path report

Jeeper4

PATH REPORT DIAGNOSIS: (heart is pounding while typing-excuse any typos) a single focus of microinvasion in a backgroud of ductal carcinoma in situ, intermediate nuclear grade ( ) solid and cribriform types with associated microcalcifications. atypical lobular hperplasia is present. breast parenchyma shows proliferative fibrocystic changes including nodular sclerosing adenosis, sclerosing intraductal papillomas with associated duct ectasia, columnar cell changes, usual ductal hyperplsia, apocrine metaplasia and microcalcifications. MRI REPORT: showed 1 enlarged lymph node. ok so trying to take deep breaths and not hyperventilate...what does all this mean for me?

ballet12

Hi Jeeper, beyond the DCIS and the single focus of microinvasion, and the enlarged lymph node, there is nothing of concern other than the atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH).  That refers to particular breast changes that put someone at risk for breast cancer. It's considered a pre-cancerous condition (like the atypical ductal hyperplasia that your original doctors thought you had).  In the context of the DCIS and the microinvasion, it no longer has any weight, as you will be treated for the DCIS and the microinvasion.  All of the rest of the horrible-sounding pathology describes benign conditions, what are seen in "busy" breasts. The enlarged lymph node is of concern, although nodes can be enlarged due to infection/inflammation, not only cancer.  They will most likely biopsy that.  If you chose a mastectomy (and I forget if that's what you are thinking of doing), they will be doing sentinel node biopsies, but they will probably biopsy this node first.  The node would be the thing that would scare me more than anything, implying possible occult (hidden) invasive breast cancer, so you need to ask about that.

 

Jeeper4

thanks for your response ballet. yikes, seems there is always something sinister waiting to be discovered in my leftie. i appreciate the information on the hidden invasive as i wouldn't have thought to ask about something like that. So ready for Jan 7 and to get this ball rolling. Hugs.