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breast cancer
breast cancer cancer that originates in the breast. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women (following lung cancer ). Even allowing for improvements in detection (i.e., the introduction of routine mammography), there has been a long-term gradual increase in the inciden...
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sphinx
sphinx , mythical beast of ancient Egypt, frequently symbolizing the pharaoh as an incarnation of the sun god Ra . The sphinx was represented in sculpture usually in a recumbent position with the head of a man and the body of a lion, although some were constructed with rams' heads and others with h...
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mastectomy
mastectomy , surgical removal of breast tissue, usually done as treatment for breast cancer . There are many types of mastectomy. In general, the farther the cancer has spread, the more tissue is taken. The radical mastectomies of the past (which removed not only the breast, but underlying chest mu...
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Amazon
Amazon , in Greek mythology, one of a tribe of warlike women who lived in Asia Minor. The Amazons had a matriarchal society, in which women fought and governed while men performed the household tasks. Each Amazon had to kill a man before she could marry, and all male children were either killed or m...
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mastitis
mastitis , inflammation of the breast. Mastitis most commonly occurs in nursing mothers between the first and third weeks after childbirth, usually of the first child. It is an infection that results when bacteria enter through cracked nipples; the organisms may already be in the body and attack bre...
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mammography
mammography diagnostic procedure that uses low-dose X rays to detect abnormalities in the breasts. The early diagnosis of breast cancer made possible by the routine use of mammography for screening women increases a woman's treatment alternatives and improves her chances of surviving the cancer. ...
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breast implant
breast implant saline- or silicone-filled prosthesis used after mastectomy as a part of the breast reconstruction process or used cosmetically to augment small breasts. An implant consists of a fluid-filled, malleable pouch that is designed to mimic to the look and feel of natural breast tissue w...
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tamoxifen
tamoxifen , synthetic hormone used in the treatment of breast cancer . Introduced in 1978, tamoxifen is used to prevent recurrences of cancer in women who have already undergone surgery to remove their tumors. In 1998, a large study of healthy women at high risk for breast cancer showed that tamoxi...
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grosbeak
grosbeak [great beak], common name for various members of the family Fringillidae ( finch family). Grosbeaks are characterized by their large conical bills. The male rose-breasted grosbeak ( Zamelodia ludoviciana ) is striking with its white bill and summer plumage of black and white accented by a...
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lymphatic system
lymphatic system , network of vessels carrying lymph, or tissue-cleansing fluid, from the tissues into the veins of the circulatory system. The lymphatic system functions along with the circulatory system in absorbing nutrients from the small intestines. A large portion of digested fats are absorbed...
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