Ask an Expert is a free question-and-answer service about breast cancer and breast health that is available on weekends. If you'd like to ask a question or comment, please visit us again on Saturday or Sunday. In the meantime, please search the existing topics using the search tool at the top of the page. It's quite possible that one of our many existing topics already addresses your question.
If you would like a consultation with a breast specialist at the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center, call 443-778-2778. It is possible to get an appointment for a second opinion within a few days of contacting us.
We hope you find the information helpful!
| Forum | Questions | Ask a Question | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Types and Stages of Breast Cancer Questions about the different types and stages of breast cancer. |
1,319 |  |
| Asked | Publicly Submitted Question | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/29/2006 | Trying to understand my type of BC prior to surgery and full pathology report after surgery. If the FNA biopsy shows comedo carcinoma and surgeon believes after clinical examination that it may be invasive ducal carcinoma, does this mean I have both DCIS and IDC. And in this respect, is the palpable lump (an estimated 2.2 cm by touch) most likely all IDC, or part IDC and part DCIS? Also, I must wait a full week for an MRI, then surgeon’s consultation on findings, then a date for wiring of SNB (which is done prior to surgery), then surgery two or three days later. Since this started as comedo carcinoma (my understanding from reading is that “comedo” is aggressive once it escapes from the duct) and may now be invasive, is this two to three week wait for surgery advisable? Thank you for your informative website. | ||
| Replied | JHU's Breast Center Reply | ||
| 6/29/2006 | 2-3 wait for surgery is fine. FNA may be inadequate to determine staging...usually core biopsy is needed to provide a more definitive answer on type of breast cancer. yes it is possible to have dcis and invasive ductal at same time and quite common. usually sentinel node biopsy done though when it is confirmed in advance that there definitely is invasive present. | ||
Please note: This service is not intended to provide primary medical advice concerning specific medical care or treatment. Ask an Expert is a free service operated by health care professionals at the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center. Due to the volume of questions and their complexity, there are times when medical oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists or oncology nurses are consulted for their input. These individuals volunteer their time for this service and will respond as soon as they are able. Please do not post or send the same question to us in multiple locations or categories.