Reoccurrence Question

I am a 38 year old African American woman and have been diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Poorly Differentiated with metaplastic areas showing matrix production and osteoclast like giant cells, Histologic grade III.   Size and shape are varied.  Invasive carcinoma measures 1.7 CM in Largest Dimension Microscopically, in submitted Material.  Focal Ductal Carcinoma In Situ was also Identified, solid type with high nuclear grade and moderate necrosis.  

The DCIS constitutes 25% of the total tumor mass and is present admixed with invasive component.  

No vascular invasion is identified..

Invasive carcinoma is close (1 mm) the green inked margin.  And DCIS is close (1 mm) to the blue inked margin

On February 5th 2008 I had 8 nodes removed along with the mass at Roosevelt Hospital.  I was told that the nodes were clean as were the margins....I had an MRI on March 6th 2008 and nothing showed up.

I then decided to have my chemotherapy done at Sloan Kettering.  On April 23rd when I went for my first treatment (which was to consist of AC+T every two weeks) I brought a swollen moveable lump my oncologist’s attention.  She sent me to have it drained and biopsied.  At first it was thought to have been a hematoma which was located right above the incision where the nodes were removed; but the next day I got a call from my Oncologist telling me that they found microscopic cancer cells in the bloody mass / tissue was biopsied.  

It was decided that I was to have surgery to remove the mass first then chemo.  

I am having an auxiliary node dissection along with a mastectomy of the left breast.  I had a PET Scan and a CT Scan and they were clean and my blood work is good.

Will the fact that I am having a mastectomy on my left breast reduce my risk of reoccurrence?

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

You are correct.  Having the mastectomy will increase the chance of cure since this would remove any residual malignant cells, whether microscopic or visible to the naked eye.  Treating cancer successfully usually entails this very first crucial step, which is the removal of all tumor cells as cleanly as possible.  I suggest you discuss the procedure well with your surgeon to know the risks (every surgery has risks) and benefits and make sure you are able to understand them.  I hope your operation will be as uneventful as possible.  Regards and God bless.