How to Understand Your Breast Cancer Pathology Report

What is a breast cancer pathology report? How can you understand the report? In this video, Dr. Jennifer Griggs explains everything you need to know about understanding your breast cancer pathology report.
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[@paigemckelvey8781]

Very interesting breakdown of the pathology reports in terms which we can better understand. I think it is important to be able to understand the clinical side of breast cancer as well as the emotional and physical.. Thank you

[@yerbba]

Thank you for your positive feedback and for watching. We are happy you found this video helpful.

[@naththomas9946]

Very educational information.

[@yerbba]

Thank you for your positive feedback!

[@colleendooley3820]

Really appreciate this info!

[@yerbba]

Thank you for watching and your comment! We appreciate you.

[@MicheleMitchell-tn6yr]

Wow!!! Fantastic!

[@yerbba]

Thank you. That means a lot coming from you!

[@mladen1urumov]

Please explain what is AEI/AE3 (PANCK) and GATA3 (L50-823)- positive reaction in tumor cells

[@yerbba]

Thanks for writing. Both of these are "markers" that are used to help determine the origin of cancer cells, that is, what part of the body the cells started in. GATA3 positivity is often associated with less aggressive forms of breast cancer. I hope this is helpful.

[@gaurikris9420]

Is extracapisular spread same as lympho vascular spread. How important is a clear margin does it add to prognosis if radiation is performed later. How important is residual cancer in lobular cancer. Should hormone ihc be done again after neoadjuvant chemotherapy again after masectomy

[@yerbba]

Great questions. Extracapsular spread means cells have broken out of the capsule of the lymph nodes. Lymphovascular invasion refers to cells being seen in the lymphatics | blood vessels of the normal breast tissue. Both are associated with a higher risk of local but not systemic recurrence. Yes, even with radiation therapy, we do recommend getting negative margins to decrease the risk of recurrence. With lobular cancer, chemotherapy before surgery is not as effective as with infiltrating ductal carcinoma. This is because lobular cancer is usually hormone receptor-positive, the cells are dividing more slowly, and chemotherapy works more dramatically in hormone receptor-negative cancer. Because we expect lobular cancer to be hormone receptor-positive (over 95% of the time), it's not common to repeat the IHC for hormone receptors.

[@merhernandez954]

I just found out I had stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma, just after menopause, although I did mammograms every year. I also had type 2 diabetes mellitus for 5 years (trying my best to control it, being in insulin infusion therapy). I am looking for information regarding breast cancer & diabetes and hope you have them. Thanks in advance 🙏🙏

[@yerbba]

There is link between diabetes and the risk of breast cancer. This is not to say that diabetes is fully responsible for the breast cancer of course. Managing your diabetes during cancer treatment is important. If your primary care doctor and your medical team providing your cancer care can stay in close touch, that would be ideal. Most oncologists prefer to have their patients' primary care help manage diabetes. Otherwise, the treatment for the cancer will be the same as it would in someone who does not have diabetes. If chemotherapy is part of your treatment plan, having your primary involved is especially important. We use corticosteroids to prevent nausea, and steroids can, as you probably know, increase glucose levels. Would you like us to do a video on diabetes and breast cancer?

[@merhernandez954]

@yerbba thank you so much for answering me and to others who may have the same situations. Getting the video will tremendously help us to find necessary help and motivate us during the treatments. Please do so. Again, thanks in advance.

[@olgacolon7548]

I don’t understand why the specimen and the numbers stand for. I see my doctor in a few days with the report I just saw on my chart, but it’s basically stating what was done to my understanding diagnosis why is that?

[@yerbba]

It can be confusing to interpret medical reports without a clinical background. It's great that you're seeing your doctor soon-they will clarify what the findings mean and how they impact your treatment plan. Writing down your questions before the appointment can help ensure you cover all your concerns.

[@ericaroach8435]

What is invasive ductal with necrosis? I just didn’t understand the necrosis part

[@yerbba]

It can be hard to understand. Necrosis means that some of the cells have died. We tend to see that with tumors that are growing quickly. The cells are fairly fragile, which surprises some people.

[@bourgsusan]

Do surgeons always test the surgery tissue for hormone receptors? I was triple positive on my original biopsy My surgery tissue was only ER+. PR- and HER2 Negative (zero score) I'm stage 1 invasive lobular Grade 2 no node involvement 1.5 cm. Is it common to have such a different reading from biopsy to surgery tissue?

[@yerbba]

It is uncommon of that the biopsy results and the surgical tumor specimen (the one removed at surgery) but happens enough that retesting on the primary tumor removed at surgery is reasonable.

[@lynnjason5112]

Also have triple negative breast cancer. My pathology said a few times about residual...does residual mean not all cancer was removed during surgery and I still gave cancer cells????