Topic: tubular carcinoma

Sep 5, 2015 12:41AM 614 wrote:

Dear Nana:

Sorry about the time that it has taken for me to respond to you as well.  I am so glad that you had benign findings.  Yay!  Yes, the 6 months of surveillance while comforting to be watched so closely, is very stressful because it is scary to know that something could be there.

Good luck,

Sep 21, 2015 05:36PM katcar0001 wrote:

Well, duh, I answered my own question (from the bc.org site). I guess the tumor would have been considered "mixed tubular."

When a pathologist examines the tumor samples under a microscope, he or she looks for the tube-shaped structures that give tubular carcinoma its name. Experts generally agree that more than 90% of the tumor must have this characteristic appearance in order to be called "pure" tubular carcinoma. If it doesn't, then it is diagnosed as a "mixed" tubular carcinoma. The more "tubular" it is, the less likely it is to spread and the easier it should be to treat.

Jan 14, 2016 03:10PM - edited Jan 14, 2016 03:11PM by ChiSandy

Even though PR- tumors are thought to be more aggressive than PR+, the fact that it's tubular may tilt towards skipping chemo. The fact it's tubular may also mean that Oncotype DX testing may not be needed--it's usually not done if all other factors indicate chemo is unnecessary

Jan 22, 2016 12:42PM BookWoman wrote:

I had pure tubular and I did do radiation; I had 15 plus 5 boosts. I am also on Letrozole--it doesn't replace hormones, it blocks estrogen. Prior to having the tubular cancer, I also had DCIS in the other breast, so the Letrozole is because of both--not sure if I would be taking it for only the tubular.

Jan 23, 2016 01:28PM Brightsocks wrote:

I won't have any news on treatment for about another 4 weeks. As well there is not a ton on the web. I am up for all levels of treatment just want to understand more about howothers have been treated.

Feb 11, 2016 06:17PM - edited Feb 11, 2016 06:21PM by voraciousreader

sorry to hear you are joining us....that less than 10% in situ which means that along with the tubular invasive cancer, there is a little NON-invasive component to the tumor. Register at the NCCN's website and read the section on tubular and mucinous breast cancer treatment guidelines. The good news is that you have a small, "favorable" type of breast cancer that is very treatable. Once you have your final surgical pathology report, you and your team will then come up with a plan that will be right for you! Good luck!

Feb 11, 2016 07:12PM isee wrote:

Hi Kaneli,

I also had an invasive Tubular Carcinoma. We are actually fortunate to have a BC with such a positive prognosis. I'm sure you know this type is not likely to metastasis. I had two surgeries to remove the cancerous area....not a lump in my case...as I believe Tubular is not. They called the first surgery a lumpectomy and the second a partial mastectomy, done because they didn't have clear margins from the first surgery. I was very fortunate that things still look pretty normal other than being a bit smaller. Mine was located under my arm....about 6 inches from my underarm. I was given the option of radiation...which I took. I had 16 treatments. I was also offered tamoxifen but refused it as it was only going to give me a 1% risk reduction...or something like that. It is my 5th anniversary since my diagnosis in a few days! I was tested for the BRCA mutations because of my family history and was positive for BRCA2....so I receive high risk surveillance here in Canada.
Sorry you are joining us, but this site has tons of great information and support...Keep us posted as to your treatment decisions and progress. :)

Feb 11, 2016 07:33PM voraciousreader wrote:

isee! Congrats on celebrating 5 years NED!!!😘

Feb 11, 2016 09:08PM - edited Feb 12, 2016 01:25AM by Kaneli

Yes, Isee, congratulations on 5 years! Voraciousreader and Labelle, thank you for your positive and encouraging words and for such quick responses to my post from a few hours earlier. I will keep checking on this great forum for answers and encouragement! My MRI is tomorrow morn, but I doubt I will have any info immediately after that but....Thank you all! It's nice to not feel so alone :)

Feb 13, 2016 06:15PM - edited Feb 13, 2016 06:16PM by Kaneli

Thanks Brightsocks! My MRI results came back this morning. The tumor appears to be "unilateral and unifocal' so that's good. It did mention a "slight asymmetry in size of a left axillary lymph node" (The same side as the tumor.) It went on to say it is "not a definitely abnormal lymph node" which kind of sounds like a double negative to me, so, I guess we'll have to see what the surgeon says. Maybe they'll want to take that lymph node when they do the lumpectomy. Anyway, I was happy they found nothing else. How did you do with the lumpectomy? Please keep me posted, since it seems like I'm right behind you on this. :/ Does anybody have experience with them taking the lymph node, or whatever it is that they do? Does that cause any unwanted side effects, of does it involve special risks? Thanks everyone....One week ago I was just a person who had 2 normal breasts....still getting my mind around this. BTW, what is a "Boost?"

