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benign breast changes
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umbrella term that encompasses several different noncancerous conditions that occur in the breast tissue, including trauma, breast pain, infection, skin changes, nipple discharge, and tumors
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biologic response modifier
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medication that uses the patient’s own immune system to recognize and get rid of cancer cells
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BRCA1
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gene associated with increased risk of breast cancer when mutations occur in it
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BRCA2
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gene associated with increased risk of breast cancer when mutations occur in it
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calcification
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calcium deposit found in the breast tissue that is usually benign but can sometimes indicate an early breast cancer
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core needle biopsy (CNA)
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procedure that removes a larger amount of tissue for analysis because it uses a larger hollow needle
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fibroadenoma
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painless, noncancerous tumor found in the breast tissue
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fibrocystic breast changes
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changes in either or both breasts that can cause lumpiness, or nodularity, or pain in the affected breast(s)
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fibrosis
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thickening of the glandular tissue
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fine needle aspiration (FNA)
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placement of a small needle (21 g to 25 g) into the lesion to obtain a tissue or fluid sample
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HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2)
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protein important in cell growth that, when found in high levels in breast cancer cells, causes the cancer to grow more quickly and spread more aggressively
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intraductal papilloma
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benign tumor that grows inside the milk ducts of the breasts
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lumpectomy
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surgical procedure that removes the tumor, a small ring of healthy tissue around the tumor (to ensure that all cancer cells are removed) and, possibly, some axillary lymph nodes
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mammary ductal ectasia
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(also:
periductal mastitis
) chronic inflammation of the breast tissue that also causes dilated mammary ducts with thickened walls; plasma cell infiltration; leakage of fluid into the surrounding tissue, leading to inflammation and fat necrosis; and sometimes the formation of an abscess
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mammography
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the x-ray visualization of the breast tissue, obtained by compressing the breast between two plates
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mastalgia
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breast pain
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mastectomy
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the removal of the entire breast, including the nipple and areola
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multiple papillomas
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papillomas found in the smaller milk ducts farther from the nipple
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nonlactation mastitis
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an inflammation of the breast tissue in a non–breast-feeding person, which may or may not occur with an infection
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periductal mastitis (PDM)
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(also:
mammary ductal ectasia
) chronic inflammation of the breast tissue that also causes dilated mammary ducts with thickened walls; plasma cell infiltration; leakage of fluid into the surrounding tissue, leading to inflammation and fat necrosis; and sometimes the formation of an abscess
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solitary papilloma
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individual, single tumor that grows close to the nipple in the larger milk ducts
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triple negative cancer
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cancer that is negative for HER2 protein and estrogen/progesterone receptors
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triple positive cancer
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cancer that is positive for HER2 protein and estrogen/progesterone receptors