Glossary Section Q through T

Letter Q Section

Radiation therapy

Treatment with high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. External radiation therapy uses a machine located outside the body to aim high-energy rays at the cancer. Implant radiation is a treatment that places radioactive material in the breast in thin plastic tubes.

Radiologist

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.

Remission

Disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer. When this happens, the disease is said to be in remission. A remission can be temporary or permanent.

Risk factor

Sentinel lymph node

The first lymph node (or nodes) to which cancer cells spread after leaving the area of the primary tumor. Presence of cancer cells in this node alerts the doctor that the tumor has spread to the lymphatic system.

Stage

The extent of the cancer. The stage of breast cancer depends on the size of the cancer and whether it has spread from its original site to other parts of the body.

Stem cells

The immature cells in blood and bone marrow from which all mature blood cells develop. Stereotactic localization biopsy

A technique that employs three-dimensional x-ray to pinpoint a specific target area. It is used in conjunction with needle biopsy of nonpalpable breast abnormalities.

Systemic therapy

Tamoxifen

A pill that has been used for more than 20 years to treat breast cancer patients. It works against the cancer by interfering with the activity of the estrogen, a female hormone that promotes the growth of breast cancer cells.

Thermography

A test that measures and displays heat patterns of tissues near the surface of the breast. Abnormal tissue generally is warmer than healthy tissue. This technique is under study; its value in detecting breast cancer has not been proven.

Tissue

A group or layer of cells that together perform a specific function. Tissue flap reconstruction

A flap of tissues is surgically relocated from another area of the body to the chest and formed into a new breast mound.

Tumor

An abnormal mass of tissue that results from excessive cell division. Tumors may be either benign or cancerous.

Tumor markers