Glossary
- Basal Type
- June 7, 2006
Racial Component Is Found in Lethal Breast Cancer Study: Breast cancer in younger black women is more likely to be an aggressive variety.
- benign growth
- Has no signs of cancer. The growth of the cells in the tumor, cyst, lump, tissue, or cells is under control. There is no spread to nearby tissue or to other parts of the body.
- BRCA1
- A gene that maintains normal cell growth. If the gene becomes abnormal, then cell growth can become abnormal. The cells can grow out of control, forming a cancer. A woman who inherits an abnormal version of gene that maintains normal cell growth. If the gene becomes abnormal, then cell growth can become abnormal. The cells can grow out of control, forming a cancer. A woman who inherits an abnormal version of BRCA1 has a higher risk of getting breast and ovarian cancer.">BRCA1 has a higher risk of getting breast and ovarian cancer.
- BRCA2
- A gene that normally helps to prevent cell growth, especially the growth of abnormal or defective cells. A person who inherits an abnormal version of gene that normally helps to prevent cell growth, especially the growth of abnormal or defective cells. A person who inherits an abnormal version of BRCA2 has a higher risk of getting breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer.">BRCA2 has a higher risk of getting breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer.
- chemotherapy
- Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells or make them less active.
- cyst
- A sac or capsule filled with fluid.
- duct
- A tiny part of the body shaped like a tube or pipe. Body fluids pass through it—for example, tear ducts, bile ducts, and milk ducts.
- estrogen
- The major female sex hormone. It is made mainly in the ovaries for women before menopause. It is made in muscles and fat tissue for women after menopause.
- fibrocystic
- Breast gland tissue build-up or cysts. They can become swollen and painful. They are not cancerous. But some types of fibrocystic changes are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in the future.
- gene
- The basic unit of a cell that passes on the traits of parents to their children through the egg and sperm. Genes are pieces of DNA. They have information for making specific proteins that control specific traits or activities. Examples of traits controlled by genes are eye color, foot size, and height. Examples of activity include the growth and repair of cells.
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