What Do These Breast Cancer Terms Mean?

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with breast cancer, it can come with unfamiliar terminology. Hearing these new medical terms all at once can be overwhelming.

Our Moffitt Cancer Center breast cancer expert is here to make the language more simple and help everyone involved feel more informed, empowered and prepared to make decisions with the care team.

“It’s so important for our patients to have an understanding of their breast cancer diagnosis because it helps them make the best informed decisions about their treatment options,” said Aixa Soyano Muller, MD, medical oncologist in Moffitt’s Breast Oncology Department. “We strive to arm our patients with this information and help them feel empowered.”

It’s so important for our patients to have an understanding of their breast cancer diagnosis because it helps them make the best informed decisions about their treatment options.

Aixa Soyano Muller, MD

Here we break down some of the most common breast cancer terms.

Common Breast Cancer Terms Explained

Dense Breasts

Dense breasts are made up of more milk-producing and support tissue than fat. This is common, especially among younger women, but it can make breast cancers sometimes harder to spot on a mammogram.

Biopsy

A biopsy is a test that takes a small piece of tissue from the breast so doctors can study it and determine if cancer is present.

Tumor

A tumor is a lump or growth made up of abnormal cells. Not all tumors are cancer.

Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)

DCIS is an early, noninvasive form of breast cancer. The abnormal cells are contained inside the milk ducts and have not spread into surrounding breast tissue.

Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS)

LCIS is not usually considered breast cancer. Instead, it is a breast condition that means that a woman has a higher risk of developing breast cancer in the future.

Metastatic Breast Cancer

Metastatic breast cancer means the breast cancer cells have spread to other areas of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs or brain.

Hormone Receptor Positive

This type of breast cancer has receptors for the hormones estrogen and/or progesterone, which can help the cancer cells grow. Hormone-blocking treatments, also called endocrine therapy, can help slow or stop the cancer’s growth.

Estrogen Receptor Positive

This type of breast cancer has receptors for estrogen, a natural hormone in the body that can help these cancer cells grow. Treatments that block estrogen can help slow or stop the cancer’s growth.

HER2 Positive

This type of breast cancer has too much of a growth-promoting protein called HER2, which can help these cancer cells grow. Special medicines can target the HER2 protein and help slow or stop the cancer’s growth.

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer does not have estrogen, progesterone or high levels of HER2 that many breast cancer treatments target. Because these common targets are absent, doctors often use other therapies such as chemotherapy, and in some cases immunotherapy, to treat it.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare but aggressive type of breast cancer that often doesn’t cause a lump. It can make the breast become red, swollen, warm, tender or appear bruised. The skin may look thick or dimpled, like an orange peel. Because symptoms can resemble an infection, discuss persistent breast changes with your healthcare provider.

BRCA Mutations

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that normally help repair damaged DNA. Certain inherited mutation defects in these genes can increase the risk of breast, ovarian and other cancers.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapies are treatments designed to attack specific proteins, genes or other features that help cancer grow while causing less damage to healthy cells.

Remission

Remission means that the signs and symptoms of cancer have decreased significantly or disappeared after treatment. Remission does not always mean a person is cured but rather that the cancer is under control or no longer detectable. Ongoing monitoring is often needed.

Breast cancer is not one disease. Different types of breast cancer behave differently, and understanding these terms can help patients make better informed decisions.