Dictionary

A-BC-D-EF-G-H-I-J-KL-M-NO-P-QR-S-TU-V-W-X-Y-Z

O

Obese: An abnormally high, unhealthy amount of body fat.

Organ: A part of the body that performs a specific function. For example, the heart is an organ.

Ovaries: The pair of female reproductive glands in which the ova, or eggs, are formed. The ovaries are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus.

P

Palliative Care: Care that prevents or relieves the symptoms of disease or the side effects of treatments. Palliative care does not attempt to cure a disease but can improve a patient’s quality of life. It attempts to meet the physical, emotional, spiritual, and practical needs of patients by helping to relieve pain, depression, or other problems. Also known as comfort care, supportive care, and symptom management.

Partial Mastectomy: The removal of a cancer as well as some of the breast tissue around the tumor and the lining over the chest muscles below the tumor. Usually some of the lymph nodes under the arm are also taken out. Also called segmental mastectomy.

Physical Therapist: A health professional who teaches exercises and physical activities that help condition muscles and restore strength and movement.

Positron Emission Tomography Scan: PET Scan. A computerized image that shows in color the chemical activity (metabolic changes) of body tissues. The image is used to detect disease.

Primary Tumor: The original tumor.

Progesterone: A female hormone.

Progestin: Any natural or man-made substance that has some or all of the biological effects of progesterone, a female hormone.

Prosthesis: An artificial replacement of a part of the body.

Q

Please note that the above definitions were taken from the NCI (National Cancer Institute) booklet, What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer.