Biopsy Report

Hi Marie

Did you ever think that you would be looking up such things on the internet?  I know I didn't. I am starting to think I should go to medical school when this is all over.

My pathology report used the Nottingham system, which is similiar apparently to the Bloom Richardson. Grades on mine were tubular 3, nuclear 2 and mitotic 1. It also indicates confluent tumour necrosis-absent, lymphovascular invasion-absent and perineural invasion-absent.  I just thought I would share with you for a comparison sake.

Good luck with your oncologist appointment today. Let us know how it goes.

Take Care

Cathy

The education session went as good as it could.  Additional biopsy results show PR+ (39%), PR-, HER2/neu-. The breast oncologist was compassionate and patient.  She gave a spill about breast cancer is a cruel disease because we can never walk out of a doctor's office and say that we're cured; She says breast cancer patients should always carry two baskets with them every where they go.  One with positive thoughts/outcome and one with cautious, potential setbacks.  We need to live every day to the fullest and don't waste any time worrying from scan to scan/from dr visit to dr visit.  She agrees that a bilateral mastectomy is a good choice due to the nature of ILC.  She said the rate of local recurrence for ILC is 1.5% every year (so 15% in 10 years).  Due to my family history (Mom survived ovarian cancer in her 50's and died of stomach cancer in her later 70's), she will try to get approval for genetic testing at my request.  

I am now awaiting surgery schedule and some other workups in between.  Sentinel biopsy will be done during the surgery.  Thanks for all the posts and support.  Like my breast onco says "hang in there, we will get through this together."

Marie 

Hi Tanya, she will be testing me for BRCA genes.  Other than my mother, I don't have other family members who have had ovarian, gastric or breast cancer.  Thanks for your support.  I will let you know the outcome.

Marie 

Hey Cathy,

She seemed optimistic that she would get me in before Christmas but as of now, I'm still waiting for the call.  I hate to wait so I told her I would appreciate it if she could have me scheduled ASAP.  Yes, I'm going for the bilateral.  Since I'm so flat chested anyway, hopefully no one will notice.    I won't do the reconstruction until later if ever.  My dr says the pain level from a scale of 1-10, the bilateral mastectomy itself is about 3 and with the reconstruction is about 9.  She says I don't have enough fat in my stomach to do the flap thingy and the procedure with the expander could be very uncomfortable.  I think I will combat one battle at a time.  The decisions come easier when you're armed with information.  To me, it's a no-brainer with ILC but I think I am older than you (54).  I will be thinking of you as well.  Please keep me posted.

 Take care,

Marie