Help read path report- ALH- going for 6 mos mammo!

shabby6485

Hi I had two lumpectomies done after calcifications were found in left breast.  My surgeon told me to do a 6 month mammo the follow up which is next month and I am scared.

My path report reads...
Final Diagnosis

Microfocus of atypical lobular hyperplasia near biopsy site

columnar cell metaplasia, adenosis, dusct ectasia

intraluminal microcalcifactions noted.

My surgeon didn't seem concerned but I am now that my mammo is right around the corner.

Anybody know what I should expect?

lvtwoqlt

Shabby, My first biopsy in 2005 showed Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia and my surgeon put me on the 6 month mammo schedule. My first mammo was not digital but the next mammo was digital. They asked me where I had any previous surgeries on my breasts and made a note of that for the radiologist who read the mammos. They only want to do closer mammos to keep track of any possible changes in the breast and if there are any changes, they can monitor them or do more biopsies. Just relax, I know it is hard to do that but they have your best interest in mind.

Sheila

Ked1019

Shabby, I was going through all this at the same time you were back in April/May. My process took about 3 months from initial stereo bx to wire excision. I started with micro calcs which like Misty came back as Flat epithelial atypia (very similar to ADH). My final wide excision/lumpectomy diagnosis was a buffet of terms... FEA, CCLA, ALH widespread over my tissue samples. I also have several dialated ducts but so far nothing is showing in them. I have had periodic bloody discharge on that side too. I am telling you all this because like you I am up for f/u tests in October. I have a MRI, mamm, u/s all scheduled. I am also seeing a specialist to discuss my risks. ALH is tricky and sneaky and from what I have read very scary. It doesn't like pictures so it hides. If and when it becomes invasive (ILC) it may not come in the form of a lump but more like thickening or what some describe as a pencil shape lump running along the ducts from lobules.

 I am with you and will be thinking of you. Lets be positive that nothing will show on our new films. Keep me posted. Smiles/hugs

leaf

Hi there!  At my place, they do 6 month mammo after any biopsy (even benign with no high risk features.)  I have LCIS, and after two mammos 6 mo apart, I am on yearly mammos.

*When I went for a consult at a major university (NCI approved) they said for LCIS (once this followup period is over) they normally (as of 7-07) offer antihormonals, and do yearly mammos, and clinical exams every 6 months, and that's it.* So places do differ.

To give you some idea about your risk (at least if you are like the women in this study),   14 patients (out of 126 AH patients + 252 LCIS patients) got breast cancer in this 6 year time span at Sloan-Kettering. Only 2 of these 14 patients had atypical hyperplasia.  

So 2 out of 126 atypical hyperplasia patients did get breast cancer (DCIS or invasive) over this 6 year period.  All of the invasive cancers were stage 1 or 2.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17206485 

I have LCIS, ALH , and DH (not atypical ductal hyperplasia). 

cjh

I had ADH three years ago, had lumpectomy in left breast with regular mamos to both breasts for follow up. I did not realize that I should watch the other breast as close nor that now some docs consider meds such as tamoxifin for prevention of IC after ADH. (Depends on several factors including menstual status) To make a long story short, (my case is the exception, not the rule) I turned up with advanced lobular cancer in the right breast that hid out till it spread to the lymph nodes three years later. Digital mamos picked it up right away this summer, due to dense breasts, I did not, despite monthly self checks. I do not want to alarm you at all, just so wish I had known the POSSIBLE implications of ADH in the future...I thought it was fairly harmless or an early catch not a possible indicator for future invasive cancer, but then medicine has learned a lot just in the last few years on ADH/ALH.

cjh

I had ADH three years ago, had lumpectomy in left breast with regular mamos to both breasts for follow up. I did not realize that I should watch the other breast as close nor that now some docs consider meds such as tamoxifin for prevention of IC after ADH. (Depends on several factors including menstual status) To make a long story short, (my case is the exception, not the rule) I turned up with advanced lobular cancer in the right breast that hid out till it spread to the lymph nodes three years later. Digital mamos picked it up right away this summer, due to dense breasts, I did not, despite monthly self checks. I do not want to alarm you at all, just so wish I had known the POSSIBLE implications of ADH in the future...I thought it was fairly harmless or an early catch not a possible indicator for future invasive cancer, but then medicine has learned a lot just in the last few years on ADH/ALH.