Words to Know
3-dimensional radiation therapy
A procedure in which a computer is used to create a 3-dimensional picture of the tumor. This allows radiologists to give the highest possible dose of radiation to the tumor, while protecting healthy tissue as much as possible. Also called 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy and 3D-CRT.
Abraxane
A chemotherapy medicine used to treat metastatic breast cancer. It is also being studied in the treatment of early-stage breast cancer. Abraxane is a type of mitotic inhibitor. Also called ABI-007, nanoparticle paclitaxel, paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation, and protein-bound paclitaxel.
absolute risk
A measure of the risk of a certain event happening. In cancer research, an example of an 'absolute risk' can include the statistical likelihood that a cancer-free person of a given age will develop that cancer over a certain period of time. For example, a woman 35 years of age with no known risk factors for breast cancer has a 13.5 percent absolute risk of getting breast cancer, over a lifetime of 90 years.
AC-T-T regimen
An abbreviation for a chemotherapy combination treatment used in breast cancer. It contains doxorubicin hydrochloride (Adriamycin) and cyclophosphamide, followed by treatment with paclitaxel (Taxol) and trastuzumab (Herceptin). Also called AC-T-T, AC-TH regimen, and sequential AC/Taxol-Trastuzumab regimen.
AC-TH regimen
An abbreviation for a chemotherapy combination treatment used in breast cancer. It contains doxorubicin hydrochloride (Adriamycin) and cyclophosphamide, followed by treatment with paclitaxel (Taxol) and trastuzumab (Herceptin). Also called AC-T-T, AC-T-T regimen, and sequential AC/Taxol-Trastuzumab regimen.
accelerated partial-breast irradiation
A type of radiation therapy given only to the part of the breast that has cancer in it. Accelerated partial-breast irradiation gives a higher dose over a shorter time than is given in standard whole-breast radiation therapy. Accelerated partial-breast irradiation may be given with internal or external sources of radiation. Also called partial-breast irradiation.
acupressure
Applying pressure or local massage to specific sites on the body to control symptoms such as pain or nausea. It is a type of complementary or integrative medicine, meaning a treatment used in addition to standard therapies. Some women affected by breast cancer find acupressure helpful in decreasing nausea and other side effects of treatment.
acupuncture
A type of complementary or integrative medicine, meaning a treatment used in addition to standard therapies. Treatment with acupuncture involves inserting thin needles through the skin at specific points on the body to control pain or make other symptoms of breast cancer treatment or of the disease itself go away. Some women affected by breast cancer find it useful in controlling nausea and other side effects of chemotherapy treatment.