Acupuncture
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. Each point is thought to control the feeling of pain in a different part of the body.
Adjuvant Therapy
Additional cancer treatment given after the primary treatment to lower the risk that the cancer will come back. Adjuvant therapy may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, or biological therapy. Also called co-adjuvant therapy, adjuvant treatment, and co-adjuvant treatment.
Advocacy (see Breast Cancer Advocacy in B)
Alopecia
Hair loss, which can include loss of hair on your head, body hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes as well as pubic hair. This often happens with chemotherapy treatment or radiation therapy. In most cases, the hair grows back after treatment ends.
Alternative Therapy
Treatment that is used along with standard treatment, but is not considered standard. Standard treatments are based on the results of scientific research and are currently accepted and widely used. Less research has been done for most types of complementary therapy. Complementary therapy includes acupuncture, dietary supplements, massage therapy, hypnosis, and meditation. For example, acupuncture may be used with certain drugs to help lessen cancer pain or nausea and vomiting. Also called complementary medicine and complementary treatment.
Amenorrhea
The absence or stopping of menstrual periods, which is sometimes caused by homone treatments or cancer treatments.
Anesthesia
Loss of feeling or numbness caused by drugs or other substances to keep patients from feeling pain during surgery or other procedures.
Angiogenesis
The creation of new blood vessels. Some cancer treatments work by blocking angiogenesis, which helps keep blood from reaching (“feeding”) the tumor.
Antibody
A protein made by white blood cells that is part of the body’s immune system. Each antibody binds to a certain antigen (foreign substance, such as bacteria) and helps the body fight the antigen.
Antibody Therapy
Treatment that uses antibodies to help the body fight cancer, infection, or other diseases. Antibodies are proteins made by the immune system that bind to specific markers on cells or tissues. Monoclonal antibodies are a type of antibody made in the laboratory that can be used in diagnosis or treatment. In cancer treatment, monoclonal antibodies may kill cancer cells directly, they may block development of tumor blood vessels, or they may help the immune system kill cancer cells.
Anti-carcinogen
A medicine, substance, or procedure used to fight cancer.
Antiemetic
A medicine that prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting.
Antigen
Any foreign substance that causes the body’s immune system to respond by making antibodies. Antigens include toxins, chemicals, bacteria, viruses, or other substances that come from outside the body. Body tissues and cells, including cancer cells, also have antigens on them that can cause an immune response. These antigens can also be used as markers in laboratory tests to find those tissues or cells.
Antioxidant
Substances that protect cells from damage caused by oxidizing agents. Oxidizing agents are always present in the body and can be helpful. However, when large amounts of oxidants are present in cells, they can cause damage, especially to DNA. This can lead to abnormal cell growth. Antioxidants might reduce risk of some cancers. Antioxidants include beta-carotene and vitamins A, C and E.
Apoptosis
A type of cell death in which a series of molecular steps in a cell lead to its death. This is one method the body uses to get rid of unneeded or abnormal cells. The process of apoptosis may be blocked in cancer cells. Also called programmed cell death.
Areola
The darkly shaded circle of skin surrounding the nipple.
Aromatase Inhibitors
Hormone therapy drugs that lower estrogen levels in the body by blocking aromatase, an enzyme that turns other hormones into estrogen. Aromatase inhibitors are used to treat postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer. Examples include anastrozole (Arimidex®), letrozole (Femara®), and exemestane (Aromasin®).
Aspirate
To remove fluid and a small number of cells. It could also mean to accidentally inhale food or liquids into the lungs.
Atrophic Vaginitis (see Vaginal Atrophy in V)
Atypical Hyperplasia
A benign (not cancer) condition in which cells look abnormal under a microscope and are increased in number.
Autologous
Use of a person’s own blood or tissue in a medical procedure, rather than a donor. For example, autologous breast reconstruction uses a woman’s own tissue to rebuild her breast.
Axilla
The underarm area.
Axillary Dissection (Axillary Sampling)
Removal of the lymph nodes in the armpit (the axillary nodes). They are looked at with a microscope to see if they contain cancer.
Axillary Lymph Nodes
The lymph nodes in the underarm area.
Ayurveda
A medical system from India that has been used for thousands of years. The goal is to cleanse the body and to restore balance to the body, mind, and spirit. It uses diet, herbal medicines, exercise, meditation, breathing, physical therapy, and other methods. It is a type of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapy. Also called Ayurvedic medicine.