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Adjuvant treatment
The treatment that is given after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells and lower your risk of the cancer returning. The goal of adjuvant treatment is to keep you cancer-free for as long as possible.
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Chemotherapy
A type of medication that kills cells that grow and divide rapidly, including cancer cells and normal cells.
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Cycle
A cycle is a course of treatment that is repeated on a regular schedule with periods of rest in between.
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HER2 status
HER2 stands for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. HER2 is a type of protein found on the surface of cells in everyone that tells the cells to grow and divide. When breast cancer cells have too many HER2 receptors, they are called HER2-positive (HER2+).
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Inflammatory
When the breast is swollen, red, or inflamed as a result of the cancer cells blocking lymph vessels.
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Infusion
A method of putting fluids, including drugs, into the bloodstream. Also called intravenous infusion.
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Lymph nodes
Small, bean-shaped organs found throughout the body that store white blood cells and help remove cell waste, germs, and other harmful substances from the body.
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Node positive
This means your doctor has detected cancer cells in one or more of your lymph nodes.
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Nodal status
Cancer cells can sometimes appear in nearby structures known as "lymph nodes." When cancer cells appear in one or more lymph nodes, the cancer is said to be "node-positive" (node+).
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Neoadjuvant treatment
Treatment given before surgery to help reduce or get rid of cancer cells before surgery.
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Pathologic complete response (pCR)
A pCR means that no cancer cells were found in the tissue removed during surgery. A pCR is not the same as a cure.
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Port
A surgically implanted disc through which blood can be taken and medication can be given without repeated needle sticks
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Residual disease
If cancer cells are found in the tissue removed during surgery, it is known as residual disease.
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Targeted therapies
Designed to target specific characteristics of cancer cells. Targeted treatments may also affect normal cells
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Tumor size
The size of the tumor is how large it is at its widest point.
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Hormone receptor status
Two hormones naturally made by the body are called estrogen and progesterone. These hormones attach to hormone receptors on cells. Some tumors have hormone receptors—they can have estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, or both. This is called “hormone receptor-positive” breast cancer. “Hormone receptor-negative” breast cancer is when the cancer cells do not have hormone receptors.
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Hyaluronidase
Hyaluronidase is a protein naturally found in most tissues of the body and helps enhance the way the body absorbs medicines injected under the skin. When PHESGO is injected, the hyaluronidase makes the tissue under the skin more absorbent temporarily so that it’s able to receive the medication.
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Locally advanced
Cancer that has spread from where it started to nearby tissue or lymph nodes.
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Early-stage breast cancer
Breast cancer that has not spread beyond the breast or the axillary lymph nodes.
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HER2-targeted therapies
A type of targeted cancer treatment that binds to HER2 receptors to fight cancer cells that have too many HER2 receptors.