I had my letter back with from my surgeon (6 weeks ago was my mastectomy). I have oncology next week as I now may need chemo (at the beginning of this I was told I wouldn’t need it. If anything the surgeon said it would radiotherapy). It stated their findings from pathology which I understand everything else but not the part stating “possible LVI”. I have tried to understand why it was not positive or negative just possible. Does anyone know why it would say possible or had the same written? I cannot find anything on this possible. Thanks
Hi 09lynnet
Thank you for your post asking about your surgical results following your recent mastectomy.
LVI is an abbreviation for lympho-vascular invasion. The breast contains blood vessels and other tiny tubes called lymph vessels. If breast cancer cells spread into these vessels, it’s called lympho-vascular invasion. The pathologist will have looked at lots of different features of your breast cancer when the breast tissue is removed during surgery. You say your letter says possible LVI and this can happen when the pathologist cannot say for definite if LVI is present or not.
Your treatment team are best placed to say what “possible LVI” means for your individual situation.
You will be able to discuss this further at your oncology appointment next week and talk about the benefits and risks of treatments such as chemotherapy.
It may be helpful to take your letter from your surgeon with you for this discussion.
Our Understanding your pathology results booklet has further information that you may find helpful.
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