Does malignant automatically mean invasive?

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tovahsmom
tovahsmom Member Posts: 196
edited March 2019 in Just Diagnosed

I was just diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in my right breast. Had DCIS there 10 years ago. Path report says "positive for malignant cells" and then on the next line it says "adenocarcinoma." Does anybody know if this automatically means invasive? I'll get more information on the 11th when I see the surgeon but hate hate hate the waiting. Will have a second biopsy of a completely different site on Tuesday so must wait for those results as well.

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    I do not think it automatically means invasive... (wasn't your DCIS malignant, after all?) I think you could call the place you got the biopsy done at and ask them to email you the report. On the written report, you ought to have more info. It's horrid to wait in suspense, I agree!

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  • leftduetostupidmods
    leftduetostupidmods Member Posts: 620
    edited March 2019

    All breast cancers are carcinomas, and some are adenocarcinomas. Adenocarcinoma means cancer in glandular tissue. Can be invasive or non-invasive. I agree, ask for the full pathology report.

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  • tovahsmom
    tovahsmom Member Posts: 196
    edited March 2019

    Thank you Seachain and Santabarbara for writing. I will ask for a more detailed path report when I go in today for my second biopsy. Hopefully there is such a report as I don't understand why the one I have is so simplified.

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited March 2019

    I just answered this to your other post.

    FNAs are usually done when cancer is not expected - I've had more than my share of biopsies, and I've only ever had FNAs for cysts, which are virtually always benign.

    The sample size from an FNA is very small and any results - other than simply telling you that cancer cells are present - would be unreliable. You should receive a more complete report from your next biopsy. Will this be a core needle biopsy or an excisional (surgical) biopsy?

    Good luck. Hoping that this is DCIS again.

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  • tovahsmom
    tovahsmom Member Posts: 196
    edited March 2019

    Thanks for chiming in Beesie. I have two suspicious sites in my right breast. The FNA was for the area they thought would not be cancer but turned out to be adenocarcinoma. The other area the radiologist determined was more suspicious and she recommended a core biopsy. I will have that one today. So are you saying I should not worry what the FNA found because the results are unreliable? Or is the fact that malignant cells were found reliable? Could it turn out to be wrong? Thanks so much for writing and yes, hoping this is DCIS again.

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited March 2019

    The fact that the FNA found malignant cells is likely reliable, but it's because of the small sample size from the FNA that they are unable to reliably provide any more details as to the whether it's IDC or DCIS or anything else.

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  • tovahsmom
    tovahsmom Member Posts: 196
    edited March 2019

    That's very helpful. Thank you!

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