I don't understand pathology report...
It's been 2 1/2 months since my bilat and I'm finally looking at my pathology report. I've Googled some of these terms and I'm still confused? Perhaps someone can explain what all of these numbers and abbreviations and how it applies to me or someone in the same boat? thx ladies:)
♦catherine
- Estrogen and Progesterone ER+ %75 in situ neclei staining positive
- PR + (approx 50% of in situ neclei staining positive)
- HER-2/Neu
- Pathologic Staging (pTNM): pTis NO(i-)MX
Comments
-
Hi, iHEARTu!
This site actually has some good explanations of this. You are ER/PR positive, with approx. 75% of the cancer cells that they examined showing positive for estrogen reception and 50% showing positive for progesterone reception. Her2/Neu is a subset of the cell DNA that can overmultiply ("overexpress") on the surface of the cells. There is no result showing here in your pathology that I can discern. Here is the copy from this site's page on staging about the TNM staging system. I've put your results in bold:
Doctors use a staging system to determine how far a cancer has spread. The most common system is the TNM staging system. You may hear the cancer described by three characteristics:
- size (T stands for tumor)
- lymph node involvement (N stands for node)
- whether it has metastasized (M stands for metastasis)
The T (size) category describes the original (primary) tumor:
- TX means the tumor can't be measured or found.
- T0 means there isn't any evidence of the primary tumor.
- Tis means the cancer is "in situ" (the tumor has not started growing into the breast tissue).
- The numbers T1-T4 describe the size and/or how much the cancer has grown into the breast tissue. The higher the T number, the larger the tumor and/or the more it may have grown into the breast tissue.
The N (node involvement) category describes whether or not the cancer has reached nearby lymph nodes:
- NX means the nearby lymph nodes can't be measured or found.
- N0 means nearby lymph nodes do not contain cancer.
- The numbers N1-N3 describe the size, location, and/or the number of lymph nodes involved. The higher the N number, the more the lymph nodes are involved.
The M (metastasis) category tells whether there are distant metastases (whether the cancer has spread to other parts of body):
- MX means metastasis can't be measured or found.
- M0 means there are no distant metastases.
- M1 means that distant metastases were found.
- Hope that this helps!
-
Well, the bolding didn't show up-- hopefully you will see the results you were given in the text I copied. BTW, your results are showing a large area of DCIS that is hormone receptive, with no evidence of invasion into the breast tissue. This is great! I'm sorry for all that you have faced in a short time, but this is a promising report.
Hope M.
-
Hi Hope!
WOW! Thanks for the information, I have this in my favs so I can refer to it later:)What is bolding? Sorry for all of the questions?
Also, my BS said she was surprised but pleased there wasn't any invasion. Not sure how that made me feel and now wonder if there is some invasion lurking in there, or pathology missed some invasion.
I'm still on the fence to take Tamoxifen, but wonder if I should because my DCIS was high grade.
So many decisions...as we all do. This message board has been a life saver emotionally and mentally. I'd be worrying till my next Dr appointment and here it's like old girlfriends gabbing and bonding.
Thanks again Hope!
catherine
-
Hi--I just meant that I had put the relevant text in bold font. But apparently it didn't work!
I bet that your surgeon was surprised because it was a large area of DCIS. And with a mastectomy, they should not have missed any invasion. I wouldn't worry about that too much.
Yes, these boards are here night and day, and hopefully you will always find someone who can help. In fact, you may want to ask the question about taking Tamoxifen. There can be some strong side effects. I have not taken it (because my cancer was ER/PR negative), but many here have!
Good luck,
Hope M.
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team