Breast Cancer Pathology Reports: What You Need to Know

We teach you why it is important to get copies of your breast pathology reports and how to understand the information they contain about your cancer.
VISIT THE BREAST CANCER SCHOOL FOR PATIENTS:
www.breastcancercourse.org
LIST OF QUESTIONS FOR YOUR DOCTORS:
www.breastcancercourse.org/bre...
FOLLOW US:
Facebook: / breast-cancer-school-f...
________________________________
Questions for your Breast Surgeon and Medical Oncologist:
1. Will you give me a copy of my “breast biopsy pathology report?”
2. What do my receptors mean?
3. Will you give me a copy of my “surgical pathology report?”
4. What stage is my breast cancer?
5. May I have a copy of my “Operative Report” and “History and Physical?”
6. Two Types of Pathology Reports:
Breast Biopsy Report:
The first report you will encounter is your breast biopsy report. This identifies whether or not you have a breast cancer. The initial report only tells you the type of breast cancer and is available 1 to 3 days after a needle biopsy is performed. Over the next week, the receptor results are reported and amended to the initial report. Make sure to get a final copy of your breast biopsy report from your surgeon that includes the receptor information. It is critical information for you to know and keep as a record of your cancer for the future.
The “type” of cancer sets the direction of your cancer treatment. Breast cancer is classified into invasive or non-invasive disease and also are given names based on their “cell type.” The Estrogen receptor (ER), Progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 receptor results are also incredibly important for you to understand. Ask both your surgeon and medical oncologist if the receptors mean you will ultimately need chemotherapy. The receptor results from your biopsy report can often tell you early on in your journey that you may benefit from chemotherapy, even before surgery. Review our lesson “My Tumor Receptors” to better understand what this means to your care and prognosis.
Surgical Pathology Report:
The second pathology report is the surgical pathology report. It is available about 3 to 5 days after your surgery. This is a detailed examination of the tumor size, margins, and possibly lymph node involvement. Your final stage of cancer should be included in this report. If it is not, ask your doctor to tell you if you have a Stage O, I, II, III, or IV breast cancer. Ask your medical oncologist what your stage of cancer means for your 5 and 10-year survival. Always ask for a copy of this report when you see your breast surgeon about a week after your breast surgery.
Your Surgeon’s “Operative” and “History & Physical” notes:
Also ask for a copy of your surgeon’s “Operative note” and “History and Physical” note. These documents provide an excellent summary of your breast cancer care. Keep for your own health records and share this information with new physicians in the future. You will likely not remember all of the details of your care years later. As time passes, these records are difficult to obtain from retired physicians or cumbersome hospital medical record departments.
Patient-Friendly References:
breastcancer.org
Download this booklet (here) on "Your Guide to the Breast Pathology Report.” On page 45-46 of this booklet, there is a list of “Key Questions” and a “Checklist” of key items in your report. This non-profit organization provides excellent online and printable patient resources about breast cancer.
www.komen.org
This outline (here) “What is a Pathology Report?” explains why it is important to have copies of your pathology report. The Susan G. Komen organization is a leading advocacy group dedicated to assisting patients, funding research, and ensuring quality breast cancer care.
www.breast360.org
Review their page “Interpreting Your Initial Pathology Report” (here) to better understand your breast biopsy report. This site was created for patients by the American Society of Breast Surgeons.
www.lbbc.org
Their page (here) on “Your Pathology Report” has information about the specifics of tumor type, receptors, and other important information. Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality information about breast cancer to patients.
More Detailed References:
NCCN Breast Cancer Clinical Practice Guidelines nccn.org
If you want to get deep into the details, this free 200-page pdf document has guidelines to help clinicians to make treatment recommendations about nearly all aspects of breast cancer. You can easily register (here) as a non-professional to get access.

[@seanthorntonmd3908]

As a (retired) pathologist specializing in breast disease, I wholeheartedly second Dr. William's discussion and recommendations.

[@deniseinsocaldeniseinsocal9510]

Thank you for telling patients about this. I have kept a folder for all my reports. I’m finished with treatments. 16 rounds of chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy, and 28 rounds of radiation. I’m cancer free and getting ready for 5 years of hormone therapy. Thank you for all the information, it helped me through the last 11 months. It’s a long hard journey, but we somehow keep fighting!

[@nicolerosenah933]

Can you pls share yr experience with me pls. I hv been diagnosed with breast cancer stage 3c

[@nicolerosenah933]

I hv been diagnosed with breast cancer stage 3c...just finish my first chemo

[@roopali3369]

How much it all cost and did you leave job how did you cope financially n emotionally.. please help me to understand as I want to know your side.. m mother n wife .. as of now working but want to understand the financial part

[@cynthiathompson6020]

As a retired mammography Technologist of 23 years. Thank you for your videos. Patients need as much info as possible. Keep up the great work.

