Benign 
Something that does not metastasise and treatment or removal is curative.

Breast Cancer
The uncontrolled growth of malignant breast tissue.
See Also: Breast Cancer - What is it?

Breast Self-Examination (BSE) 
A regular, defined process of thorough physical palpation and visual examination of the breasts once a month to detect any changes or suspicious lumps.

Cancer 
The uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, which have mutated from normal cells. There are at least 200 different kinds of cancer, which can develop in almost any organ of the body. Cancer can prevent normal function of affected organs, or spread throughout the body to damage other important body systems. When this occurs, cancer can lead to death. 

Lactation
The period of time when the breasts are producing and secreting milk.

Malignant 
Cancer that has the ability to spread to other parts of the body and may eventually cause disability or death. 

Malignant Tumour 
A mass of cancer cells. These cells have uncontrolled growth and will invade surrounding tissues and spread to distant sites of the body, setting up new cancer sites.

• To the top

Mammogram 
A special imaging examination of the breast using x-rays. The purpose of this test is to detect breast cancer early, when lumps are less than 2 cm in size.

Mammography 
The practice of taking diagnostic x-ray pictures of breasts to produce a mammogram.

Menarche
The establishment or beginning of a woman's menstrual function during puberty.

Menopause
The time of life when a woman's menstrual periods stop permanently, usually after age 50.

Metastasis 
The transfer of disease from one organ or part to another site in the body.

Ovarian Cancer
A malignant tumour of the ovary.

Ovary
A female reproductive gland in which the ova (eggs) are formed. The ovaries are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. See diagram.

Tissue
 A term that is applied to any group of cells in the body that perform specific functions.

• To the top