Need help understanding pathology report

Kuchenhexe

So I have my pathology report and I'm not quite sure what it means. I know I have stage 4 IDC mets, but the report doesn't quite parse to me.

What is a poorly-differentiated IDC?

Combined 2/3 grade?

Stain negative with CK5/6?

lintrollerderby

Hi and I'm so sorry to hear of your diagnosis and Stage IV status. I hope you find the support and comfort you need from these forums.

Poorly differentiated is often an interchangeable term with Grade 3. It means that when a pathologist looks at the cells, they are less recognizable than they should be as being breast cells. Grade generally comes in 3 levels for breast cancer: 1-well differentiated, 2-moderately differentiated, and 3-poorly differentiated. The higher the grade, the more quickly the cells are dividing, and hence, more aggressive they are. In essence, the faster that cells divide, the more errors that will occur, and the less they will look like the normal, healthy cells of that particular area. IDC means Infiltrating or Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, the most common form of breast cancer. It means the cancer cells originated in the ducts of the breast and have invaded or infiltrated surrounding breast tissue. 

Combined 2/3 Grade likely means that the tissue tested had both moderately and poorly differentiated cells. I don't have a lot of experience on that part beyond that answer, so someone else may be able to elaborate further.

Stain negative with CK 5/6 means that a form of identifying basal-like cancer cells, called CytoKeratin 5/6 staining was negative. This staining has a prognostic value when determining if a Triple Negative Breast Cancer is also expressing the antigens for basal-like characteristics. This would mean a poorer prognosis if they stained positive. I have Triple Negative that is also basal-like. 

I hope this helps.

Moderators

Hi Kuchenhexe,

We're sorry to hear of your diagnosis. You're sure to receive lots of support and get answers to your questions here from the other members who have been there. In the meantime, you can find some answers on the main Breastcancer.org site's section on Your Diagnosis, which walks you through what each piece of the pathology report means.

We hope this helps!

--The Mods

Kuchenhexe

Thank you, Mods. I requested a booklet for future use. I didn't see an explanation for 'poorly differentiated' on the link you provided though, so thank you so much, LintRollerDerby, for explaining that, and what it is to be Stain negative with CK 5/6. That was the stuff that was really making me go "...huh?"

I do understand medical terminology, but sometimes, it's like reading and encountering a new word and having to look it up in the dictionary. You understand the definition once you read it, and understand what's being said, but without the dictionary, it's a totally new word that doesn't really offer clues on how to break it down and define it without help.

Thank you!

lintrollerderby

You're very welcome and I'm glad to help! I know exactly what you mean about deciphering this stuff. Best of luck to you!