Diagnosed today

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HouseDivided
HouseDivided Member Posts: 21
edited October 2016 in Just Diagnosed

I'm one to never miss a holiday or event so of course in Breast Cancer Awareness Month I was diagnosed with breast cancer:-) I got the results today from the lumpectomy I had last Thursday with biopsy. I know that is not the std process but I had a biopsy that came back benign and I didn't trust it so I went to an MO who referred me to a BS who said it's highly suspicious let's take it out and I agreed.

So here is the diagnosis, feel free to translate:-)

well differentiated IDC

Grade 1

Nuclear Grade 2

Mitotic Rate: less than 10/10 HPF

Tubule formation: Moderate

Lymphoplasmacytic response: no

Vascular/Lymphatic Invasion: Not identified

Ductal carcinoma in SITU: present, low to intermediate grade, cribiform

Lobular carcinoma in SITU: not identified

Surgical Margins: tumor is less than .1 cm from anterior margin

Distance to other nearest margins: tumor is within .2cm of deep margin

Pathologic staging: T1b, NX, MX

ER: 84.4:

PR:98.25

HER2: 1+


I saw the RO today and he said the BS would schedule surgery for next week to remove a sentinel lymph node. I have a follow up with BS tomorrow If that is clear then he recommends the 5 day radiation treatment. If not, then std 6 week radiation. Followed by talking to the MO and getting on something for 5-7 years.

I'm feeling pretty good about things, but would love advice or shared experiences from those of you who have gone before or are dealing with this now.

Thanks!


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  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited October 2016

    Are they going to take out more tissue since the margins are so small? I would ask about that

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  • HouseDivided
    HouseDivided Member Posts: 21
    edited October 2016

    The BS had told my daughters that she had taken a large margin so I will be sure to ask that tomorrow, thanks Italychick.

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  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited October 2016

    ok, sounds good. A .1 cm margin is pretty small, that is why I mentioned it. Typically the margin is defined as how far from identified cancer cells the area is clean.

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  • joyandpiece
    joyandpiece Member Posts: 72
    edited October 2016

    HouseDivided - good for you to be your own best advocate when you didn't trust your biopsy results. 

    My advice as a fairly newbie myself would be to read all you can from trusted sites (like this one) about your diagnosis.  I found peace of mind through knowledge so I did not walk in to any doctor's office with no clue.  I felt it put me at least a little more in control of an uncontrollable situation.   I especially found this downloadable booklet from this site about the pathology report to be very helpful in deciphering what everything meant:

    http://www.breastcancer.org/cms_files/47/Breastcancerorg_Pathology_Report_Guide_2014.pdf

    You might find page 13-14 about acceptable surgical margins to be helpful. 

    <<Hugs>> and best of luck to you. 

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  • HouseDivided
    HouseDivided Member Posts: 21
    edited October 2016

    Yes it's concerning that the BS said she took big margins but the margin is so small. Excellent advice to ask about that. Thanks Italychick.

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  • HouseDivided
    HouseDivided Member Posts: 21
    edited October 2016

    Thanks so much joyandpiece, this is a great resource!

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  • plumster1
    plumster1 Member Posts: 270
    edited October 2016
    House divided, looking at you info ..it seems your Dx is similar to mine. Er/pr +, Her- and grade 1 with a low mitotic rate which is a favorable prognosis. I still had the oncotype Dx test done to see if chemotherapy would be a benefit. I had a low score. So chemo was not necessary. You probably should ask your MO about it. Now tamoxifen for 5-10years because of being hormone positive. God job on being your own advocate! Best wishes on your SNB! Xo
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  • HouseDivided
    HouseDivided Member Posts: 21
    edited October 2016

    Thanks Plumster1 - I will definitely ask my MO about the oncotype test. I had a bad experience with the biopsy it took an hour and a half and the radiologist was very unsure. My gut told me not to trust the results so I reached out to an oncologist on my own. My primary care doctor quit right before the mammogram and so I just made the appointment with the MO, not knowing who to go to first. But it all worked out. Glad to hear that you are doing well.

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