cancer after breast reduction surgery

I think that is a smart decision about the "block"...ick though I hate that term. You may need some sort of test in the future. I know someone in a bunch of trials and that did become an issue.

Hi Kleenex, I was told that for me the tumor "block" is just the slide that has my core biopsy cells on it embedded in paraffin.  I've seen it; it just looks like three lines (the stuff that they took out with the needle, three different stabs).

When my Oncotype test was done the pathologist at my hospital sliced off the necessary tissue from my block and sent that tissue to Genomic.  My block never left the hospital.  Same for my FISH test, I think.

Love the image of the little mini cold-cut slicing machine. Wonder who has MY block? It is amazing what we need to learn in this new world. Some days I'm slightly impressed by all that I now know that I didn't know before. And then other days, I'm irritated that I had to learn it at all...

Kathy16 - thanks for the words of support and encouragement.  I am, indeed, very comfortable with my "randomization" through the TailorX study. It is what I had hoped and prayed for.

Did you have the second opinion on the ILC diagnosis?  Have you gotten the results yet?  I can't even imagine being diagnosed twice in one year with BC. That sucks twice!!!!!

 Let us know how you are doing.   Sjc

Had my mast and SNB on left side 1/4/10 - this was following breast reduction surgery for symmetry on the left side on 11/4/09 and that was following a mast with immediate implant on the right side in Feb. 2009, and an incision revision and new implant placement on the right in March, 2009.  Mammo was clear in Nov '09. 

Had to get an expander this time as there was not enough skin left to do the immediate implant.   Path from reduction showed IDC 8mm.  Margin was not clean.  I hadn't realized that the Sentinel node may not "map" or "light up" after a breast reduction so I was fortunate that the node was located and it was clear.  I had refused to have an axillary node dissection (which is what was recommended) if the node didn't map.  Since the cancer was small and the cells were early, I decided to take my chances with leaving all the nodes in rather than having them all removed.

I am feeling pretty good 5 days post-op.  Pain is much less this time around, fortunately.  Hopefully, I will get the path report from the mast next week.

Blessings to you and yours for a happy, healthy 2010!

Hello all-  I'm a new member to your 'not so private' club.  Hoping someone can assist me with some much needed info and knowledge.  I had a breast reduction on 3/10/10 and learned I had bc on 3/25/10 from my ps.  My appt with the bs and onc is on 4/8.  Of course to me, it seems like that's a long time to wait, but since I'm a new member, perhaps this is standard or very quick - I have no idea.  My path report says Invasive carcinoma in-situ, lobular carcinoma in-situ, atypical lobular hyperplasia, flat epithelial atypia and columnar cell changes and cysts (invasive carcinoma with both invasive lobular carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma components.  

Can someone tell me what this means to a newcomer?  From you lingo above, it's ILC - yes?  What's DCIS?  what's mucinous carcinoma components?  What tests come next?  THX 

Newchapter - are you sure it says "invasive carcinoma in situ"?  That seems to be a contradiction in terms.  Invasive carcinoma shouldn't be "in situ."  I'm confused, are you sure you typed it correctly?

DCIS is "Ductal Carcinoma in Situ" - is that what's on your path report?

LCIS is Lobular Carcinoma in Situ - that's often not treated surgically.  From what I understand, it's looked at as more of a precancer.  Those cells may develop into cancer or they may not.  It does seem to be looked as an an indication of increased risk for developing cancer, in either breast.

Atypical lobular hyperplasia is a precancerous condition, the cells are abnormal but not so abnormal as to be considered cancer.  It may develop into cancer or it may not.

Flat epithelial atypia - I'm not sure, but it seems like another precancerous change.  I'll defer to someone else who might know more about that one.

Columnar cell changes - seems like more abnormal but not yet cancerous cells.

Are you saying that you have cysts which contain invasive lobular carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma cells?  I didn't know cysts did annoying stuff like that, so if that IS what you mean, again, I'll have to defer to someone else who might know more.

The time frame is fairly normal, don't panic about that.

If you do have an invasive cancer in the stew, that will most likely trump all the precancerous changes and you'll be treated based on the invasive component.

I had DCIS, LCIS and ALH, so those are the parts I know the most about.  None of those are invasive, so I can't help much in that regard.  DCIS is considered the most serious of those three, and it was surgically removed.  My breast apparently still contains LCIS and ALH, which will not be removed - just monitored.  (And I'll take an antihormonal drug, because my DCIS was hormone sensitive - but that's getting a bit ahead of things.)

