Crazy conflicting path reports...looking for opinions!

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Lsl327
Lsl327 Member Posts: 22

So on Dec 21 I was diagnosed with triple positive 1 cm idc, grade 2, low ER/pr % but positive. This was determined from my core biopsies. On Feb. 14 I had a lumpectomy with snb. Node were negative. I asked for a mamaprint (genomic testing) from the toumor sample. I got the results from that on March 1. To my confusion and my Dr's the results say I am triple negative. So now they are ording more test. Any opions about this? Should I be concernd that they messed up my samples? Is it possible that my tumor sits right in the middle of all these receptors and it is hard to tell. I am meeting with my pathologist and mo about it in the next two weeks. Any help is appreciated. I would like to hear what you would do if you were in my position. So confusing! Thanks, Leslie

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  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 3,257
    edited March 2013

    The only thing I can tell you is that after lumpectomy/mastectomy, the characteristics of the actual tumor can change from the biopsy as it is more representative of the whole tumor make-up. I think it is a good thing that your doctor ordered more testing on the tumor to make sure what they are dealing with. I doubt they messed up the sample. They just have more information now to be able to know what they are looking at. Since triple negative is a more agressive cancer, it may change your tx options and so that is why they need to know what they are dealing with. Also, it means that tamox/AI's may not work for you so they don't want to put you through taking those although I think some triple negs still end up with AI's anway.

    Hugs and just keep the faith that your doctor knows best!

  • longislandmom
    longislandmom Member Posts: 248
    edited March 2013

    I think it is always worth getting second opinions on pathology, as well as from doctors.  all path labs are not equal.....

  • stride
    stride Member Posts: 470
    edited March 2013

    Hi Lsl327, there can be multiple types of cancer in the same tumor. The samples might have been taken from different parts of your tumor. Never hurts to ask for retesting, though, especially if you can get a different pathologist to do it.

  • Lsl327
    Lsl327 Member Posts: 22
    edited March 2013

    Thanks for the responce. I thought was getting a second with the Mammaprint test and more comprehensive too. But I never expected a complete opposite report. Most unsettleing.

  • Lsl327
    Lsl327 Member Posts: 22
    edited March 2013

    I don't trust the Dr's, not that my Dr's are bad but I never just trust they know everything. They are working from statictcs and stanard of care protocol so although they know alot they don't know everything. It would be foolish to think otherwise. This conflicting report and complication proves my point exactly. If I had not been aggressive about asking for the mammaprint test I would have gone on thinking that I was triple positive, treated with more drugs that would have had NO benefit at all for a triple negative cancer. I do appreciate all ideas about this. Really and I am not looking for an argument. I am trying to keep an open mind about this but it is hard when my path lab says one thing and a completely other lab in a different part of the world says the complete opposite. I was told they look at multiple slides of the cancer to determine an accurate report, in other words to prevent a misdiagnosis. I know lab samples get mixed up all the time. Anyone ever had a dna sample taken from your tumor? I am contemplating that.

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