surgeons knowledge of your type of cancer?

jessie123

I think that I have the best surgeon in my city -- she has a wonderful reputation. However, my diagnosis has been difficult. One hospital diagnosed lobular then the second hospital diagnosed "carcinoma with lobular features" When I asked my surgeons nurse what that was she explained that it is mixed ductal and lobular and is treated like ductal. Since then I have done a great deal of research on mixed carcinoma -- another name for it is IDC-L. Anyway when I talk to my surgeon about the pathology report she insists it means my cancer is Lobular. Today I called the pathologist who diagnosed my cancer and he also said it is mostly IDC with some lobular mixed in. My surgeon has been practicing for years and years. She is published on Pub-Med. She works at a teaching/medical school hospital. MY QUESTION --- Do I need to worry that my surgeon doesn't know what kind of cancer I have? Do surgeons need to know? Maybe it doesn't make any difference . I started with a surgeon rather than an Oncologist -- is that normal or do most people start with an Oncologist? I really am concerned about this, but maybe I really shouldn't worry about it.

Meow13

I found my surgeon was not all that knowledgable about cancer treatments. He seemed to be excellent in surgerical techinques specializing in breast cancer removal but he didn't know the significance of being er+ pr-. I guess when you have the disease you become very educated on the specifics of your case. My mo however is totally immersed in the latest studies and treatments.

GG27

I wouldn't worry about your surgeon not understanding the finer points of your diagnosis, it would be your medical oncologist whom I would want to be the best schooled in treating your mixed cancer. I'm not sure if it's the same in the US as Canada, but here your chart goes before a tumour board & lots of very smart Dr's look at everything & decide what your best treatment options are. good luck.

leftduetostupidmods

As someone who had multi-type BC, I can tell you that the MO explained to me that out of all, lobular was the one with higher risk of recurrence, so they tailored my treatment as if the whole tumor were lobular.

Ingerp

Yes--I was going to say I think it's not at all uncommon to have mixed types and they will base treatment on the more aggressive type. And unless you're getting neoadjuvant chemo, you'd typically start with a breast surgeon and then move to an MO.

letsgogolf

I also had IDC with Lobular features. None of my doctors ever mentioned it to me - they just called it IDC. I learned from reading my pathology reports from the biopsy and from my lumpectomy. One called it IDC with lobular features and the other report called it mixed type. My understanding is that we have a higher risk of local recurrence but a much lower recurrence of it spreading elsewhere.

Cin17

I started with a BS too. Won't meet with my oncologist until after my surgery. I have mixed type as well. My surgeon explained that it probably means the tumor started at a nexus point.

AliceBastable

For surgery, I would think the size and location of the tumor is the most important. The type is more important for determining adjuvant therapies.