I don't understand pathology report...

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iHEARTu
iHEARTu Member Posts: 213

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

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  • Hope_M
    Hope_M Member Posts: 261
    edited March 2010

    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!
    Hope M.

  • Hope_M
    Hope_M Member Posts: 261
    edited March 2010

    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.

  • iHEARTu
    iHEARTu Member Posts: 213
    edited March 2010
    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 :)

  • Hope_M
    Hope_M Member Posts: 261
    edited March 2010

    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.

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