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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
abnormal tumor
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, Aug 09, 2004 12:00AM
Dear michie: Your tumor is no more abnormal than any other tumor. The factors you list are descriptors that help us determine the proper treatment plan. Invasive lobular is less common than ductal cancer but it is not "abnormal." If the margins are not clean, is there a plan for additional surgery? This is usually the case. Depending on your breast tissue, this might include additional lumpectomy with radiation or mastectomy.
Member Comments (2)
by surgeon, Aug 08, 2004 12:00AM
I'm not sure what you mean by abnormally abnormal. It's a pretty common description of breast cancer; lobular is less common than ductal, but it's not rare. Having one node positive means it's spread some, but when it's only one, the prognosis for cure remains very good. The only thing of concern is "dirty margins." If that means there was cancer at the edges of the lumpectomy, and your plan is for lumpectomy and radiation rather than mastectomy, then it sounds like more surgery is needed to take more tissue at the margins, until there's no tumor there.
