A device that forms light into intense, narrow beams that may be used to cut or destroy tissue, such as cancer tissue. It may also be used to reduce lymphedema (swelling caused by a buildup of lymph fluid in tissue) after breast cancer surgery. Lasers are used in microsurgery, photodynamic therapy and many other procedures to diagnose and treat disease.

Treatment that uses intense, narrow beams of light to cut and destroy tissue, such as cancer tissue. Laser therapy may also be used to reduce lymphedema (swelling caused by a buildup of lymph fluid in tissue) after breast cancer surgery.c

Side effects of cancer treatment that appear months or years after treatment has ended. Late effects include physical and mental problems and second cancers.

Describes a condition that is present but not active or causing symptoms.

Loop electrosurgical excision procedure. Also called loop excision. LEEP is a technique that uses electric current passed through a thin wire loop to remove abnormal tissue.

An area of abnormal tissue. A lesion may be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

Brand name, Femara. A medicine used to treat advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Letrozole causes a decrease in the amount of estrogen made by the body. It is a type of aromatase inhibitor.

A ranking system used to describe the strength of the results measured in a clinical trial or research study. The design of the study (such as a case report for an individual participant or a randomized double-blinded controlled clinical trial) and the endpoints measured (such as survival or quality of life) affect the strength of the evidence.

Sexual desire or the mental energy or emotion related to sex.

The process of tying off blood vessels so that blood cannot flow to a part of the body or to a tumor.

A machine that uses electricity to form a stream of fast-moving subatomic particles. This creates high-energy radiation that may be used to treat cancer. Also called linac, mega-voltage linear accelerator and MeV linear accelerator.

A medicine that may protect healthy cells from chemotherapy and radiation without inhibiting the effects of these therapies on tumor cells.

An image of the liver created on a computer screen or on film. A radioactive substance is injected into a blood vessel and travels through the bloodstream. It collects in the liver, especially in abnormal areas, and can be detected by the scanner.

A substance that contains the metal platinum and may kill cancer cells by damaging their DNA and stopping them from dividing. It is a type of alkylating agent.

A portion of an organ, such as the breast, liver, lung, thyroid or brain.

Also called LCIS. A condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lobules of the breast. Lobular carcinoma in situ seldom becomes invasive cancer; however, having it in one breast increases the risk of developing breast cancer in either breast.

A temporary loss of feeling in one small area of the body caused by special medicine or other substances called anesthetics. The individual stays awake but has no feeling in the area of the body treated with the anesthetic.

Treatment that affects cells in the tumor and the area close to it.

Restricted to the site of origin, without evidence of spread.

Cancer that has recurred (come back) at or near the same place as the original (primary) tumor, usually after a period of time during which the cancer could not be detected.

Also called LEEP and loop excision. A technique that uses electric current passed through a thin wire loop to remove abnormal tissue.

A medicine used to treat anxiety and certain seizure disorders (such as epilepsy), and to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. It belongs to the families of medicines called antiemetics and benzodiazepines.

An oily or slippery substance.

Surgery to remove abnormal tissue or cancer from the breast and a small amount of normal tissue around it. It is a type of breast-sparing surgery.

Also called LH-RH agonist. A medicine that inhibits the secretion of sex hormones. In men, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist causes testosterone levels to fall. In women, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist causes the levels of estrogen and other sex hormones to fall.

Also called lymphadenectomy. A surgical procedure in which the lymph nodes are removed and a sample of tissue is checked under a microscope for signs of breast cancer. For a regional lymph node dissection, some of the lymph nodes in the tumor area are removed; for a radical lymph node dissection, most or all of the lymph nodes in the tumor area are removed.

The use of dyes and radioactive substances to identify lymph nodes that may contain tumor cells. Also called lymphatic mapping.

A thin tube that carries lymph (lymphatic fluid) and white blood cells through the lymphatic system. Also called lymphatic vessel.

Disease or swelling of the lymph nodes.

An X-ray study of the lymphatic system. A dye is injected into a lymphatic vessel and travels throughout the lymphatic system. The dye outlines the lymphatic vessels and organs on the X-ray.

Also called lymph. The clear fluid that travels through the lymphatic system and carries cells that help fight infections and other diseases.

The tissues and organs that produce, store, and carry white blood cells that fight infections and other diseases. This system includes the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and lymphatic vessels (a network of thin tubes that carry lymph and white blood cells). Lymphatic vessels branch, like blood vessels, into all the tissues of the body.

A condition in which extra lymph fluid builds up, causing swelling in tissues under the skin of the hand, arm, breast or torso, on the same side that breast cancer occurs. Lymphedema may occur in an arm or leg if lymph vessels are blocked, damaged, or removed by surgery. It can occur at any time after breast cancer treatment. Physical therapy treatment after breast cancer surgery may help prevent or manage lymphedema.

A method used to check the lymph system for disease. A radioactive substance that flows through the lymph ducts and can be taken up by lymph nodes is injected into the body. A scanner or probe is used to follow the movement of this substance on a computer screen. Lymphoscintigraphy is used to find the sentinel lymph node (the first node to receive lymph from a tumor), which may be removed and checked for tumor cells. Lymphoscintigraphy is also used to diagnose certain diseases or conditions, such as lymphoma or lymphedema.

Also called pregabalin. A medicine used to treat nerve pain caused by diabetes or herpes zoster (shingles) infection and certain types of seizures. It is being studied in the prevention and treatment of nerve pain in the hands and feet of cancer individuals given chemotherapy. Lyrica is a type of anticonvulsant.