just got a call and I'm scared...

Calleen
Calleen Member Posts: 411
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I fnally called my surgeon's office and talked to the nurse... She didn't really know how to read the path report but here is what she said... i had a histologic grade 2 and i had those calcifications in both breasts.. and there was something about IIA??? I am so afraid of what that all means.. my Doc is out of town and she's going to see if another Doctor can better explain it... meanwhile I can hardly type through my tears becasue I'm so afraid of what this is.....
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Comments

  • creampuff91344
    creampuff91344 Member Posts: 988
    Calleen, hang in there and
    Calleen, hang in there and wait to hear from the doctor. A full explanation of the path report is always best to hear from the onc, and that gives you the exact information you will need to go forward. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Waiting is a b****! ( knew this would be censored, so saved them the trouble.

    Hugs,

    Judy
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    I know, it's upsetting. (To
    I know, it's upsetting. (To say the least, you might say) It looks to me (I'm no expert) that the tumour is a grade 2, which is middle of the road. Better than 3 but not as good as 1. 3 is highly advanced so really 2 is good. It also looks like they have compiled all the info about your tumour and have you staged at IIA (2A). It will be good when you get to talk to a doc about it. This is info they need to determine your tx. You are going to be OK, read that line over and over again. I know it's hard and my heart goes out to you but you will get through this and you will be OK.

    Big warm hugs
    jan
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    Breathe....In and out....
    That's the trouble with getting info from someone who can't fully explain. If you can't find someone to help, ask for the pathology report, and then call 1-800-ACS-2345....I had a gal who reviewed my pathology report with me, line by line. It was VERY helpful...

    How long before your onc is back? Waiting it the worst.....hang in there! Please keep us posted!

    I was stage IIA, ER/PR+, HER2/NEU-...lumpectomy followed by chemo and radiation. I'm over 3 years post-treatment and am NED (No Evidence of Disease). This all followed stage III rectal cancer. THAT one they gave me 6 months to live...NED on that one, too...almost 5 years later!

    There are so many here to help...please try (I know, I'm asking alot!) to not be frightened.


    Hugs, Kathi
  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    Calleen sending soothing
    Calleen sending soothing thoughts your way. I does sound like you will have some information that will be verified by your doctor soon. I do hope that they do not take too long to get back to you and explain to you what that pathology means. I know the waiting is the hardest part.. know we are with you even if cyberly speaking... gentle hugs to you my friend.

    ~T
  • outdoorgirl
    outdoorgirl Member Posts: 1,565
    Calleen
    I am sorry about the news. I know that this is easier for me to say and harder for you to do,but try not to worry and think too much about it until a doctor can explain it to you better! I wish I could be there for you...
  • Calleen
    Calleen Member Posts: 411

    Calleen
    I am sorry about the news. I know that this is easier for me to say and harder for you to do,but try not to worry and think too much about it until a doctor can explain it to you better! I wish I could be there for you...

    just sick right now
    Nurse called back with an appointment with ONC for sep 8th... she gave me 2 sets of dimensions...

    The ultra sound done on May 7th measured 1.5 x 1.4 x .08..
    The removed tumor measured 2.3 x 1.8 x 1.8..

    She said that she thought the removed measurement included the surrounding tissue so they could get a clear margin...???

    Do any of you heard of this??? If it's just the tumor it's self then it doesn't make sense to me that it grew that much... considering I know it's been there for about a year... plus the biopsy showed it to be not a fast growing kind... all pre surgery reports were all very very positive for a well behaved tumor...
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    Calleen said:

    just sick right now
    Nurse called back with an appointment with ONC for sep 8th... she gave me 2 sets of dimensions...

    The ultra sound done on May 7th measured 1.5 x 1.4 x .08..
    The removed tumor measured 2.3 x 1.8 x 1.8..

    She said that she thought the removed measurement included the surrounding tissue so they could get a clear margin...???

    Do any of you heard of this??? If it's just the tumor it's self then it doesn't make sense to me that it grew that much... considering I know it's been there for about a year... plus the biopsy showed it to be not a fast growing kind... all pre surgery reports were all very very positive for a well behaved tumor...

    Calleen, get the report as
    Calleen, get the report as KathiM mentioned and call ACS. This I'm sure will answer alot of your questions and help alleviate the angst and worry you're experiencing. Good luck to you.
    jan
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    Calleen said:

    just sick right now
    Nurse called back with an appointment with ONC for sep 8th... she gave me 2 sets of dimensions...

    The ultra sound done on May 7th measured 1.5 x 1.4 x .08..
    The removed tumor measured 2.3 x 1.8 x 1.8..

