Topic: Understanding your Pathology Report
- Posted on: Mar 2, 2007 09:52 am
Posts: 669
We hope that this is helpful.
http://www.breastcancer.org/pathology_intro.html
Best,
the breastcancer.org team
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SheilaM Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 7 |
Mar 15, 2007 06:13 am
SheilaM wrote:
What a great tool. My mom will be reviewing her Pathology report on Friday. I printed out the Guide and plan on bringing it along to the appointment. I like how you can follow along and circle or otherwise identify your own results. There has been so much information coming at her during appointments, it will be nice to fill this out on the spot and for my mom to look back and review the results. Thanks, Sheila M. |
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wordgirl Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 9 |
Apr 3, 2007 07:44 pm wordgirl wrote: My report is from the biopsy, not yet from the excision....I have grade 1/3 (which I assume is slow growing and well differentiated, it even says very well differentiated) IDC....it says the mass removed was 3 cm but later it says tissue is 2.5 x2.5 x .4 cm.....these are microcalcifications.I am negative for p63 and SMMH). I didn't get hormone receptor testing. I have "malignant glands coursing through desmoplastic stroma, rarely accompanied by intraductal carcinoma that has central necrosis." I've had three other biopsies all neg and am keelhauled. I am 53 but still not menopausal, and no family history (no cancer at ALL on either side). My surgeon is among the nation's best but she is aggressive (and I don't like her, she did my last biopsy)...I know I have to find out about margins and lymph nodes but I am afraid she is going to talk mastectomy (general anesthesia, my waterloo) right away because I have so many microcalcifications...please, can anyone help? Do I have a shot at lumpectomy and radiation only???? (not to upset anyone, but I have amazing hair...please don't tell me I am superficial; I have been through many health and medical problems unrelated to this one so I am NOT a wimp). |
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Lynne Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 579 |
Jun 19, 2007 07:54 am
Lynne wrote:
The pamphlet from breastcancer.org was given to me by my surgeon with my pathology report. That is how I found this site. I wish I had found it sooner! It's been a Godsend. I didn't attend a support group (thought it would be too depressing), just used these boards. This has been my support group! wordgirl, My tumor was 1.5cm, grade 2, clear margins, IDC and DCIS,ER & PR+, HER2-, sentinal node biopsy came back negative, premenopausal and 43. I was suggested by my oncologist to have chemo. It would give me another 3% chance of it not coming back. My husband did not want me to have chemo. I spoke with my surgeon and he said they suggest chemo for any tumors over 1cm and for premenopausal women. He suggested I have the oncotype DX genetic test done on my tumor. It is done for tumors that are ER+ and have not gone to the lymph nodes. I had the test done, and my score came back 12, which means I have an 8% chance of recurrence in the next 10 years. Chemo would have brought it down to 5%. I opted out of chemo. 92% chance of it NOT coming back was good enough for me. I had 6 weeks of radiation, decided to have a complete hysterectomy (get rid of the estrogen ovaries and awful heavy periods), and am now on Femara (after a year on Arimidex). If your lymph nodes are not involved and your tumor is estrogen positive, I would do the Oncotype Dx test. That way it will help you with YOUR decision. You don't have to do anything you don't want to! Good luck! Lynne |
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brendalynn Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 3 |
Jun 24, 2007 07:05 am
brendalynn wrote:
I was diagnosed on May 28 w/IDC Does anyone know what Grade 3 of 3,Tubular formation 3 of 3, Nuclear pleomorphism 2 of 3, Mitotic count 2 of 3 means? And additional findings 7 mitoses per ten 40X fields? I have yet to receive surgery they are waiting for MRI (Monday) Seems as though time doesn't matter with breast CA. |
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booklady Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 72 |
Jun 24, 2007 08:00 am booklady wrote: Go to cancer.org -- search for staging. |
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tnokes Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 5 |
Jul 1, 2007 07:27 pm tnokes wrote: What does "mitotic activity brisk" mean? It's on my path report and doesn't give me a good feeling. |
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chemosabi Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 7,820 |
Jul 15, 2007 09:48 am
chemosabi wrote:
