Glossary

Anesthesiologist: A doctor who administers drugs or gases to put a patient to sleep before surgery.

Axillary dissection: Removal of all the underarm lymph nodes.

Axillary sampling: Removal of some of the underarm lymph nodes.

Chemotherapy: Treatment with drugs to destroy cancer cells. Most often used to supplement surgery or radiation therapy.

Lumpectomy: Surgical removal of the lump or cancerous tissue from the breast and some or all of the underarm lymph nodes. Also sometimes called "local excision" or "tylectomy."

Lymph nodes: Part of the lymphatic system that removes wastes from body tissue and carries fluids that help the body fight infection.

Lymphedema: Swelling in the arm caused by excess fluid that collects when the lymph nodes and vessels are removed during surgery or damaged by radiation therapy.

Mastectomy: Surgical removal of the breast.

Rad: Stands for "radiation absorbed dose." A unit of measurement for radiation therapy.