Beyond The Shock®

Diagnosis

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Chapter: 4 - Diagnosis

Subchapter: 5 - Lab Tests

Once the biopsy is complete, a specially trained doctor called a pathologist will examine the tissue or fluid samples for abnormal or cancerous cells. Pathology reports can take one or two weeks to complete. The wait can be a real challenge, but being able to make an informed decision regarding your treatment is well worth your time. Remember, the pathology report helps give a full picture of your situation.

A core needle biopsy sample provides information on the tumor type and the tumor’s growth rate, or grade, which we discussed in Subchapter 3.2. If cancer is found, the pathologist will also test the cells for estrogen or progesterone receptors.

When a lumpectomy or wide local surgical biopsy is performed, the results provide information on the type, grade, and receptor status of the tumor. It can also can measure the distance between the surrounding normal tissue and the excised tumor. This distance, called the margin, shows whether the site is clear of cancer cells or not.

A positive margin means cancer cells are present at the margin of the tumor. A negative margin means there are no tumor cells at the margin. A close margin means that the distance between the tumor and normal surrounding tissue is less than about 3mm (.118 inch).

Using the pathology report and any additional scans or blood work, the cancer is classified into stages. Your medical team will use this information to design the best plan for you.

But before we discuss treatment options, in Chapter 6, we will elaborate on the types and stages of cancer.

Sub Chapters
Causes of Breast Cancer 02:13
Why? 01:30
Diagnostic Methods 03:50
Biopsy 02:41
Lab Tests 02:11

Related Questions

Hi, I'm only 23 and I'm having a biopsy and sonogram done next week on the grape size lump I found under my armpit. Will that be enough to tell if it's cancer or should I ask for more tests?

Asked by anonymous
Learning About Breast Cancer

over 1 year ago 1 answers •
- anonymous
  
  Survivor since 2003
  
  With a sonogram they will be looking if the lump is fluid filled or solid they may also be checking if there are any other suspicious areas. There are different types of biopsies. Fine needle aspirate they insert a wide bore needle and aspirate some of the tissue and send it to the lab. A...
  more
  With a sonogram they will be looking if the lump is fluid filled or solid they may also be checking if there are any other suspicious areas. There are different types of biopsies. Fine needle aspirate they insert a wide bore needle and aspirate some of the tissue and send it to the lab. A cone knive biopsy they remove a cone shape tissue sample and send that for pathology and then there is a wide incisional biopsy that they remove the entire lump or suspicious area pathology is able to evaluate the whole area and the surgeon can check for clean margins. The surgeon will usually decide what type of biopsy will give the best diagnosis.
  9 comments 1
What might happen (or other options) if a third surgery to get clear margins does not work?

Asked by anonymous
Stage 1 Patient

8 months ago 5 answers •
- View all 5 answers
- anonymous
  
  Stage 2A Patient
  
  Have you had chemo?
  Comment 0
- anonymous
  
  Survivor since 2012
  
  It took 3 re-resections to get clean margins after my mastectomy. Once we got clean margins I went forward with 8 weeks of radiation but no chemo.
  
  If I understand the chain of messages correctly, you've had a bilateral mastectomy and a re-resection on the left side, and now they're...
  more
  It took 3 re-resections to get clean margins after my mastectomy. Once we got clean margins I went forward with 8 weeks of radiation but no chemo.
  
  If I understand the chain of messages correctly, you've had a bilateral mastectomy and a re-resection on the left side, and now they're contemplating a 2nd re-resection? If that's the case I would ask your doctor to confirm the stage of your cancer.
  
  Had the doc recommended further treatment, i.e., radiation or chemo? Even if you get clean margins after a 2nd re-resection I'd have a serious discussion with your doc on this issue. There are a lot of loose ends and you want to be sure they're gathered up and tied in a bow. Good luck to you!
  Comment 0
Having a stereotactic biopsy next week. I'm very nervous. How long does the needle stay in my body?

Asked by anonymous
Learning About Breast Cancer

12 months ago 5 answers •
- View all 5 answers
- anonymous
  
  Stage 1 Patient
  
  Hi Michele,
  I had this procedure done last Wednesday. I actually did not have a biopsy but I had to have a "wire" like needle inserted into a cluster of calcifications hours before my lumpectopy. I have to say that the procedure itself was not bad at all! It was the fear of the unknown and...
  more
  Hi Michele,
  I had this procedure done last Wednesday. I actually did not have a biopsy but I had to have a "wire" like needle inserted into a cluster of calcifications hours before my lumpectopy. I have to say that the procedure itself was not bad at all! It was the fear of the unknown and also having a wire stuck in my breast that made my nervous. You lay on your stomach with your breast going through a hole in the table. They take a mammogram like picture except it does not squash you like a pancake it rather just squeezes a little bit. They will numb the area and then instert the needle. Again I did not have a biopsy but I did have a hollow needle insterted and then they insterted the wire needle - I did not feel anything. Good Luck!
  Comment 0
- anonymous
  
  Survivor since 2011
  
  I't's really not that bad. Once they find the lump it goes very fast. They don't put the needle in until they fund the lump.
  Comment 0