I understand you are a female with cancer deposite at the sternum which says in the report lymph nodes and no extra nodal extension.
So it is lymph nodal deposites and not bone metastases.
Most likely to be breast Ca,
Most helpful investigation is MRI after Xeromammography
If any palpable lesion is there it should be biopsied by FNAC or Core biopsy.
Tumour markers may be there
if No source is discovered we can consider other organs in the chest and and investigate the thoracic organs.
If it is Bone metastases, we remember 5 organs( Breast, Thyroid, Lung, kidney and Prostate in male)
High grade tuour often difficult to swear that it is breast until you have histocytochemical investigations
Hope you will have complete cure my dear and 1st have settle the origin of this tumour to be able to treat perfectly
Professor Dr Ahmed Hussein Rahoma
Head of Surgery
University Technology Mara
Malaysia
Hi,
I am sorry - by a repeat biopsy i meant a repeat examination of the histopathology slides; which as you mention in your post is already being done.
The effectiveness of treatment is tracked by symptomatic improvement, by mammograms, ultrasound, MRI done at periodic intervals of 6 months to 1 year; by no new lesions or symptoms coming up; by no evidence of metastasis to other organs like the lung, bone, liver or brain either symptomatic or on investigations.
This would mean that the cancerous process has been contained.
Discuss this in detail with your doctor, to schedule your follow up examinations.
Do let us know about how you are doing.
Good luck.
Hi,
ER-PR status has come negative.
Today we also got the result of the reverification of histopathology blocks and slides. The doctor says it is breast cancer. Already started with first cycle of chemo (of total 6). He has also advised radiation therapy after fourth cycle.
One Q : How is the effectiveness of the treatment tracked ?? How do we know how much of cancer is there in the body ??
"Repeat Biopsy" of what ??
Thanks.
Hi,
Has a bone scan and blood test for tumor markers been done?
You also need to discuss the histopathology report with your doctor as the type of cells identiied usually give a clue to the possible sites of the primary lesion.
Also ask him if a repat biopsy would help with more information.
What treatment plan is he suggesting?
Do let us know how your appointment with the doctor went.
Good luck.
Hi,
Is it possible to provide some info on this ??
I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow, any help before that is very much appreciated.
Thanks.
hi ,
Thanks for the response.
We did all the tests to find the primary source without much success.
Breast MRI did not show any problem in the breasts. The PET-CT showed uptake of 4.8 in the right lymph node and an uptake of 14 in the sternum.
The doctor says it is metastatic breast cancer with no sign of the primary source.
As regards Symptoms : There were none. Some pain was felt in the sternum region and also in the right arm. One fine morning we just noticed the lump in the right armpit and rushed to the oncologist.
What further tests you would advice ?? Is there a way I can share the scanned copies of the reports with you ??
Hi,
The report you mention just points out that one of the fifteen lymph nodes and the sternal region have similar tumour cells. The tumour is described as high grade , but further clarification would be required to come to the exact diagnosis.
This is not sufficient information to tell the type of cancer.
What symptoms are you having and what did the doctor tell you?
What can be said is that the fact that the tumour cells are similar suggests that there should be a primary focus of the cancer somewhere.
Hope this is of some help.
Do let us know the further details.
Good luck.