Galactocele: A clogged milk duct; a cyst filled
with milk. It may occur in the breast during breast-feeding.
Galactogram: A
special type of contrast enhanced mammography used for imaging the breast ducts.
Galactography can aid in diagnosing the cause of an abnormal nipple discharge and is
valuable in diagnosing intraductal papillomas (wart-like, non-cancerous tumors with
branchings or stalks that have grown inside the breast duct).
Gene: A
segment of DNA that contains information on hereditary characteristics such as hair color,
eye color, and height as well as susceptibility to certain diseases. Women who have BRCA1
or BRCA2 gene mutations (defects) have an inherited (genetic) tendency to develop breast
cancer.
Genetic: Related
to or caused by the genes. (See also gene).
Glands: Organs that produce and release substances
used locally or elsewhere in the body.
Goserelin acetate: Brand name,
Zoladex. Drug used to treat metastatic breast and prostate cancers. Goserelin acetate works by blocking estrogen from
breast cancer cells (and blocking testosterone in men), thereby starving these cells.
Grade: The
grade of a breast cancer reflects how abnormal it looks under the microscope. There are
several grading systems for breast cancer, but all divide cancers into those with the
greatest abnormality (grade 3 or poorly differentiated), the least abnormality (grade 1 or
well differentiated) and intermediate features (grade 2 or moderately differentiated).
Grading is done by the pathologist who examines the biopsy specimen. It is important
because higher grade cancers tend to grow and spread more quickly and have a worse
prognosis. A cancer’s histologic grade
is based on features of individual cells as well as how the cells are arranged together.
Granular
cell: Usually found in the mouth or
skin but may rarely be detected in the breast. Most granular cell tumors of the breast are
identified as movable, firm lumps, measuring between 0.5 inch and 1.0 inch in diameter.
Graphic stress
telethermometry (GST): A method of
measuring surface heat from a distance. Some have used this method, plus computer analysis
of heat patterns in the breast, to measure breast cancer risk. This is not a reliable
method and is not in standard practice.
Gross Description/“The Gross”:
Characteristics of a breast biopsy sample that the pathologist measured and felt when
examining the tissue with the naked eye (without a microscope).
Gynecologist: A
physician who specializes in women’s health.
Gynecologist
oncologist: A physician who specializes in cancers of a woman’s reproductive
organs.
Updated: August 2006
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