Lynne: Im 2 years out, but I remember well when I was irst diagnosed everything seemed to move so slow. I was diagnsoed in April and didnt have surgery till June. We did all sorts of testing first and then coordinated the different surgeons. I have bil. mast (BS), Reconstruction (PS) and removal of my ovaries (gyne). All you want to do is get to your treatment plan. Grade 3 means the tumor is more aggressive. But the tubular is very good. It means the cells havent changed much from normal to cancer cells. Tubular has a great response to treatment. Good luck with your surgery, and hang in there. Its hard now, but it will get easier. Nicki |
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corvette Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 41 |
Aug 1, 2007 06:31 pm
corvette wrote:
wordgirl - You'll have to wait for pathology report. And you better google side effects of radiation before you decide on that. Grade 1 is good. Very slow growing cancer. This is about saving your life. That's how you make decisions. You can have immediate reconstruction if doc wants you to have mastectomy. DIEP seems to be the gold standard now. tnokes: "mitotic activity brisk = cell dividing fast. Mitosis is the process in which a cell duplicates its chromosomes. |
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janekhaldy Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 29 |
Aug 2, 2007 03:37 pm janekhaldy wrote: should my surgeon given me the pathology report or the oncologist? my suregeon has referred me to an oncologist for further testing |
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lady4law Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 736 |
Aug 5, 2007 08:27 am lady4law wrote: I got my Path report from my GP prior to my surgeon's call. She knew how nervious I was waiting and called me late in the evening, as soon as she recieved the report. My surgeon called very early the next morning and seemed to be having a difficult time, or trying to choose his words carefully, so I said, "My GP called me late last night and told me I have BC, does htat make this call easier for you?" I coudl hear relief in his voice. He then went on to explain the results. He asked me if I had an oco picked out, so he could forward all my files and reports. I did as my GP had already given me a referral and I had made an appointment. She and I were reasonably sure it was BC before the biopsy. |
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Magsie Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 3 |
Oct 9, 2007 06:48 pm
Magsie wrote:
I'm confused. Even though my diagnosis is DCIS it is termed High grade with comedonecrosis. Is this early? It seems contradictory. I have yet to decide on a treatment plan. |
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hezmyrock Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 15 |
Oct 28, 2007 08:07 pm
hezmyrock wrote:
what did you decide? I go tomorrow to go over the pathology report with my surgeon-who will probably refer me to an ocologist |
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awb Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,764 |
Oct 28, 2007 08:16 pm
awb wrote:
Magsie---yes, DCIS is considered early bc, stage 0, non-invasive, because it is still contained within the ducts and has not invaded the surrounding breast tissue. But because they don't know who with DCIS will go on to get invasive bc and who won't , it does require treatment. If it is localized, it can often be managed by lumpectomy, radiation and tamoxifen. If it is more widespread, it sometimes requires a mastectomy. Have you talked it over with a surgeon or oncologist yet? Once you have a treatment plan, you will begin to feel more in control. |
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Diana63 Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 512 |
Oct 31, 2007 07:11 pm
Diana63 wrote:
Here is most of my report, the surgeon didn't really explain much. He said that an oncologist will contact me soon. Any help would be appreciated, Thank you Tumor type Infiltrating duct carmona NOTTINGHAM GADE 3 SIZE 5.3 CM EXTENSIVE DCIS ABSENT ANGIOLYMPHATIC INVASION PRESENT 4 OF THE 9 AXILLARY NODE CONTAIN METASTASES EXTERNAL SPREAD IS ABSENT ACCORDING TO AJCC 6THEDITION THIS IS A T3 N1 MX LESION SPECIAL STUDIES ER/PR/HER2 PREVIUSLY DONE MS-07-10318 ER BY IHC |
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Mimi0606 Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 27 |
Nov 14, 2007 05:32 pm, edited Nov 15, 2007 10:05 AM
by Mimi0606
Mimi0606 wrote:
Deleted |
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dbbstrt Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1 |
Dec 2, 2007 05:34 pm
dbbstrt wrote:
Just recently diagnosed with bc. Had a couple questions on the pathology report. Does anyone know what carcinomatous cells with papillary differentiation is??? I have to make a decision on treatment/plan by Dec. 6th and really need some insight please. Thank you very much. |
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htb Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 2 |
