What can change from preliminary to final patho report?

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bethq
bethq Member Posts: 311
What can change from preliminary to final patho report?

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  • bethq
    bethq Member Posts: 311
    edited April 2014

    Sorry to be asking so many questions. My prelim. report is DCIS intermediate. Today I had an MRI and Friday I see my breast  Dr to discuss final patho report, MRI, etc. I know the DCIS can't be downgraded but how often do they find a more progressive cancer with final patho and MRI? Any ideas? Thanks.

  • Annette47
    Annette47 Member Posts: 957
    edited April 2014

    I believe the number I've see quoted here is about 20% of the time.   That does include micro-invasions, which don't usually significantly change the treatment or prognosis though.

  • songlady
    songlady Member Posts: 12
    edited April 2014

    I had a stereotactic biopsy and a U/S guided biopsy and my pathology report stated DCIS, solid and cribriform types, partially involving papillary lesion.  The report did not mention the grade, so I'll have to ask my breast surgeon when I see her next week.  In the meantime, if anyone has had similar report, would be interested to hear from you.  My breast surgeon has said my stage is considered "0" at this time, but this is only a preliminary staging.  I plan to have a dbl mastectomy, although the problem seems to be only in my left breast at this time.   I understand final staging can't really be done until the breast tissues are removed and tested and a pathology report provided post mastectomy.  Still waiting for results of my BRCA test, as breast cancer seems to be genetic.  Several family members have had it.  Mother (age 76), daughter (age 34), maternal aunt (age 34), and at least two other maternal aunts (ages unknown), have had breast cancer.

  • bethq
    bethq Member Posts: 311
    edited May 2014

    Songlady we are in the same boat and I also would like a double mastectomy. Get the final patho report and MRI results Friday.

  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 3,257
    edited May 2014

    Yes songlady and bethq, final path report determines exactly what you are up against. It is upgraded sometimes and also downgraded sometimes (which happened to me) as initially I was told lesion was about 2cm and it turned out to be 5mm only. I had two lumpies because although I had clean margins the first time, one was less than 1mm which is not acceptable to my rads onc. So, back I went to have it shaved. Now my margins are all above a cm so am happy. If you have mx, you won't have to worry about that though. Wishing you both the best possible outcome!

  • MellaBella
    MellaBella Member Posts: 147
    edited May 2014

    I just wanted to share that what my BS originally told me from my first biopsy (just DCIS in one area) was not changed after the final pathology report and I had clear margins with my UMX. It helps to focus on the 80%, not the 20%, if you know what I mean. : ) Hope you got good news!

  • Lilyluv
    Lilyluv Member Posts: 160
    edited May 2014

    On biopsy, my DCIS was intermediate (stage 2) and clean margins.  Only thing that changed was it was upgraded to stage 3 with clean margins on the final path.  So just a little bit more tissue was removed, but nothing significant.  Had 4 weeks of rads and that was it for treatment.  Like MellaBella said, focus on the 80% of us that didn't have a substantial change. 

  • CTMOM1234
    CTMOM1234 Member Posts: 633
    edited May 2014

    Stereotactic biopsy: DCIS Grade 2

    MRI: Nothing unusual, conclusion: DCIS only

    Preliminary Lumpectomy Path. Report: DCIS Grade 2

    Final Path. Report: DCIS Grade 2 with 1.75 mm IDC Grade 2. --> Surprise, no idea before this. Upgraded to Stage 1a. Shook me emotionally but actually didn't change my course of treatment except that I first underwent a sentinel node biopsy.

  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited May 2014

    Lilyluv, I think you are mixing up grade and stage. Pure DCIS is always stage 0. The grade refers to how mutated/aggressive the cells are. Your stats in your signature look correct.

  • jc254
    jc254 Member Posts: 439
    edited May 2014

    I guess I was one of the unlucky 20%.  My initial diagnosis from biopsy,followed by an MRI,was DCIS.  I received a nasty surprise after my lumpectomy when they discovered 1cm of IDC hiding in the DCIS. I wish I had known there was a possibility that this would happen.  It changed my course of treatment, requiring chemotherapy for which I totally unprepared.  But... what a difference a year makes.  I'm finished treatment and feeling great.   Hang in there.

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