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Understanding Pathology Results Questions explaining and understanding pathology results. |
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| 6/25/2012 | I had IDC in my rt breast 12 years ago with lumpectomy ( clean margins ), chemo (AC) for four treatments followed by 6-1/2 weeks of radiation then tamoxifen for 5 years and Femara for 3 years. I was off only about 1 year when my bilateral comp mammo showed a suspicious area. I also had 17 nodes removed 12 years ago and all were clean . I went in for my mammo and when they saw the suspicious lump they did an US and recommended a biopsy. My surgeon of 12 years said it is a new INfiltrating carcinoma. Breast MRI was good and lump is tiny. I am scheduled for bilateral mastectomy . I don't have either biopsy report but he says he does not think I will need chemo. I just had seen my med oncologist two months prior and she said tumor markers were good. My questions are how can this be? Why did I get a new one if I did everything "right" and mostly how do I know this is not or won't become metastatic. How common after 12 years? Y | ||
| Replied | JHU's Breast Center Reply | ||
| 6/25/2012 | though unusual to get breast cancer again after 12 years there certainly are women who do. it doesn't matter how small that percentage is either, even if it were only 1% because for you it is 100%. that said, we don't know why some women get a new primary years later and others don't. it is unusual to happen as mentioned however. since it is a new primary based on what you have been told, then it must have different features of its prognostic factors that you had before. For example, ask if it is ER negative. that would help explain why it grow when you have had years of hormonal therapy for your previous ER positive cancer. the specific pathology determined by a pathologist looking at the mastectomy specimen will help in determining if there is very much concern about distant disease. so far sounds like probably not. take this a step at a time... if considering reconstruction think about diep flap given one breast has been radiated before and will still have radiation effects if trying to do an implant as the form of reconstruction. if you want to come to us just call 443-287-2778. we can arrange for you to see a breast surgical oncologist and breast reconstruction surgeon soon. | ||
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