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| Forum | Questions | Ask a Question | |
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Understanding Pathology Results Questions explaining and understanding pathology results. |
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| Asked | Publicly Submitted Question | ||
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| 9/22/2011 | I had a breast reduction on Aug 29, on September 20 I got a call saying the pathologist found cancer on my right breast, the report reads Tissue biopsy time was not indicated or if the fixation time was not within 6 and 48 hours. results should be interpreted accordingly. now they want to remove the right breast and do radiation, the nurse said, the cell is small 4MIM I feel uncomfortable, what they said the pathologist did not do a diagnosis right away, could cancer occur if the specimens stay out awhile what is Estrogen Receptor-IHC positive 70% strong {3} and Progesterone Receptor-IHC Positive 60% moderate {2} Manual Dako Hercep test {HER2}IHC not over expressed 1+ please help me figure this out I do not want to have my breast removed if I don't have to because of Fixative took longer to analyze. | ||
| Replied | JHU's Breast Center Reply | ||
| 9/22/2011 | Thank you for turning to the Johns Hopkins Breast Center. Finding breast cancer with a breast reduction is an incidental finding, meaning 'almost by accident', which is a good thing if you consider you did not even know you had breast cancer. The flip side is that their is no way of knowing exactly where the breast cancer was originally located in the breast, and thus cannot perform a lumpectomy or re-excision. The finding of breast cancer cells is not dependent on time of fixative. For piece of mind, seek a formal second opinion with a breast surgical oncologist at a Comprehensive Breast Center, and request your pathology slides be sent to another institution for outside read. Hope this helps, and best wishes. If we can be of assistance, please call Sheila @ 443-287-BRST (2778). | ||
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