How are you guys getting your pathology so fast?

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BioAdoptMom3
BioAdoptMom3 Member Posts: 198
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
I am new to this so I really don't understand a lot yet.  I had my core biopsy on 1/7 and received my diagnosis of IDC on 1/13.  I do know that my tumor is grade 3.  My BS is estimating that my stage is a I or possibly an early II.  But, that is all I know.  When we met with him this past Thursday, post MRI, he told me that at our meeting this coming Thursday a lot of my pathology, such as my hormone receptor and HER2 status should be in.  He led me to believe that it usually does take a good month or more for that to come in and much of the other info cannot be determined till after surgery.  I won't know my stage and lymph node status for sure until after my lumpectomy, which will be in 2-3 weeks.  However I am noticing that there are people here who were diagnosed around the same time as or after I was who already have all this information.  Is there a big difference based on the lab which evaluates it?  Does it maybe depend upon where you live?  I'm just curious about why mine is taking so long.  Its so hard to be in limbo.

Nancy
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  • JeanH
    JeanH Member Posts: 281
    edited February 2011

    Nancy,



    My radiologist was amazing and called for a preliminary report the day after biopsy so I could know one way or another. She also scheduled the biopsy the next business day after mammogram, made for a long weekend but all in all pretty quick. I was also give great advice to ask for a copy of every test result to be faxed to you when they faxed the doctor that way you know when they get it and can call to review. Also helps to keep the file for all the doctors you see on the journey and a reference for the future when hopefully this is a distant memory and some doctor wants to know the details. I think a lot depends on how busy the lab is....I believe the hardestbpart is not knowing and waiting to have the full plan.



    Hang in there we are here for you.



    Jean

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  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited February 2011

    Hello Nancy. I received the path results from my core biopsy in two days. It told me that I had IDC. The hormone receptors at that time were pending. I got them back a little under a week not a month. My staging however was determined after my surgery and scans (to make sure it was not anywhere else). I had to wait 4 weeks for surgery and there is was determined what the actual size of the IDC was and that it had spread to 6 of my lymph nodes. So at my 1 week post op I found out I was a IIB, funny because I wanted, wanted to know my stage but at that point I didn't care anymore, I just wanted to get treated and get it over with.

    I get treated at a cancer center so maybe that is why everything is quick? They have their own path department...

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  • JeanH
    JeanH Member Posts: 281
    edited February 2011

    Sorry one more thing I had a node biopsied as well with the lump as the radiologist thought it looked swollen and decided to check, so I knew I had 1 node affected....you don't get the full story until they do the sentinel node biopsy, which in my case was done with the lumpectomy. I got that report during the follow up with bs about 2 weeks after the surgery.



    Jean

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  • Cisatypo
    Cisatypo Member Posts: 23
    edited February 2011

    It is highly dependent on where you are. In one single day at Mayo, I got: breast exam, mammogram, repeat mammo for suspicious area; ultrasound, ultrasound guided biopsy, preliminary path diagnosis. Two days later, confirmed pathology. Lumpectomy surgery 5 days later, intraoperative pathology report on margins and nodes, one positive node, axillary dissection, overnight in hospital, confirmed negative path report on the rest of the nodes  before I left hospital the next day. It was truly amazing. But this might be much too fast for others - at Mayo, I was asked to consent and could have controlled and delyaed the timing every step of the way. For me, fast was better; in some places, I don't think you even have the option of going fast or going slower. The most important thing is to feel in charge and be informed. 

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  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 3,571
    edited February 2011

    The information comes in waves.....from the biopsy they confirmed ductal carcinoma for me and Grade 1.  Then ER/PR positive.  My HER2 was equivocol so they sent that off for further analysis...that took another week.  By then I had my lumpectomy scheduled.  Once the lump and SNB was done, I found out I was really Grade 2 and had angiolymphatic invasion.  They then confirmed my HER2 was negative.  THey also told me the actual size of the tumor removed....slightly bigger than what they measured on U/S.  Then I had BLMX and the path came back from that indicating there was another area of 2mm that was cancer.  I had my core biopsy on 12/6, confirmed cancer on 12/13, lump/SNB on 12/23 and had my BLMX on 1/27.  The pathology information kept coming out with each step of this and the story kept changing each time......I know we all want to know ASAP but it doesn't work that way.  Just another sucky part of BC hu?  Hang in there Nancy!  You will get there....we will get you through this (together)!

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  • BarbaraA
    BarbaraA Member Posts: 7,378
    edited February 2011

    I had my path from the biopsy in 1-1/2 days (Fri), an MRI (Mon), ER/PR/HER on Tue, and surgery Mon. I was at a cancer center/hospital.

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited February 2011

    I had my biopsies done and had the initial dx within a week, which led me to a surgeon immediatley, followed by surgery.  I didn't get the harmone receptor information until after my surgery, but the surgery did allow for more information than the original test.  I think it all takes time and depends on how busy or well staffed the facility is.

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