I am due to have WLE and full axillary node clearance at the end of November and understand that path testing will then be carried out. What exactly will be determined by these tests as it already known from biopsies that my lump is IDC grade 2 and that 2 or 3 lymph nodes are affected? Anybody help?
Sorry if this worries you but the grade 2 is an indication only. The core biopsy only takes a small chunk of the tumour, so the grade is provisional. Mine was upgraded from 1 to 3 after removal. They will also test to see whether the cancer is hormone receptive. If it is oestrogen positive, you’ll get tablets. If it’s HER 2 positive, you’ll have to have herceptin treatment.
Hope this helps and is what you wanted to know
Results again for me next week after chemo, wle and anc.
It’s to find out the grade, that’s the only result unknown in my case.
hi,
End of novemeber?? why so long? are you having treatment to reduce the size of the tumor?? Forgive me if you have already said this on another thread.
the core biopsy is just a tiny snapshot of what is going on with your breast, a bit like looking through a keyhole into a room. Its not until they get the lump out that they can realy test the cells fully and get the full picture. They take the tumor out and cut it into tiny slices test every bit. Once they have that information they can properly plan a treatment that will be most effective for you.
Whats also important is that they take some tissue out from round the lump and send that to be tested, if that tissue is clear then they know they have the whole lump and have not left any behind—thats why everyone is so pleased to here the words ‘clear margins’
Many thank for your speedy and helpful replies.
OAL, yes I am currently having neo adjuvant chemo which is shrinking the lump successfully.
Yvonne x
oh, thats good, I have heard of the lump almost disappearing with that. Also meant to say that the nodes need full examination. they will test to see how many of them are affected. Someone on another post has just reported that when they got all her nodes out only a few were infected so that meant they had been doing their job and keeping the cancer from spreading–hope your results show that too