Jan 3, 2008 08:47 pm, edited Jan 3, 2008 08:47 PM
by htb
htb wrote:
I just got my pathology report and it states the following: Invasive ductal carcinoma, spanning .2 cm. See Note:Fibrocystic changes, with focal florid ductal epithelial hyperplasia. Multiple levels examined. It is also says the tumor cells stain for estrogen receptor protein. Does anyone know what this means? At age 30, I was diagnosed with DCIS and now five years later (I was tested on the breast that did not have DCIS), I got this report from a biopsy which showed something in the MRI. Any help is much appreciated! Thank you! |
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CAJ Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 5 |
Feb 20, 2008 02:37 am
CAJ wrote:
Hi, I am new here. This is my first posting. I had stereotactic biopsy on February 11th, (my birthday of all dates). By the way, I'm a 48 year old woman post menopausal. The radiologist surgeon could not get profound anesthesia on me, nor was she able to get the whole cluster. The cluster of so called calcifications were in 0.5 x 0.1 cm on the posterior side of my left breast. I have many questions and comments about the stereotactic procedure but I am not going to get into it now. My diagnoses ended up to be ductal carcinoma institu---high grade with comedo necrosis and microcalcifications. Level three. I have a golf ball sized hemotoma in my breast from the stereotactic. My surgeon said it would be at least two weeks before he would consider image guided removal of the biopsy site. If I choose the breast conserving method, I would have to take radiation for 6 weeks and be on an aromafase inhibitor for three to five years. My other option is to have a mastectomy and just be over with it all. I do not want to be awake for any more procedures. I am a dental assitant. I'm uninsured. I have applied for Medical Assistance thru the county. Right now I am on the SAGE program here in Minnesota. I'm very scared and don't know what to do. I have not worked since the end of Dec. And I fear that on top of all of this I will lose my job of 18 years. Any help from the wise for the weary???? Thanks...CAJ |
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PSK07 Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 776 |
Feb 22, 2008 12:28 am
PSK07 wrote:
Hi, CAJ. Sorry you had to join us, but welcome. It sounds like you have really been put through the wringer...job & insurance stress on top of a BC diagnosis can't be easy. If you do a search on "insurance" on the discussions, you should find a number of fairly recent threads on options and help for un/underinsured. There's a bunch of us here who've been through the DCIS journey & you can find help, humor, and support a bit further down the page on the "connecting with others who have a similar diagnosis" - the first group is DCIS. I learned so much from the women here - from dx through surgery and radiation. Please come visit & ask all your questions. Someone is always there with a virtual hug and an answer. take care Pam Pam
Dx 8/3/2007, DCIS, <1cm, Stage 0, Grade 2, 0/0 nodes, ER+/PR+ |
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youlooklike… Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 237 |
Feb 29, 2008 01:05 pm, edited Feb 29, 2008 01:09 PM
by youlooklikeyouneedabeergirl
youlooklikeyouneedabeergirl wrote:
Just found this thread. I was diagnosed 2/11/08 and bilat scheduled 3/26/08. I am worried that this is too long to wait. I can get it done faster at another clinic, but the bs doesn't want to do a bilat. He wants to do 2 more stereotactic biopsies and a lumpectomy/lumpectomies. Has anyone else here waited that long? Sue
Dx 2/11/2008, IDC, 1cm, Grade 2 |
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lvtwoqlt Joined: May 2007 Posts: 4,533 |
Feb 29, 2008 02:26 pm
lvtwoqlt wrote:
I was dx Apr 27 and had bilat mast with recon June 1. Usually the cancer has been there for several years before it is big enough to show on the screening so a few weeks won't matter. It took that long to get the ps consultation and the two doctors schedules to line up so that they could be in the or the same day/time. Sheila We are like tea bags, we don't know how strong we are until we were thrown into hot water. Eleanore Roosevelt
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ashtonasoc1… Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 10 |
Apr 2, 2008 01:26 pm
ashtonasoc1 wrote:
I do not have the pathology report yet. I just had a lumpectomy on March 24th. I spoke with my Dr. yesterday and she stated that 1 out of 7 lymph nodes was positive. I do not see her until April 8th for my follow up and I am going crazy waiting. I just want to know what stage I am. I am 53 years old, post menapausal. My tumor was 1.3 cm. 1 lymph node was positive. From what I have researched, I believe that I am a stage IIA. Any input would help. Thanks Debbie |
