invasive papillary carcinoma

I just looked it up - yours is not the same as mine. Looks like your type is a good one in that it rarely spreads and is slow growing.

First off, sorry you join the sisters with rare types of breast cancer.  I just found this information which might be of benefit.  BEFORE YOU READ IT, keep in mind the following.  First off, there is very limited information about rare types of breast cancer.  So finding stuff might be very out dated.  Furthermore, most of the treatments that are used to treat rare breast cancers are based on the evidence used to treat the more common breast cancers.  And, since there are few women with these types of cancers, the data quoted might not be as statistically significant as they would be for a larger group of women.

I also think you have to nail down your pathology report.  And if it's confirmed that you have a rare breast cancer, it's not a bad idea to have a second pathology lab look at the specimen.

Good luck.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.

http://www.nature.com/modpathol/journal/v14/n9/full/3880399a.html

Hi Singlemom1,

I was diagnosed with invasive papillary carcinoma in 2008. I am currently on Tamoxifen as my tumor was highly ER/PR positive. Please see my signature for all other treatments I received. Have they staged you yet? I believe your treatment would largely depend on the stage.  As far as prognosis is concerned, I read that papillary cancers are typically slow-growing and prognosis should be a little bit better. What's confusing is that I also read some other type of papillary cancers (micro?) that are supposed to be a little more aggressive? I went back to my pathology reports and can't find the word "micro" so I am assuming mine is the slow-growing one. 

BTW, I also read one downside to "slow-growing". Supposedly, chemo may not be as effective on them because chemo targets fast-growing cells?  Sigh. 

Good luck and please feel free to PM if you have any questions. Take care.

I seem to recall that my pathology said non-invasive. I learned later to just say IDC as it should be treated the same. I finally demanded to see an onc 9 months later (after reading this forum) and she said I kinda "slipped between the cracks" (her words!). Um, YA!

I did have 2 nodes matted together and recall reading that it was not a good sign, but I just can't find it anywhere. I had micromets as well, but he wasn't worried as they were so small. Duh! micro you idiot!!!

So, I am an anomoly. No treatment but surgery and prayer!

Good luck. Keep us posted as you would have new info for us.

Good luck to you!  You sound like you have a terrific oncologist!  With our rare types of breast cancer it is very difficult to find exactly the right kind of treatment.  With "favorable" subtypes, like ours, you want to be careful not to OVER treat or UNDER treat.

While you're waiting, I suggest you Google search the NCCN 2011 breast cancer treatment guidelines.  Afterwards, you can use what you've learned as a springboard for your beginning discussions with your onc!

I was just reading my path report from my recent re-excisional lumpectomy, and it says the residual cancer had cribriform and micropapillary features.  The original excision path report (at another hospital) did not mention that.  I'm freaking out now, especially since the tumor was in my right axilla, so close to lymph nodes and the skin surface.  It's 100% ER+ and 90-something% PR+.  I did have clear nodes (0/3) in my SNB.  I go to a university hospital breast center, but my surgeon didn't mention anything about this.

Hi singlemom1! I've been reading this board since I was diagnosed in June, but I just joined yesterday. I too was diagnosed with Invasive Papillary Carcinoma and DCIS. The tumor was 1 cm, .5 of that being invasive, the rest DCIS. As you can see from my signature I'm ER+/PR+, HER-. I opted for breast conserving lumpectomy since I had no other issues or risks. Because of the location of my tumor (11 'o clock on the left breast) my surgeon said it was cosmetically in the worst place possible, so I had the option of a plastic surgeon who did a breast reduction/cosmetic lift on both. My general surgeon followed his incision markups and tunneled in to remove the tumor. There was no node involvement. I had 33 radiation treatments following surgery, and I have recently decided not to take the Arimidex for 5 years. I haven't told my oncologist this yet; I will see her at the end of the month, and I hope I don't get too much blow-back over it.

I'm curious to see how you've done -- since your first post I'm assuming you've completed surgery and rads if that was part of your care plan. I hope all is well.

voraciousreader, with my odds of this returning being practically nil, I feel like 5 years on Arimidex is overtreatment, and will expose me to a lot of SE from which I may not totally recover. I already have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis in knee and hip, and osteopenia. I welcome any input on my decision not to take Arimidex.