    She said that she thought the removed measurement included the surrounding tissue so they could get a clear margin...???

    Do any of you heard of this??? If it's just the tumor it's self then it doesn't make sense to me that it grew that much... considering I know it's been there for about a year... plus the biopsy showed it to be not a fast growing kind... all pre surgery reports were all very very positive for a well behaved tumor...

    Getting a clear margin is
    Getting a clear margin is good. Don't panic. I've heard of others that the tests showed the tumor being a certain size but after surgery it was larger. It will be ok.
  • fauxma
    fauxma Member Posts: 3,577 Member
    Calleen said:

    just sick right now
    Nurse called back with an appointment with ONC for sep 8th... she gave me 2 sets of dimensions...

    The ultra sound done on May 7th measured 1.5 x 1.4 x .08..
    The removed tumor measured 2.3 x 1.8 x 1.8..

    She said that she thought the removed measurement included the surrounding tissue so they could get a clear margin...???

    Do any of you heard of this??? If it's just the tumor it's self then it doesn't make sense to me that it grew that much... considering I know it's been there for about a year... plus the biopsy showed it to be not a fast growing kind... all pre surgery reports were all very very positive for a well behaved tumor...

    It does sound like the
    It does sound like the measurements from the removed tumor include the margins and that is good. They want to take enough surrounding tissue to make sure they removed all the cancer, these are the clear, clean margins that the nurse was talking about. I think that Phoenix is right about the IIA being the stage and the grade of 2 of better than 3, not as good as 1. It was explained to me that grade is how much the cells resemble normal cells. A grade 1 is not so different from normal cells, a grade 2 is more different from normal cells, and a grade 3 is very different from normal cells. It doesn't look like you were told ER/PR or HER results or if nodes were involved. All of these, size, grade, stage, nodes are used to determine treatment.
    Breath and relax if you can. My prayers are with you.

    Stef
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143 Member
    Calleen said:

    just sick right now
    Nurse called back with an appointment with ONC for sep 8th... she gave me 2 sets of dimensions...

    The ultra sound done on May 7th measured 1.5 x 1.4 x .08..
    The removed tumor measured 2.3 x 1.8 x 1.8..

    She said that she thought the removed measurement included the surrounding tissue so they could get a clear margin...???

    Do any of you heard of this??? If it's just the tumor it's self then it doesn't make sense to me that it grew that much... considering I know it's been there for about a year... plus the biopsy showed it to be not a fast growing kind... all pre surgery reports were all very very positive for a well behaved tumor...

    Calleen, this is good news
    Clean margins are great. Really. Your tumor did not grow. They always take out way more than the tumor to make sure that they got it all. Mine was 2.6 centimeters and the surgeon took out like 6 centimeters to get clean margins. And grade 2 is intermediate aggressivity (it goes from 1-3). That sounds good to me, since I was a grade 3 and then some. Stage 2a is early stage breast cancer. Cureable. Mine was 2a as well and my doctors were pleased. Please breath. Everything is going to be fine.

    Mimi
  • lolad
    lolad Member Posts: 670
    mimivac said:

    Calleen, this is good news
    Clean margins are great. Really. Your tumor did not grow. They always take out way more than the tumor to make sure that they got it all. Mine was 2.6 centimeters and the surgeon took out like 6 centimeters to get clean margins. And grade 2 is intermediate aggressivity (it goes from 1-3). That sounds good to me, since I was a grade 3 and then some. Stage 2a is early stage breast cancer. Cureable. Mine was 2a as well and my doctors were pleased. Please breath. Everything is going to be fine.

    Mimi

    Calleen
    Just wanted you to know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Try not to panick so much and try to stay calm. Hopefully a dr will call you back soon so you dont have to go until your appointment worried. You will be ok though. It may not feel like that right now, but you will. Take care and like i said before stay calm and take it easy on yourself. Ill pray for you.

    laura
  • Calleen
    Calleen Member Posts: 411
    mimivac said:

    Calleen, this is good news
    Clean margins are great. Really. Your tumor did not grow. They always take out way more than the tumor to make sure that they got it all. Mine was 2.6 centimeters and the surgeon took out like 6 centimeters to get clean margins. And grade 2 is intermediate aggressivity (it goes from 1-3). That sounds good to me, since I was a grade 3 and then some. Stage 2a is early stage breast cancer. Cureable. Mine was 2a as well and my doctors were pleased. Please breath. Everything is going to be fine.