[@billytheweasel]

Our 1st Medical Oncologist said she couldn't tell us what made my wife's Mammoprint result 'High Risk' because"They need to make a profit and have to keep it secret". Exact quote. Two Medical Oncologists and a Radiation Oncologist said the Warburg Effect is not in effect in her solid tumor breast cancer, and that insulin is not a growth hormone. Pathetic. Now my wife's doing the bogus Gerson Juicing because she lost all confidence in oncological standard of care.

[@KTen-cm6wx]

I’m calling my breast surgeon tomorrow .

[@BubbleBurster-nv1vl]

This is timeless important information to know about and understand. Thank you for taking the time to explain it to laymen like myself having been just diagnosed. My doctor didn't talk about any of this.

[@ruthmartin8524]

Awesome advices, thank you.

[@tammiemurray9963]

Oh dear, I needed to learn this! Thank you!!!

[@alicebarrett2737]

Away ask for all reports because sometimes it sent you doctor office and put in your file and if you don't check in with your doctor you may not find out the results. Knowledge is key.

[@amsini4276]

thank you so much sir, really love to learn more information form you. simply well said

[@michelejarvis3236]

Very good and helpful information

[@jennyaquino699]

Thank you

[@anamancilla3665]

Very well informed, loved the way you broke down how the pathology report is read and to pay attention to the HER2 and PR and ER. I enjoyed watching the videos on your website, thank so much for creating the website.

[@BreastCancerSchoolforPatients]

Thank you for the feedback. It is why we created the Breast Cancer School for Patients!

[@kizzelcazsscx]

My mother had a breast canser his doing the operation last june 10 carsenoma breast cancer stage 2but untel now the result of her immunochemistrt is not yet result is my cancer scatered in his body becouse of too long?

[@deschelbutler4859]

Great info. I have all the copies of every report.

[@antorarahmanahona4867]

Thank you very much ❤️

[@princessash032587]

I told the hospital I thought I had breast cancer the tech said I was crazy and the dr said I needed a biopsy immediately .. this was like 3 months ago I’m still in shock. I only had a bruise. My pathology report says Fibroadenoma but they suggest a lumpectomy or constant monitoring.

[@thanatosrekt7345]

I am watching this as my wife of 28 years old has been diagnosed with invasive carcinoma. We are soon to see doctors and to find about what stage she is at. If i can only stay as calm as your video is. I however appreciate the informative content and i feel much more confident going into this meeting being able to ask various questions. Thank you

[@BreastCancerSchoolforPatients]

Thank you for the kind comments. Your experience is the exact reason we created the Breast Cancer School for Patients. It is the first video-based platform for cancer that teaches all the complex concepts that patients face. Make sure to visit www.breastcancercourse.org if you have not already. The KZbin videos are all organized in the sequence you will experience them on the website. It is all free and created for everyone.

[@shahwarhamdani9781]

V good informations I exactly did this but did not get operation notes and asking my Surgeon

[@jiniadey9745]

Well good information.. I asked something.. what is meaning of z3 in biopsy results in breast..

[@deliaespinoza8107]

Thank for the information I had surgery 14 days ago and I going to see my doctor and ask for these reports. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@gritanrold5759]

use dr omo herbal medicine to get rid of them fast very active no side effects

[@annrae1597]

I got a copy of my surgery report but as I am not in the medical profession ,I can't make sense of most of it .

[@shahwarhamdani9781]

When the Histopathalogy says Estrogen and progesteron is strongly positive and HER 2 is negative, does immunotherapy work.

[@joannboyd8855]

I couldnt get one

[@katherineharris2080]

What is grade of tumor

[@mickeyraynoha4851]

Did anybody know?? What is HIGH GRADE INVASIVE CARCINOMA WITH METAPLASTIC FEATURES Is this Metaplastic BC?

[@ummeyasmin7398]

❤❤💖❤❤💖💖💕💕💕💕

[@ashleyjenkins4182]

My results were “discordant”…

[@navedian739]

Happiness starts when.. Spouses must stay apart 2 beds Not 24/7 stuck to one another you see!! Swear to GOD My mother used to tell me this, GOD BLESS her always ❤️she passed away she's in her 80's💕we need ME-Time so we don't get fed up or get used to each other n take everything for granted👌you need yr féminine energy healing process plus no make up or Night face Masks 🙌