Anyone Know the Difference.....

kimmie68

I have had 2 biopsies, one of the tumor and one from the lymph nodes.  The tumor biopsy was invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) grade 2..... the lymph node biopsy was metastatic ductal carcinoma grade 3.  Does anyone know the difference between the IDC and the metastatic ductal carcinoma?  I understand the grade difference. Thanks for any responses.

Anonymous

Hi Kimmie...It sounds to me like they are using the term "metastatic" to indicate that the cancer is clearly ductal and has spread to the lymph node. I suspect that any positive nodes would be characterized as "metastatic," though I'm not sure how common it is to see that word used. They ususally just say "positive" or "negative" when referring to the nodes.

~Marin

otter

I think FitChik (Marin) is right.  The only difference between the two is the fact that the tumor in the lymph node was labeled "metastatic", meaning it was there because the cells had spread from the original site in the breast.  Tumor cells have to be invasive in order to metastasize; so calling the tumor in the lymph node "invasive" would have been redundant.

It's a hard thing to hear, but tumor cells that are found in a lymph node really have "metastasized".  I don't think oncos usually use the term "metastatic" in that situation (as FitChik said).  But, I do recall someone here saying her onco told her the word "metastatic" in a report on a positive lymph node could be used to justify whatever additional imaging and diagnostic procedures he might need to do in the future.

Hugs...

otter