Best of luck!   

newchapter~ I was diagnosed with invasive infiltrating lobular carcinoma ER/PR positive Her - 2 negative. have they told you any of those results yet?  Invasive means it has broken into the tissue.  They should be able to tell you what stage you are at.  Ask them for your pathology report.  I did have to have an MRI .  With all the results of mine and after meeting with the ongologist I decided to have a bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders put in right away.  I did have to have Chemo and I am now on a five year drug called arimidex, it helps to stop the cancer from coming back. Mine was caught early too.   They found this in my right breast but found atypical things going on in the other side .  I just wanted to throw everything at this cancer and get rid of it.  They did also tell me that I may have very well had it all taken out during the breast reduction surgery but then they did a axillary node dissection and came back that 2 of 14 lymph nodes had micro pieces of cancer in them, that is why my oncologist suggested chemo for me.

Did they find cancer in one or both sides?

I remember going into the first meeting being very confused....ask them if you are ER /PR negative or positive and ask them your Her - 2 status.  what size in the tumor.  Ask them if they are doing a axillary node dissection. You want to know if any lymph nodes are involved. Most of all ask for copies of all your reports.  They can send you your pathology report before your next appt.  at least then you can do some research. 

Seriously I did personal message you with my number give a call if you like.  I can probably tell you more than writing it all out.. 

This is a great site to get information from...dig around you will find very helpful ladies here. 

Warmly,

Balsie

I have watched this board faithfully for many months and now unfortunately another has joined us.  I am sad that you have joined us, but joyous that you have found your ILC so early.  My story is documented through this thread, but like you, Newchapter, found out about my ILC after having my much anticipated breast reduction.  I now chuckle when I recall the plastic surgeon referring to my bc as a "serendipitous finding." I had my reduction on 10/22 and the night of 10/26, I got that fateful phone call from the ps, asking is your husband home?  can he come to the phone with you?  When you hear that you know it is never good news.  I too had a mammogram 2 months before my reduction and have faithfully had them for 30+ years.  This stuff is sneaky and hard to find, which is why I thank God every day for my decision to have my breast reduction. 

 At the time of diagnosis you could have knocked me over with a feather.  This wasn't suppose to happen to me.  Well you quickly realize that it has happened and you need to do everything you can and gather all the information you can.  My ps was a wonderful, wonderful help through this.  He saw me 2 days later, first as a followup to my surgery and to also talk a little more.  He immediately referred me to a surgeon who would do the lymph node biopsy and I saw him on 11/3. At this same time I met with a "nurse navigator" from the medical complex that I have had my treatment at.  They are absolute angels.  They helped me setting up appointments, and were willing to talk at any time, especially when you are waiting for results.     I had a breast MRI on both breast to determine if there was any remaining cancer on 11/6 and thankfully it was clean.  The biopsy was 11/25 (had to wait because of reduction surgery).  Waiting for the result was the most stressful, cuz you don't have the answers yet.  Once you know what you are fighting, it is easier.  

So I think your timetable is pretty good, but I would suggest you keep on top of them.  I hope that you are offered the services of nurse navigators.  I am through my radiation and now on hormone therapy but need to get a followup MRI.  The nurse navigator just contacted me this week to help set up the appointment.  They are wonderful.

 Newchapter, you have begun a journey you don't want to take, but know many have traveled before you and you will be fine.  If you have any further questions, please let me know, I too would love to talk with you and offer all the encouragment needed during these darker days.  Trust me.....there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and there are many wonderful sisters here to help you toward the brighter side of this journey.

Please keep us updated and feel free to throw out any more questions or concerns you have.  I will stay tuned.

Hi, I don't know if others are still posting on this topic. I was diagnosed with ILC in my left breast after breast reduction. Had a mastectomy 2 weeks later, 6 wks ago. Have had much good news in this. Due to the cancer diagnosis as a result of surgery, had to have axillary node dissection, and fortunately all nodes were clear. All markers have been good and I have been placed on hormone suppressant therapy for the next 5 years. 2 questions, my oncologist states that research doesn't support having MRI's rather than mammograms for my remaining breast, yet I had a clear mammogram 7 months prior to surgery, so if I don't have MRI's won't I be at high risk of this going undetected if it occurs in my right breast? Secondly, I asked my surgeon who did the reduction if cells can be transferred from one breast to the other during the reduction and he affirmed they can be. Does this mean the cancer cells could have been transferred to the breast that did not receive the diagnosis during the pathology report? Thanks for any info.