two questions that google doesn't seem to know the answer to

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gilmel01
gilmel01 Member Posts: 21
edited March 2015 in Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis

1) how likely is it that my lung mets tumor has changed pathology from my primary breast tumor? I was diagnosed triple negative in my original breast tumor but we are awaiting the results on the lung mass for pathology.

2) I was originally diagnosed as stage iii with a 6 cm breast tumor and had a 6mm lung nodule show up on my first pet. We didn't know at the time that it was mets but then it grew to 1.6 cm following chemotherapy over about a year. How does that affect my prognosis

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited February 2015

    I am not sure about the second one, but I know that I had a recurrence and my recurrence had a different pathology from my original tumor. The doctors seem to have no idea why, other than to say it is strange but happens sometimes, which is not the least bit reassuring. I hope your pathology gives you more information and treatment options. I am in the waiting game too. It's for the birds and really sucks.

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited March 2015

    gilmel01, I don't remember the answer to the first as an exact percentage, but mets do indeed change hormonal status.  Maybe a third of the time?  I'd need to do a literature search to find the answer.  Your onc should be able to provide some references. 

    The answer to the second is no one knows.  If this met turns out to be hormone positive, then chemo wouldn't have helped much anyway.  Anti-hormonals have a lot more activity against these tumors then chemo.  If not, well then you haven't found the chemo to which your cancer is susceptible.  Once you have the biopsy, they can test the cells to see which chemos will work.  It's not mainstream oncologic practice, but a lot of centers will do it.

     

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  • gilmel01
    gilmel01 Member Posts: 21
    edited March 2015

    thanks both of you for your replies. I actually had the lung mass removed by a vats surgery so I am technically NED. The tumor at least stabilized in response to chemo as it was the same size when I finished chemo as when I was first diagnosed. As it was only 6 mm at that time, we hadnt suspected cancet at that time

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