    Mimi

    Thank You
    all so much... I have put off calling them about my report for fear of this happening... I have felt guilty for having what I thought was just a simple stage 1 and all of you guys having worse diagnosis...
    I have called the doctors' office and requested they be faxed like Kathi suggested and I will call the nuber as soon as I get them.. my biggest problem is I have an abnormal fear of medicine.. It's got worse as the years have passed.. It started when my Mom was in the hospitial having a stem cell transplant for breast cancer... She had asked me about this treatment as it was basicly her last option and I being a selfish Daughter told her I WANTED her to have this treatment... She agreed and well she never made it out of the hospitial... She was in the shower or tried to go to the bathroom (not sure of the real story) while she had ZERO immune system and No assistance from a Nurse and she fell... well she got a cut and that cut invaded her and within 2 days she died.. it was a mold spore... So I've felt so guilty and blame myself for wanting her to have this treatment... so now I have developed this horrible fear... I have no idea how I can get past this in order to take anything... I'm compltely nauseous right now thinking about it..white hot terrified!!!

    have any of you not had to have chemo with stage 2A????
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143 Member
    Calleen said:

    Thank You
    all so much... I have put off calling them about my report for fear of this happening... I have felt guilty for having what I thought was just a simple stage 1 and all of you guys having worse diagnosis...
    I have called the doctors' office and requested they be faxed like Kathi suggested and I will call the nuber as soon as I get them.. my biggest problem is I have an abnormal fear of medicine.. It's got worse as the years have passed.. It started when my Mom was in the hospitial having a stem cell transplant for breast cancer... She had asked me about this treatment as it was basicly her last option and I being a selfish Daughter told her I WANTED her to have this treatment... She agreed and well she never made it out of the hospitial... She was in the shower or tried to go to the bathroom (not sure of the real story) while she had ZERO immune system and No assistance from a Nurse and she fell... well she got a cut and that cut invaded her and within 2 days she died.. it was a mold spore... So I've felt so guilty and blame myself for wanting her to have this treatment... so now I have developed this horrible fear... I have no idea how I can get past this in order to take anything... I'm compltely nauseous right now thinking about it..white hot terrified!!!

    have any of you not had to have chemo with stage 2A????

    Calleen, I am so sorry about
    Calleen, I am so sorry about your mom. Of course you wanted her to do the treatment. It was potentially life-saving. What happened was a terrible, awful tragedy, but it was not the norm, and certainly not something that could have been anticipated. Nothing like that will happen to you. As for chemo, not everyone with stage 2a needs chemo. It depends on many factors. For me, I had a grade 3 plus tumor that was receptor negative, and I was under age 40, so it was strongly urged. However, it was still considered over-treatment in the strict sense (although I considered it essential). If you are ER positive, they may do the Oncotype test on you to determine your risk of recurrence. If you have a very low risk, chemo is often not recommended. I was not ER positive, but they did the test anyway. My Oncotype score was off the charts. I won't even say what it was, since it kind of makes me sick. However, it doesn't really work on ER negatives, so I try not to stress about it. Anyway, I know this is hard to do, but please know that everything will be fine. Chemo or not, you will be fine.
  • chickad52
    chickad52 Member Posts: 497
    Calleen said:

    Thank You
    all so much... I have put off calling them about my report for fear of this happening... I have felt guilty for having what I thought was just a simple stage 1 and all of you guys having worse diagnosis...
    I have called the doctors' office and requested they be faxed like Kathi suggested and I will call the nuber as soon as I get them.. my biggest problem is I have an abnormal fear of medicine.. It's got worse as the years have passed.. It started when my Mom was in the hospitial having a stem cell transplant for breast cancer... She had asked me about this treatment as it was basicly her last option and I being a selfish Daughter told her I WANTED her to have this treatment... She agreed and well she never made it out of the hospitial... She was in the shower or tried to go to the bathroom (not sure of the real story) while she had ZERO immune system and No assistance from a Nurse and she fell... well she got a cut and that cut invaded her and within 2 days she died.. it was a mold spore... So I've felt so guilty and blame myself for wanting her to have this treatment... so now I have developed this horrible fear... I have no idea how I can get past this in order to take anything... I'm compltely nauseous right now thinking about it..white hot terrified!!!

    have any of you not had to have chemo with stage 2A????

