The National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's principal agency for cancer research. The National Cancer Institute conducts, coordinates, and funds cancer research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer. Access the National Cancer Institute Web site at http://www.cancer.gov. Also called NCI.

A federal agency in the U.S. that conducts biomedical research in its own labs; supports the research of non-Federal scientists in universities, medical schools, hospitals, and research institutions throughout the country and abroad; helps in the training of research investigators; and fosters communication of medical information. Access the National Institutes of Health Web site at http://www.nih.gov. Also called NIH.

A system of complementary medicine that emphasizes disease prevention and treatment, and the notion of treating 'the whole person,' rather than a specific region affected by disease. Naturopathy favors methods of healing that assist the body in healing itself. Those methods can include dietary supplements and herbal medicines, some of which are not approved for use by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Naturopathy also utilizes nutrition, acupuncture, aromatherapy, meditation, exercise, and body work such as yoga, as forms of treatment. It steers away from pharmaceutical medicines and surgery, whenever possible. In the United States, naturopathic physicians are trained in natural health care at accredited medical colleges. Because of an increased demand for natural medicine from consumers, integrative partnerships have formed between conventional medical doctors and licensed Naturopathic Doctors (NDs). Individuals affected by breast cancer who receive naturopathic treatments should take an integrative approach by consulting a general practitioner or oncologist before using any complementary therapies. An integrative approach helps the individual in breast cancer treatment to avoid any interactions between pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements, or any therapies that could slow or prevent the healing process.

A federal agency that uses science to explore complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices, trains CAM researchers, and provides authoritative information about CAM to professionals and the public. NCCAM awards grants for research projects, training, and career development in CAM; sponsors conferences, educational programs, and exhibits; studies ways to use proven CAM practices along with conventional medical practice; and supports adding CAM to medical, dental, and nursing school programs. NCCAM is part of the National Institutes of Health. Also called National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

A group of researchers, cancer centers, and community doctors who are involved in studies of new cancer treatment, prevention, early detection, quality of life, and rehabilitation. Clinical trials carried out by cooperative groups are sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and large numbers of participants take part in many locations. Examples include the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), and Children's Oncology Group (COG).

Also called needle/wire localization and wire localization. A procedure used to mark a small area of abnormal tissue so it can be removed by surgery. An imaging device is used to guide a thin wire with a hook at the end through a hollow needle to place the wire in or around the unhealthy area. Once the wire is in the right place, the needle is removed and the wire is left in place so the doctor will know where the unhealthy tissue is. The wire is removed when a biopsy is done.

A lymph node in the armpit that is free of breast cancer.

Treatment given as a first step to shrink a tumor before the main treatment, which is usually surgery, is given. Examples of neoadjuvant therapy include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormone therapy. It is a type of induction therapy.

A bundle of fibers that receives and sends messages between the body and the brain. The messages are sent by chemical and electrical changes in the cells that make up the nerves.