Feb 15, 2016 04:19PM Kaneli wrote:

Has anyone gotten a 2nd opinion after their diagnosis of Tubular Carcinoma? If so, was it after the biopsy and MRI, but before surgery? I'm just wondering since it's a less common type of Breast cancer. I would imagine that after a biopsy, it either is cancer or is not....do I need someone else to look at those results?

Feb 23, 2016 09:12PM Kaneli wrote:

Hi Sunny, It was found on my 3D annual mammography. No lump, no symptoms.. The 3 D is a pretty new type of mammo, and my "lesion" is really small.....smaller than 1 cm. I don't know if they would have seen it with a traditional digital mammo. When they called me in for a 2nd mammo with "possible ultrasound', they did the ultrasound and right then and there they told me I needed a biopsy. 2 days later they told me it was Tubular Carcinoma. This was told to me on Wed, Feb 10, so I'm still reeling from it, and trying to research as much as I can. I have my first appointment with a (general) surgeon this Friday morning, and a 2nd opinion with a Breast surgeon who specializes in oncology on Monday. I know it's a small tumor, and that the prognosis appears to be very good, but, I am trying to be as thorough as possible. There's not a lot of info out there about Tubular Carcinoma. They say it's invasive, but slow....all of these seeming contradictions. Anyway, you can see I am frustrated, but I am happy to tell you what I learn after my surgeon appointments.

Feb 24, 2016 12:10PM BookWoman wrote:

Mine was seen on mammogram and ultrasound, but when they did ultrasound guided biopsy nothing was found, so they said it was discordant results (mammo and ultrasound did not match biopsy). They gave me three choices--wait 6 months, do the ultrasound guided biopsy again, or do an excisional biopsy. I chose the excisional, they got good margins so I didn't need any other lumpectomy although I did need to have a sentinal node biopsy. I had radiation and am now taking letrozole (I did have DCIS in other breast 2 years prior.)

Feb 26, 2016 02:42AM isee wrote:

NED means no evidence of disease :)

Mar 8, 2016 04:30PM - edited Mar 8, 2016 05:00PM by Kaneli

Just an update on my Tubular carcinoma. I am scheduled for a lumpectomy on Tuesday Mar 22nd. If my margins are clear, and there's no node involvement, I will go for the APBI (accelerated partial breast irradiation) that will be a course of treatment for 5 days, 2x a day. I will begin that the following Monday. The one I will have is called Contura. They will insert a balloon into the tumor cavity with multi catheters which will be like a port in my breast for those 5 days. I will go twice a day to the hospital where they will insert a radioactive pellet, or "seed" into the catheters which go into the balloon.The balloon is supposed to conform to the tumor cavity. The seeds stay in the balloon for a few minutes, until desired dose is reached, then withdrawn. It is an internal radiation that treats the local area of the tumor, from the inside, up to 1 cm into the borders. You have to be a "candidate" for this type of radiation, i.e, small, slow growing non-aggressive tumor, without expectation of node involvement. Also, over 60, I believe. These are characteristics of early stage Tubular Carcinoma. If there is node involvement, or other surprises after surgery, well, the plan will change, but hopefully this will go according to plan. After that, I believe I will have to do hormone therapy, probably an AI. I will cross that bridge when I get there. There's only so much a mind can absorb at once, so while I am thinking of the Hormone therapy and whether I want to do that, I need to get through this part first. I still have concerns about if this the right treatment for me, but when I think of the alternative of 6 weeks of WBI, I still feel that this is a better option for me. Has anybody else had experience with the type of radiation I'll be having?