A
Adrenal glands: A pair of organs that produce hormones, including estrogen; located on top of the kidneys.
Antiestrogen: Medication that is used to treat breast cancers that depend on estrogen for growth.
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C
Chemotherapy: Treatment with drugs that attack and kill rapidly growing cancer cells and some normal cells.
Clinical trial: A medical study that tests the safety and effectiveness of a drug or intervention in people.
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E
Estrogen: A female hormone; one of the hormones that can help some breast cancer tumors grow.
Estrogen receptor: A protein associated with cells. The hormone estrogen will bind to the receptors inside the cells and may cause the cells to grow.
Estrogen receptor antagonist: A drug that blocks the stimulating effect of estrogen on a tumor cell.
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H
Hormonal treatment (therapy): In breast cancer, using drugs to block the effects or production of estrogen.
Hormone receptor positive: Refers to cells that have a receptor for estrogen or progesterone. Cancer cells that are hormone receptor-positive can grow when estrogen or progesterone attaches to receptors.
Hormones: Substances produced by organs or cells in your body that affect bodily processes. Estrogen and progesterone are examples.
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I
Intramuscular injection: An injection given into the muscle.
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L
Locally advanced breast cancer: Cancer that has spread from where it started in the breast to nearby tissue or lymph nodes, but not to other parts of the body.
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M
Metastatic breast cancer: Also referred to as stage IV breast cancer. Cancer that has spread from the breast to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs, or brain.
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P
Postmenopausal: Refers to the time after menopause. Menopause is when you have permanently stopped having menstrual periods.
Progesterone: A hormone that is important in menstruation and fertility. It may affect the growth of some breast cancers (those that are determined to be progesterone receptor positive).
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