    STAGE 2A
    Calleen,I'm sorry for all your going through. Waiting to talk to you onc.is the hardest. Be sure to bring someone with you when you go so they can write information down for you. It will help because they give you so much information. I know that I couldn't absorb it all. I'm stage 2a with no primary tumor so I am having chemo with a mastectomy to follow. So because the cancer cells went directly to my lymph nodes,and all the test didn't show a tumor in the breast this is the treatment I have to do. But please don't assume that your treatments will have to be the same. Take a deep breath and see what the doctor has to say. Stage 2a is early and curable!! Hugs, Diane
  • lanie940
    lanie940 Member Posts: 490 Member
    Calleen said:

    just sick right now
    Nurse called back with an appointment with ONC for sep 8th... she gave me 2 sets of dimensions...

    The ultra sound done on May 7th measured 1.5 x 1.4 x .08..
    The removed tumor measured 2.3 x 1.8 x 1.8..

    She said that she thought the removed measurement included the surrounding tissue so they could get a clear margin...???

    Do any of you heard of this??? If it's just the tumor it's self then it doesn't make sense to me that it grew that much... considering I know it's been there for about a year... plus the biopsy showed it to be not a fast growing kind... all pre surgery reports were all very very positive for a well behaved tumor...

    Calleen, mine was a Grade 2
    Calleen, mine was a Grade 2 also. My oncology Dr.(surgeon) nurse went over the report with me. She said there was a small possiblility the Medical oncologist might recomend chemo. I know I will need radiation. I meet with the Medicl oncologist on the 31st of Aug. I am scared too, so we can be scared together. I had a lumpectomy on the 30th of July. The report said he took at least another CM of clear margins, and my lymph node(sentinel ) was clear. The sent the tumor info,etc to some place in California to be analysed. My tumor wa 1.1 cm. I am ER positive, I know that much. my oncology Dr. was talking Arimidex for me.
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    Awwww...........
    Calleen, sending big hugs your way. Hang in there.... Pammy
  • Tux
    Tux Member Posts: 544
    Akiss4me said:

    Awwww...........
    Calleen, sending big hugs your way. Hang in there.... Pammy

    Calleen, sorry to hear that
    Calleen, sorry to hear that you are so upset by this diagnosis. I understand that you are very scared right now, and you have every right to feel that way. I hope that you can receive some comfort from your fellow sisters on this board.

    Hugs & prayers sent you way...
  • Tux
    Tux Member Posts: 544
    Akiss4me said:

    Awwww...........
    Calleen, sending big hugs your way. Hang in there.... Pammy

    Calleen, sorry to hear that
    Calleen, sorry to hear that you are so upset by this diagnosis. I understand that you are very scared right now, and you have every right to feel that way. I hope that you can receive some comfort from your fellow sisters on this board.

    Hugs & prayers sent your way...
  • Booberta
    Booberta Member Posts: 61
    Akiss4me said:

    Awwww...........
    Calleen, sending big hugs your way. Hang in there.... Pammy

    Stage 2A
    Calleen, first of all I'm sorry about your mother. This must have been a horrible experience for both of you.

    All I can recommend is that you get a copy of your path report and look up everything you don't understand on the internet. I too was diagnosed with stage 2, but if you research staging of breast cancer, you'll find that every stage covers a broad range of tumors, sizes and lymph node involvement.

    The suggestion to call the ACS is a fabulous one, I wish I had known about that option. It would have saved me hours of panic. However, my onch surgeon did call me while he was on vacation to explain things to me!

    I know it is so easier said than done, but please try to let go of the guilt that you have over what happened to you mother. You gave her the best advise that you could under the circumstances. As a nurse it sickens me that she was left alone in this situation. However, I wasn't there so I can't judge someone else's actions.

    Stick around here, these wonderful men and women will help you through every step of the way.

    Love and Peace
    Roberta
  • peggypeggy
    peggypeggy Member Posts: 111
    Calleen said:

    just sick right now
    Nurse called back with an appointment with ONC for sep 8th... she gave me 2 sets of dimensions...

    The ultra sound done on May 7th measured 1.5 x 1.4 x .08..
    The removed tumor measured 2.3 x 1.8 x 1.8..

    She said that she thought the removed measurement included the surrounding tissue so they could get a clear margin...???

    Do any of you heard of this??? If it's just the tumor it's self then it doesn't make sense to me that it grew that much... considering I know it's been there for about a year... plus the biopsy showed it to be not a fast growing kind... all pre surgery reports were all very very positive for a well behaved tumor...

    calleen
    was te 2.2 iclding the amount of good magin they took mine was different after good margin was talen i ahve cpy of my final pathology report after tumer and explin the amount of tumor and amount of good magindid you get you mitostic reading of how muc of timor was cancer if i may ask god blesshope you are doing well luv peg so happy i oly have to get 1 week 5 days of radiation that new progrram they only do the tumor part and not the whole breast better then six weeks god bless