Gail Model (Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool)
A tool that uses personal and family history to estimate a woman’s risk of invasive breast cancer.
Galactocele
A milk-filled cyst.
Genes
A piece of DNA that is passed on from parent to offspring. Genes have information on inherited traits such as hair color, eye color, and height, as well as how likely you are to get certain diseases.
Gene Expression
Process in which a gene gets turned on in a cell to make RNA and proteins.
Gene Expression Profiling (see Tumor Profiling in T)
Gene Mutation
Any change in the DNA sequence 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. A mutation is sometimes called a variant.
Gene Variant of Uncertain Significance
A change in a gene’s DNA sequence that has an unknown effect on a person’s health. There is usually not enough information about a variant of uncertain significance to know whether it increases a person’s risk of developing a disease, such as cancer. Also called unclassified variant, variant of unknown significance, and VUS.
General Practitioner (Internist, Physician)
A doctor who has special training in internal medicine. An internist works with adult patients to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases without using surgery.
Generic
The chemical name of a drug, not the brand name. The chemical formulations of a generic drug and the brand name drug are the same. Example, ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Genetic (Hereditary)
Having to do with genes. The information in genes is passed down from parent to child. Sometimes, certain changes in genes can affect a person’s risk of disease, such as cancer. These changes may be inherited or they may occur with age or exposure to environmental factors, such as diet, exercise, drugs, and chemicals.
Genetic Susceptibility (Genetic Predisposition)
An increased likelihood or chance of developing a disease due to specific changes in a person's genes passed on from either parent.
Genetic Testing
A laboratory method that looks for changes in genes, gene expression, or chromosomes in cells or tissue of a person. These changes may be a sign of a disease or condition, such as cancer. They may also be a sign that a person has an increased risk of developing a specific disease or condition or of having a child or other family member with the disease or condition. Genetic testing may also be done on tumor tissue to help diagnose cancer, plan treatment, or find out how well treatment is working.
Genome
The total genetic information of an organism. It provides all the information needed for a person to function.
Glandular Tissue (in the breast)
The tissue in the breast that includes the milk ducts and lobules.
Grade (see Tumor Grade in T)
Gray (Gy)
The newer, international unit of measurent of radiation absorbed (by the body tissues). One gray equals 100 Rads.