what is "microscopic focus"?

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Deidre-Round2
Deidre-Round2 Member Posts: 3
edited June 2014 in Second or Third Breast Cancer

Hello, everyone. I'm new to the forum, and wonder if anyone has experience with this term? 

In August, I was diagnosed with a second breast cancer - invasive lobular carcinoma - 8 years after being diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma.  I opted for a lumpectomy which I had this Monday and just received the pathology results, by phone.  They said the lymph was clear but that there was "microscopic focus of residual invasive cancer". I asked for clarification several times, but apparently having the nurse repeat the words to me did not help me understand exactly what that meant!  The surgeon will not re-excise.

Does this make sense to anyone?  My research is only further confusing me and I don't see my surgeon again until next week.

Thanks for any insight.

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  • carcharm
    carcharm Member Posts: 486
    edited October 2010

    I think there are several other discussions on this topic elsewhere in BC.org. Did you have a biopsy prior to lumpectomy? Even if you didn't what can happen when they excise or do the lumpecomy some or one of the cancer cells can travel down to the lymph node during the procedure. When they say residual.. to me .. it indicates that it is not part of the lymph node per se but traveled down from the tumor site during or after biopsy or lumpectomy. It is of the same cell type as the original tumor and not metastatic cancer. They would use other wording to identify metastatic disease.

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  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited October 2010

    I can't answer your question but like you I had IDC followed several years later by ILC. Best wishes to you

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  • Deidre-Round2
    Deidre-Round2 Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2010

    Thanks, carcharm. I assumed they were talking about the margins, not the lymph, so this is something new to ponder.  I will look for the other discussions you mentioned.  @hrf - thanks so much for your good wishes.

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  • Drim
    Drim Member Posts: 302
    edited October 2010

    This sounds like lymph node micro-metastisis. I would definitely speak with your surgeon tomorrow to make sure he/she clarifies and then discuss what the implications of this is on your treatement plan. Good luck!!!

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  • akram
    akram Member Posts: 4
    edited October 2010

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  • Deidre-Round2
    Deidre-Round2 Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2010

    The mystery is solved!  Apparently, the microscopic focus was the remaining cancer cells around the biopsy site that were *removed*. The way the nurse said it over the phone had made it sound like it was tissue that was left behind.  I was glad to have this clarification.  According to my surgeon, the pathology report was good - no lymph involvement; good margins.  Thanks to all of you for your input!

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