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JeanieLS Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 1 |
Apr 7, 2008 12:37 am
JeanieLS wrote:
I'm Jeanie and I was just diagnosed with DCIS. What was a screening mammo turned into a magnified mammo, then a biopsy - and then a diagnosis. I was a wreck, but i starting to calm down more. The suregon is leaving the hospital, so I have to wait until he is settled the first of May before we go after it. He said that would be safe, Okay - any one else have a different opinion? Should I push to have things done sooner? |
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rockwell_gi… Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,533 |
Apr 7, 2008 12:54 am
rockwell_girl wrote:
With DCIS they usually say it's fine to wait a month to have surgery. That way if your having a mastectomy it gives you time to checkout all the different options for reconstruction. Sandy/Sunshine : )
Dx 3/4/2008, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 1, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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crazydaisy Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,422 |
Apr 7, 2008 12:54 am
crazydaisy wrote:
Hi Jeanie......I was diagnosed with DCIS too. Since DCIS is pre-invasive......contained in the ducts, it will not harm you to wait a feww extra weeks. My intial Dx was Nov 07 and final surgery was March 08. Waiting can be nerve wracking for sure but if you aren't comfortable with that maybe you should let him know. A couple of weeks won't change the outcome. If you have questions, please ask and know someone is always here to answer you. Good luck and sorry you had to join the club. Viv " The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain"
Dx 1/7/2008, DCIS, 4cm, Stage 0, Grade 3, / nodes, ER-/PR- |
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hopefor30 Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,184 |
Apr 7, 2008 07:29 am
hopefor30 wrote:
I don't want to scare you, but my diagnosis changed after stereotactic biopsy -- biopsy said DCIS -- after it was excised I had a 3mm invasive tubular -- don't wait too long. M. |
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canuckintx Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 29 |
Apr 7, 2008 03:59 pm
canuckintx wrote:
I just received the report with hormone receptors...can someone help me interpret? It says... ER-63% favorable PR-60% favorable Her2/neu-1.3 not overexpressed FISH is not reflexed Ki-67- 12% borderline p53- 0% favorable Any help would be much appreciated! |
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Debfriend Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 53 |
Apr 8, 2008 07:21 pm
Debfriend wrote:
hey there-its Joan. Mind if I watch the replies? Is the site you mentioined today on the phone? |
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ashtonasoc1… Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 10 |
Apr 9, 2008 01:27 pm
ashtonasoc1 wrote:
Hey Joan, Wow! You track me down everywhere. Of course I don't mind |
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blackbird Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 31 |
Apr 10, 2008 06:18 am, edited Apr 10, 2008 06:22 AM
by blackbird
blackbird wrote:
Hi ladies, I had first abnormal mammogram (suspicious calcifications) in May 2007, had core needle biopsy in January 08, first wide local excision March 08 and back again to try for clear margins this time... My surgeon (when I finally got to see him after waiting 7 and a 1/2 months) said "dcis is slow growing but should be treated within 6 months of diagnosis in case it spreads"... I know from the mammogram technician when they inserted the hook wire for the surgery (17 march 08) that the dcis had grown at least 1 cm from the original mammo in May 07... so that is a concern and also they need to be sure it is not invasive so please don't wait too long... My delay in treatment was because of the overloaded public health system in NZ... had I know I would have been waiting this long I would have paid for private treatment... Magsie, I have high grade dcis with comedonecrosis, and the surgeon keeps says "it is not cancer, it is PRE-CANCER..." and he says I won't need radiation treatment after the second surgery, he just wants to get good clear margins... I am confused as I know lots of people have radiation after wide local excision but seems that here in New Zealand that's not an option offered... Anyway, ask all the questions, take an advocate (if you can find one) or a friend, make a list of your questions and concerns and give a copy to your friend/advocate and they can write down what the surgeon says so you can refer to it later... I regret not doing that for all my previous appts but I am going to take an advocate for all my upcoming appts as I am getting confused and worried... Hugs to you all, Please let us know how you are getting on Meryl |
