Brand names: Advil, Motrin. A medicine used to treat fever, swelling, pain and redness by preventing the body from making a substance that causes inflammation. It is a type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAID).

Also called IGRT. A procedure that uses a computer to create a picture of a tumor to help guide the radiation beam during radiation therapy. The pictures are made using CT, ultrasound, X-ray or other imaging techniques. Image-guided radiation therapy makes radiation therapy more accurate and causes less damage to healthy tissue.

In medicine, a process that makes pictures of areas inside the body. Imaging uses methods such as X-rays (high-energy radiation), ultrasound (high-energy sound waves) and radio waves.

Production and action of cells that fight disease or infection.

The complex group of organs and cells that defends the body against infections and other diseases.

A technique used to trigger an immune response that results in resistance to a specific disease, especially an infectious disease. Studies are underway to find agents that will trigger the body's immune response, with the goal of finding new treatments for breast cancer.

Having a weakened immune system caused by certain diseases or treatments.

A technique used to identify specific molecules in different kinds of tissue. The tissue is treated with antibodies that bind the specific molecule. These are made visible under a microscope by using a color reaction, a radioisotope, colloidal gold or a fluorescent dye. Immunohistochemistry is used to help diagnose diseases, such as breast cancer, and to detect the presence of microorganisms. It is also used in basic research to understand how cells grow and differentiate (become more specialized).

Change in the body's immune system, caused by agents that activate or suppress its function.

Treatment to boost or restore the ability of the immune system to destroy cancer, infections and other diseases. Also used to lessen certain side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments. Agents used in immunotherapy include monoclonal antibodies, growth factors and vaccines. These agents may also have a direct antitumor effect. Multiple studies are underway to find immunotherapy treatments that will be effective at treating breast cancer. Also called biological response modifier therapy, biological therapy, biotherapy, and BRM therapy.

A type of radiation therapy in which radioactive material sealed in needles, seeds, wires or catheters is placed directly into or near a tumor. Also called brachytherapy, internal radiation therapy and radiation brachytherapy.

A substance or object that is put in the body as a prosthesis, or for treatment or diagnosis. Implants are one option for breast reconstruction after a mastectomy (breast removal), a procedure sometimes used as a breast cancer treatment or prevention. Other options besides implants exist for breast reconstruction.

The number of new cases of a disease diagnosed each year.

A cut made in the body to perform surgery.

A type of cancer that grows slowly.

Invasion and multiplication of germs in the body. Infections can occur in any part of the body and can spread throughout the body. The germs may be bacteria, viruses, yeast or fungi. They can cause a fever and other problems, depending on where the infection occurs. When the body's natural defense system is strong, it can often fight the germs and prevent infection. Some breast cancer treatments can weaken the natural defense system.

The inability to produce children.

The most common type of invasive breast cancer. It starts in the cells that line the milk ducts in the breast, grows outside the ducts, and often spreads to the lymph nodes.

A type of breast cancer in which the breast looks red and swollen and feels warm. The skin of the breast may also show the pitted appearance called peau d'orange (like the skin of an orange). The redness and warmth occur because the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin.

A method of putting fluids, including medicines, into the bloodstream. Also called intravenous infusion.

Transmitted through genes that have been passed from parents to their offspring (children).

 the act of putting a liquid, especially a drug, into a person's body using a needle and a syringe (= small tube)

Difficulty in going to sleep or getting enough sleep.

Treatment that is given after breast cancer has disappeared following the initial therapy. Intensification therapy is used to kill any cancer cells that may be left in the body. It may include radiation therapy, a stem cell transplant, or treatment with medicines that kill cancer cells. Also called consolidation therapy and postremission therapy.

Also called intrusive thought. An unpleasant memory or idea that occurs often in a person's everyday thoughts and keeps him or her from thinking about other things. Interfering thoughts can make sleep difficult and make a person unable to carry out daily activities.

A type of radiation therapy in which radioactive material sealed in needles, seeds, wires or catheters is placed directly into or near a tumor. Also called brachytherapy, implant radiation therapy and radiation brachytherapy.

A doctor who specializes in internal medicine. An internist works with adults, to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases without using surgery.

In medicine, a treatment or action taken to prevent or treat disease, or improve health in other ways.

Within an artery (blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to tissues and organs in the body).

Within the skin. Also called intracutaneous.

Also called DCIS and ductal carcinoma in situ. A noninvasive condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lining of a breast duct. The abnormal cells have not spread outside the duct to other tissues in the breast. In some cases, intraductal carcinoma may become invasive cancer and spread to other tissues, although it is not known at this time how to predict which lesions will become invasive.

The delivery of anticancer mediciness directly to the blood vessels of the liver.

Also called IM. Within or into muscle. Some injections are given intramuscularly, as opposed to subcutaneous (under the skin) or interdermal (within or between layers of skin) injections.

Also called IOUS. A procedure that uses ultrasound (high-energy sound waves that are bounced off internal tissues and organs) during surgery. Sonograms (pictures made by ultrasound) of the inside of the body are viewed on a computer to help a surgeon find tumors or other problems during the operation.

The movement of a cell or a foreign substance through the wall of a blood or lymph vessel into the vessel itself. In cancer, this is how cancer cells pass through a vessel wall and enter the blood or lymph systems. It is one way that cancer spreads in the body.

A method of putting fluids, including medicines, into the bloodstream. Also called infusion.

Also called interfering thought. An unpleasant memory or idea that occurs often in a person's everyday thoughts and keeps him or her from thinking about other things. Interfering thoughts can make sleep difficult and make a person unable to carry out daily activities.

Also called infiltrating cancer. Cancer that has spread beyond the layer of tissue in which it developed and is growing into surrounding, healthy tissues.

1: of or relating to investigation investigational activities. 2: relating to or being a drug or medical procedure that is not approved for general use but is under investigation in clinical trials regarding its safety and efficacy an investigational new drug.

A type of radiation made (or given off ) by X-ray procedures, radioactive substances, rays that enter the Earth's atmosphere from outer space and other sources. At high doses, ionizing radiation increases chemical activity inside cells and can lead to health risks, including cancer.

Also called Institutional Review Board. A group of scientists, doctors, clergy and consumers that reviews and approves the action plan for every clinical trial. There is an IRB at every health care facility that does clinical research. IRBs are designed to protect the people who take part in a clinical trial. IRBs check to see that the trial is well designed, legal, ethical, does not involve unnecessary risks and includes safeguards for participants.

Also called radiation therapy and radiotherapy. The use of high-energy radiation from X-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy). Systemic irradiation uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body.