Do you know what these abbreviations mean???

patti3796

Left an appt with a sheet of paper with my upcoming appts.   The form now has a new section at the top with information on my dx.   There are some abbreviations I have never seen.   Any of you ladies come across these.

cTis cNo CMo G3       I know the G3 is Grade 3

Then later after listing my lumpectomy it has

pTis pNo cMo

Thanks  Patti

Beesie

The "c" in front of any data point indicates that the finding is based on a clinical evaluation, i.e. the films (mammogram, ultrasound and/or MRI - whichever you had) and an assessment by your doctor and the biopsy results (if you had a biopsy).

The "p" in front of any data point indicates that the finding is based on the post-surgical pathological results, i.e. it's what was seen under the microscope when your breast tissue was examined.

"T" is for the tumor.  "N" is for the nodes.  "M" is for metastisis.

So the first finding is entirely clinical, i.e. it's the preliminary assessment based on your films.  That assessment suggested that your tumor "cTis" was in-situ (or non-invasive, i.e. DCIS) and that it appears that your nodes were clear and you do not have distant metastasis.  

The second finding confirmed that the pathology showed only in-situ cancer (pTis); this means that your diagnosis is DCIS, Stage 0. You had a node removed and it was negative; this is the pN0 finding, confirming that you are node negative.  The cM0 means that no tests were done for mets however the a clinical sssumption is being made that you do not have mets. This is the normal approach taken with in-situ cancers such as DCIS because DCIS, in it's current state, cannot metastasize.  So there is no need for any tests to reach the conclusion that you do not have mets.  It is the natural conclusion from having DCIS. 

Hope that all makes sense. 

patti3796

Bessie -- Thank you so much...and thank you for such a clear and understandable explanation....it is appreciated...will print and put with the paper.    Have a good evening