Biopsy results: + for cancer but all in situ!

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  • bluedasher
    bluedasher Member Posts: 1,203
    edited November 2009

    About the estrogen receptivity, I think that is a test they cannot do with the tiny samples they get from a core biopsy.

    Is that true? I thought that with the core needle biopsy they get enough. 

    I got ER/PR and HER2 results from my biopsy but I had a VAD biopsy - when I'd made the appointment, I was told that it would be VAD and was pleased when I read about it because it takes the biggest sample of the tumor and is least likely to get a false negative. When we showed up the radiologist said he was going to do a needle one. I don't know if he was planning on core or thin needle because I didn't let him get that far. I was concerned that a needle biopsy might miss the cancer in my lump and talked him into doing VAD after all.

    So they had big bites out of my tumor to analyze. I'm sure that I've seen others post results on these after biopsies and didn't think that they were all VADs because the needle biopsies seem much more common.

    When he called me to give me the result, he said that I'd been right because my lump wasn't uniform - but maybe he was just being nice.  

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited November 2009

    I didn't have my ER, PR, or HER2 results until they took the whole tumor out.  But, my core biopsy -- even though there were 5 "cores" taken -- only contained a tiny piece of the tumor.  The ER, PR, and HER2 results are so important for treatment and prognosis.  Maybe they like to wait until they have a larger chunk of tissue to examine, just in case it's not uniform throughout the whole tumor.

    Hugs again, Julia/Crunchy!

    otter 

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  • hollyann
    hollyann Member Posts: 2,992
    edited November 2009

    Well, Julia, I am putting on my big girl panties and coming to you with an apology.......I am sorry it turned out ot be DCIS but oh so glad it wasn't invasive.....Can you please forgive me for being such a putz?.....Can we start over again and just be friends?.......I am so sorry I was so harsh with you...I am ashamed of myself for not being as supportive as I should have been.......Please know I am here to support you just as much as the rest of the ladies.......

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  • -angel-
    -angel- Member Posts: 222
    edited November 2009

    Julia,  In an effort to get you to tone it down a little and be more sensitive with what you say for all who are vulnerable and reading here, I myself was being insensitive to you.  I truly apologize for that.  I'm sorry you have cancer at all but I'm glad you found BCO so you can be supported as you and everyone should expect to be.  Best wishes on the baby front.  I've been through that too and it took 7 years but I was finally blessed.  Now I have two!  Oh, and in case you didn't see this, this link may be of help to you. 

     https://www.breastcancertreatmentcoach.com/home.html

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  • CrunchyPoodleMama
    CrunchyPoodleMama Member Posts: 1,220
    edited November 2009

    Bluedasher, otter and others, interesting about the ER/PR thing... my doctor took a lot of cores, at least a dozen and maybe 15 or more (from what I remember of the "staple gun sound" plus I was able to see them afterward), because my mass was relatively large and I had a large area of microcalcifications, but I guess I'll ask him next week if it was enough to determine ER/PR/etc.

    Hollyann, ABSOLUTELY... I'm a very forgiving person and I really appreciate your apology! If we ever have a BC.org Atlanta-area get-together, I'd love to meet you! (edit: blah, you too, and that is wonderful that you were able to conceive after IF! What a blessing. Thank you for that resource; I will check that out!)

    Girls, thank you again SO much!!

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  • DGHoff
    DGHoff Member Posts: 624
    edited November 2009

    Oh Julia! I'm so happy for your good news! Um, not that getting confirmation of in situ cancer is, you know, GOOD news, but in this case, I guess it is. It is certainly better than some of the alternatives! I am toasting you with a glass of coconut water!  Cheers!

    DeAnn 

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  • joanneasiata
    joanneasiata Member Posts: 719
    edited November 2009

    BLAH AND HOLLYANN

    THAT WAS VERY NICE

    JOANNE

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  • redsox
    redsox Member Posts: 523
    edited November 2009

    Testing for ER / PR takes longer than a couple of days.  Even if the sample is big enough the doctor probably does not have those results yet.  You can ask him about it when you see him.

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  • 3katz
    3katz Member Posts: 1,264
    edited November 2009

    Julia - Oh what a bittersweet result. I was so hoping for a B9 diagnosis. But if there is to be a malignancy, at least it is in situ. And there is no such thing as "cancer lite." Cancer is cancer. I'm sorry you are now an official member because it is a club that totally SUCKS. But it sounds is if you have a great prognosis. You should be able to get the hormone receptor status from the biopsy - I was able to get that & the Her2neu from mine.

    The fact you don't need chemo is so wonderful!!! You'll have all the info you'll need after surgery. And keep up with the healthy lifestyle. While I'm not in complete agreement that can "cure" any cancer (PLEASE . . . NO arguments now - just stating an opinion)  it will really help in feeling better in general. Although an indulgence in something you really love that may not be healthy can be really good for emotional well being. (For me that would be chocolate or my husband's homebrewed beer Tongue out)

    Have a wonderful weekend. Rest easy - it sounds as though the hardest part is over. Again - I'm not happy you received the bc dx but am glad it is DCIS.

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited November 2009

    Oh, redsox is right -- it's doubtful that they would have the ER, PR, and HER2 results so quickly, even if they did get enough tissue from the biopsies.

    More hugs...

    otter 

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  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited November 2009

    Hi Julia,

       My er/pr status wasn't identified until after my lumpectomy.  The biopsy only identified that the cancer was IDC. 

       I hope you're feeling better about things today .. I know you're anxious to get on with the next steps.

    love,

    Bren

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  • Yazmin
    Yazmin Member Posts: 840
    edited November 2009

    Julia: I am soooo happy for you. Everything should be OK from now on....

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  • hollyann
    hollyann Member Posts: 2,992
    edited November 2009

    My doctor did not get enough for ER/PR or HER2 status...I had to wait til after surgery cause they screwed up the first biopsy to where they could not get the staus.......It was screwed up at the lab not the doctor's office by the way.......

    Julia Thank you, and YES I would love to meet you even if we don't have a get together.......Maybe sometime we can meet for luch or something?....Or even meet at North Point Mall and do some serious shopping!........

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  • cmharris59
    cmharris59 Member Posts: 496
    edited November 2009

    My core biopsy provided the lab with enough tissue to identify my ER/PR/Her2 status. In fact, my oncologist was able to get enough information from the biopsy to determine whether I needed neoadjuvant chemo and planned my entire treatment protocol before my surgery. Maybe it has to do with the skill of the lab techs. After working in an analytical lab for years, it is easy to believe that.

    C

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  • inspiewriter
    inspiewriter Member Posts: 876
    edited November 2009

    That is good news!  That's what my diagnosis was, 4 and a half years ago.

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