Can anyone help?
I am back in tomorrow for a re excision and all nodes out after my 1.9cm lump had sent its mates down to the sentinal node and the margin was too close. I got the results last Thursday so that was bloomin quick to go back in 3 days later. Next results on 30th and oncologist on 5th Oct…
However my notes that the breast care nurse wrote on Thursday say micropapilliary ductal carcinoma rather than the initial one where she wrote invasive ductal…
I stupidly googled it to find out what it was as no mention on here and scared myself to death…
So please has anyone any idea?
I found this reference which suggests it might be a less aggressive form of IDC:
The term, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), refers to a family of cancers that occur in the breast ducts. There are two categories of DCIS: non-comedo and comedo. The term, comedo, describes the appearance of the cancer. When comedo type breast tumors are cut, the dead cells inside of them (necrosis) can be expressed out just like a comedo or blackhead on the skin.
The most common non-comedo types of DCIS are:
* Solid DCIS: cancer cells completely fill the affected breast ducts.
* Cribiform DCIS: cancer cells do not completely fill the affected breast ducts; there are gaps between the cells.
* Papillary and micropapillary DCIS: the cancer cells arrange themselves in a fern-like pattern within the affected breast ducts; micropapillary DCIS cells are smaller than papillary DCIS cells.
Comedo type DCIS (also referred to as Comedocarcinoma) tends to be more aggressive than the non-comedo types of DCIS. Pathologists are able to easily distinguish between comedo type DCIS and other non-comedo types when examining the cells under a microscope because comedo type DCIS tends to plug the center of the breast ducts with necrosis (dead cells). When necrosis is associated with cancer, it often means that the cancer is able to grow quickly.
Thanks…but I have no DCIS 
so is it still relevant?
So sorry - I misread it, thought it was IDC not DCIS. I still like the inclusion of “micro” in there though - that has to be a good thing! x
I bloomin well hope micro is a good word! It has been nothing but bad news after bad news so far…I could do with a bit of cheering up!
Why not call your breast care nurse and ask just to put your mind at rest? I found this online. I can’t pretend that I understand it though.
Invasive Micropapillary Carcinoma of the Breast
Definition
Breast carcinoma with a prominent (pseudo) micropapillary pattern
Diagnostic Criteria
Numerous small pseudo-papillary clusters of cells
No fibrovascular cores
Frequent central lumen formation in clusters
Peripherally located nuclei frequently bulge out with knobby appearance, “the hedgehog” tumor
Clusters surrounded by clear spaces
One or only a few clusters per space
Scant mucin rarely detectable in spaces
Spaces surrounded by loose fibrocollagenous stroma
Frequent high nuclear grade reported in some series
Frequently has abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm
Frequent lymphatic involvement
Occasional psammoma bodies
Associated DCIS may be of various types
Not related to micropapillary DCIS
Pattern may be predominant or focal
No clinical difference between predominant and focal cases
No reported cutoff for minimal significant amount of pattern
Report such cases as mixed
Frequently mixed with infiltrating ductal carcinoma
Rarely mixed with other type
Don’t you think that all this info at your fingertips can some times be a curse?
Jacqui
Hi lostinfrance,
I was curious about this one as I had never heard of it. It sounds like it is quite a rare type of breast cancer - but your oncologist is obviously ‘on to it’ which is good.
One thing that struck me as I was reading is that this type is often her2 positive, in which case you would be able to have herceptin. Has your oncologist mentioned this - if not I would ask him if he has tested for it. Hope all goes well with your op tomorrow.
Dawn
xx
Hi dawn what do you take herceptin for im negative so they say i dont need it
Hi elaine,
You get herceptin prescribed if you are her2+++ (positive). If you have a primary diagnosis then usually one year of herceptin (every 3 wks) is prescribed along with or after chemotherapy. I happen to have 2ndaries so am permanently on it. As you say you are her2 negative so do not need it. It really has been a wonder drug for me - I have been on it for almost 7 years now and that along with bisphosphonates has kept my bone mets stable all that time.
Dawn
xx
Thanks dawn i no i ask a lot of questions what does it do and what will it help
Thanks for the info! Have now been banned from googling as too upsetting if you find something horrid! Yes I am HER2+ and ER+ so will indeed get Herceptin…eventually!
All went well with op and back home with the flippin drain which I keep wandering off and forgetting its there!!! Hopefully will be out by friday as I have to go through the CT scanner at…8am…and they were not too keen on me taking it with me!
Boob job was a re excision to scrape out some more (was very funny as the consultant said this morning he was very pleased with it but had decided to make my areola area smaller as it was not in proportion and he wanted to tidy it up a bit more…these oncoplastic surgeons are like frustrated artists!!) so next week, the day before my birthday I get lots of results…please send good vibes as yet more bad news is not what I need for my birthday!
Hi again Elaine,
I have had a bit of a google in response to your questions about herceptin and I think this one spells it out quite well.
imaginis.com/breast-health/her2-herceptin-and-tykerb-2
Lostinfrance good to hear you are home after your op. The bags really are a pain. It sounds like you have a surgeon who takes a pride in his work. So you should have a matching pair in time for your birthday LOL.
Dawn
xx