Pathology

[Kathy1124]

Pathology report shows infiltrating mammary carcinoma, no special type, low combined histologic grade, Low proliferative rate with apocrine cytology, measuring at least 6MM in greatest extent (best measrued on P63 IHC Slide)   Calponin and P63 show absence of myoepithelial cells int he neoplastic tubules, consistent with an invasive interpretation.  Immunohistochemical studies for estrogen receptor and progesteron receptor are negative.

My questions:    No special type?  What does that mean?   My doctor appt is on the 18th & he is on vacation til then.   Can you help?    It sounds like it is very slow growing.   The mass is 1.9 cm.   He wants to do a bilateral mastectomy on 8/29  based on the phone call he made to me as he was leaving on vacation (prior to my receiving the pathology report).    My gut is telling me that this is quite an agressive approach to take right off the bat.  I will talk to him extensively at our meeting but am thinking that I would like to try some alternative treatments first for a couple of months.....if I might have time....without staying in denial.   I will do the mastectomy if there isn't solid medical evidence of improvement.  Any thoughts?  PLEASE?

[nycsass]

I can only agree with the above comment. My doctor gently explained my path report to me and I still got totally upset when I read my triple neg status. I also had a lumpectomy but I don't have mitigating factors i.e heredity/ breast cancer gene. Good luck...Maybe you should get another opinion from an Oncologist just to be sure of all your options. Cancercare.org has been of help to many of my friends and I hope to get free counseling soon. A site suggested to me last week Breastcancer.org. has been very helpful in my understand my typed of Breast cancer and its treatment.
Take care
sass

T 2a...3 cms
had lumpectory 7/23/08
N0
M0
Grade 3
Triple neg
soon to start therapy...chemo first..

very good sites for info  and help below

http://www.****.org/

http://www.****.org/

[japdip]

Actually I don't believe such reports should be available to the pt. until they have been explained fully by a Physician. We are certainly not able to understand all the  medical terminology and shouldn't be expected to. If you have an Oncologist that would be a good place to get a detailed explanation of the Path. report. As far as alternative treatment; there are no data showing that this is an appropriate method of treatment for cancer. Any form of treatment should be approved by your treating Physician as he knows all the particulars of your case.

[Nancy277]

I also had a 1.9 cm and I am triple negative. I had a mastectomy which was my choice and I'm glad I did. The advantage is that you shouldn't have to have any radiation which can be bad for your heart if it is your left breast and you will not have to worry about it coming back in that breast.