phyllodes tumor

[vicjo677]

I WAS JUST TOLD I HAVE THIS RARE CANCER ,AND BEEN EVERYWHERE FOR INFO AND ENDING UP THE DEAD ENDS . I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE AGGRESSIVE TREATMENTS ON MY BODY THAT THE DOCTORS HAVE PLANNED FOR ME,AND ABOUT THIS CANCER GOING INTO MY LUNGS.CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME?

[vicjo677]

I HAVE MY PATHLOGY REPORT,MY TUMOR WAS 10 CM LONG BY 4.5 ,VERY LARGE .THE DOCTORS SAY MY CHEMO AND RADAITION TREATMENT IS GOING TO VERY AGGRESSIVE, CHEMO THREE DAYS IN A ROW,RAD-FIVE DAYS IN A ROW EVERY WEEK FOR 7 WEEKS AND CHEMO NOT SURE HOW LONG. I WAS WONDERING IS SO MUCH IS NESSARY AS THEY SAY??? OR IS IT BECAUSE THIS CANCER IS SO RARE AND HARDLY NO INFO RESEARCHED TO NOT REALLY KNOW??? THEY SAY COSMETICALLY FEASIBLE EITHER.I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GET OTHERS INPUT ON THIS . THANK YOU

[Cleveland Clinic]

Dear vicjo677: The term phyllodes tumor includes a group of lesions of varying malignant potential ranging from completely benign (non-cancerous) to fully malignant sarcomas.  The classification of phyllodes tumors are based on certain pathologic findings.  On ultrasound there are certain features that would be more suspicious of phyllodes tumor but it is not possible to distinguish between benign and malignant phyllodes tumors on the basis of sonographic or mammographic findings.   The usual treatment of this type of tumor is with surgery.  Approximately 20% of phyllodes tumors recur locally if excised with no margin or a margin of a few millimeters of normal breast tissue, regardless of whether they are benign or malignant.  A wide excision with a 2cm margin of normal breast tissue is appropriate therapy for benign and borderline phyllodes tumors unless they are so large that this is not cosmetically feasible, then a mastectomy followed by reconstruction might be recommended.  Additional treatment, if any would be determined by the pathology findings.  Benign and borderline phyllodes do not tend to metastasize.  Malignant phyllodes can metastasize.  You should really discuss this with your doctor as he/she knows your situation and can answer your questions more specifically.