Biopsy:

Tumor tissue is removed for examination in the laboratory to determine the presence of cancer or another disease. A needle may be used to extract a few cells or a surgical procedure removes a larger piece of tissue.

Breast cancer recurrence:

Breast cancer that recurs, or returns, as metastases in the bones, liver, lungs, or other organs after initial surgery and/or treatments.

Cancer:

A condition in which cells divide without control invading nearby healthy tissues. Cancerous cells may spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system, leading to secondary tumors (metastases) in other parts of the body.

Chemotherapy:

Cytotoxic drugs are administered to destroy all dividing cells in the body, including cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used together with other treatments such as radiation therapy.

CUP:

When the location of a primary tumor is unknown, a diagnosis of ‘Cancer of Unknown Primary is given.

Early stage breast cancer:

This term describes stage I and II, lymph node-negative breast cancer.

ER (Estrogen Receptor):

Estrogen molecules (hormones) can attach to this receptor - protein that may be found in certain cell types. The term "ER positive" means that a woman's cells are sensitive to estrogen hormone.

Gene:

Functional and physical units of heredity that are passed from parents to their offspring.

Gene expression:

Genes are made up of DNA. When a gene is expressed in a cell, a copy is generated into RNA. The RNA holds the information to make a specific protein.

Gene expression profile/genomic profile:

A profile of the multiple genes being expression in a single cell or tissue sample.
Gene expression profile/genomic profile

Patient stratification:

Grouping patients according to various parameters e.g. age, tumor size, pre-treatment or drug response.

Metastatic breast cancer:

Breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body.

Primary tumor:

A tumor that is present at the original site where it first appeared.

Radiation therapy:

Radiation therapy may be used before or after surgery to destroy cancer cells and is sometimes used in combination with chemotherapy.

Staging:

Breast cancers are classified according to the size of tumor, whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, and whether the cancer has spread to other sites in the body (metastasis).

Tumor:

Tissue growth where the cells that make up the tissue are multiplying uncontrollably. A tumor can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).