A - B Breast Cancer Medical Terms

After surgery, you may need adjuvant treatments -- these are therapies that help complete the elimination of cancer from your body.

Allicin gives garlic its powerful odor, but it does not exist until garlic is crushed, or an unsuspecting insect bites into it. Does allicin have powerful anticancer properties? Learn more about allicin and cancer.

Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels. Tumors can release chemicals that cause new blood vessels to grow and supply it with nutrients to increase.

Anthocyanidins show up in green tea, cranberries, and several fruits and vegetables. Learn more about anthocyanidins and how they fight cancer here.

An antioxidant is any chemical compound or substance that inhibits or reduces oxidation damage caused by free radicals. Learn more.

Areola - a halo of skin around the nipple

To use suction to remove something such as fluid, gas, or tissue, during a medical procedure.

Ativan (lorazepam) is an anti-anxiety medication sometimes used to control nausea and vomiting.

Atypia is a state in which something is not typical but is abnormal. Learn more about atypia and breast cancer.

Autologous reconstruction refers to plastic surgery that uses your own tissue to replace lost tissue.

The status of your axilla can be an important part of your diagnostic workup for breast cancer. Learn why your axilla should be checked for breast cancer.

Basal cells occur in skin, but why is a subtype of cancer called basal-like breast cancer? Learn more about basal cells and basal-like breast cancer here.

Basophils are a type of white blood cell (leukocyte). These cells help you fight infections by releasing histamine and other chemicals that act on your blood vessels when your immune response is triggered.

Benign structures in the breast are not cancer, and are not malignant.

Plasma is a watery, almost colorless fluid that contains no cells. It accounts for about half the volume of your blood and lymphatic fluid.

BRCA1 is a gene that, when healthy, prevents breast tumors from forming. It is associated with hereditary breast cancer.

BRCA2 is a gene that, when healthy, prevents breast tumors from forming. It is associated with hereditary breast cancer.