Understanding the medical information

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Moonlady71
Moonlady71 Member Posts: 2
edited October 2016 in Just Diagnosed

Hello - I am not a person with breast cancer, but I signed on because mother is at the very beginning stages of learning about her breast cancer. I'm hoping to have some understanding of the information that she shares with me without pressing with too many questions. My mother has just received the results of her biopsy. What she relayed to me was that she had a ductal carcinoma, and then she said she was told she had an inflammatory condition. Does this mean she has "Inflammatory Breast Cancer" or could it mean something else?

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  • joyandpiece
    joyandpiece Member Posts: 72
    edited October 2016

    Hello Moonlady71.  I wish I could tell you for sure what that means for your mom.  I cannot.   If she will share her entire pathology report with you (and I encourage her to ask for a copy of this), then this downloadable guide from this site may be of assistance to you and her:

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

    This diagnosis is something to be digested a little at a time.  There is much information to soak in.   You are being a good daughter by trying to assist her.  Two eyes to look at things and two ears to hear what is being told to her is usually helpful.  Refer her to this site.  There is not only information to help her navigate her diagnosis and treatment options, it comes with the added bonus of a community of sisters that are supportive and knowledgeable. 

    All the best.


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  • Moonlady71
    Moonlady71 Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2016

    Thank you for the response! I'll mention to her that she should get a copy of her entire pathology report.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited October 2016

    Her Dr is the one to ask for information on her DX. No one here can tell you what is goings on - we are not Drs. We can only give our personal experiences.

    If your Mother had your name put on her records then you can call and get information direct from her DR or their PA/NP/RN if you can't go to her next appt. If you are not listed, you can not legally get any information from them in regards to her (HIPPA). Hubby and Son are both listed with every Dr I have so that IF they ever feel the need to talk to any of my Drs, they can legally - never have but IF they feel they need to they can.

    If she has a smart phone, she can use it to record what the Dr tells her for rreview/remembering later if needed. It is good to get a notepad and write down questions when thought of and give a second copy to the DR at appt. When the Dr answers them - if she doesn't understand the first answer then she needs to keep asking until she does understand with them explaining it better so she does. No one should ever be afraid to ask for an explaination (on anything) that is understood by them.

    Copies of ALL tests/scans/reports should always be gotten and kept in a file for future use if ever needed. Most of us have boxes of all our 'papers'.


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  • LovesLoons
    LovesLoons Member Posts: 68
    edited October 2016

    I'm sorry about your mother. :( It's great you are trying to learn more! It would be best to ask the docs, of course, but if she doesn't have the outward signs of inflammatory breast cancer, i wouldn't think that is what they meant. But that's just my guess. It could be it was that it could be moving that way, like into the skin, but I don't understand that myself much either. I thought invasive ductal carcinoma and inflammatory cancer were different things, but then I read they could happen at the same time.

    It could just be a regular inflammatory immune reaction type of deal they were talking about. A lot of times if they just say an "inflammatory condition" that would mean there is inflammation but they don't know why. So if that was their actual words, that could mean just some generalized inflammation.

    Do you know if the carcinoma was considered "in situ"? -- those do not always turn invasive. :) But they treat them as such anyway because they can't tell which will and which won't turn that way (or when).

    i hope the doctor will give you answers ASAP.

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