visit "Advanced Breast Care Specialists of Orange County"  in Mission Viejo, California.