Beyond The Shock®

Diagnosis

Sorry, you need to download flash or use a more modern browser.

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

Usually, how soon after lumpectomies and ending radiation treatment do you have a mammogram to see that everything looks clear?

Asked by anonymous
Survivor since 2012

9 months ago 7 answers •
- View all 7 answers
- anonymous
  
  Learning About Breast Cancer
  
  I had surgery April 4 and finished radiation June 5. He told me yesterday I would have a mammogram about February . A year from my last one. I don't know if all radiologists have the same time frame or if it according to each patient and doctor.
  Comment 1
- anonymous
  
  Survivor since 2012
  
  I finished my rads in May and I had a mammo last week because of having so much hard scar tissue in my breast. Just to be safe. It hurt like the dickens but the radiologist said everything looked good! Worth the pain!
  Comment 1
I just found out I have triple negative breast cancer, a form of invasive ductal carcinoma - stage 1 1.3cmm tumor, very small, but still requires llumpectomy, chemo, then radiation. What's the recovery time after a lumpectomy?

Asked by anonymous
Learning About Breast Cancer

almost 2 years ago 3 answers •
- anonymous
  
  Survivor since 2010
  
  Has your doctor tested you for the BRCA gene mutation? If not, I would suggest doing that before moving forward with him/her. Triple negative breast cancer is most often associated with the BRCA gene mutation & if you happen to have it, you may be advised to do more than a lumpectomy. I'm no...
  more
  Has your doctor tested you for the BRCA gene mutation? If not, I would suggest doing that before moving forward with him/her. Triple negative breast cancer is most often associated with the BRCA gene mutation & if you happen to have it, you may be advised to do more than a lumpectomy. I'm no doctor...it's just a suggestion. I'd get a second opinion, anyway. :) Wishing you the best!
  Comment 2
- anonymous
  
  Learning About Breast Cancer
  
  Hello - you know lumpectomies can vary enomormusly in size and location, as can the number and type of stitches required. All that as well as your general health and other complications such as infection means the recovery rate can vary significantly from person to person. I was discharged around...
  more
  Hello - you know lumpectomies can vary enomormusly in size and location, as can the number and type of stitches required. All that as well as your general health and other complications such as infection means the recovery rate can vary significantly from person to person. I was discharged around 16 hours after the operation. I had to stay overnight because of bad reaction to general anesthetic + I was a late in the day operation. I had about 57grams removed from my right inner upper quadrant and I had double stitching [underneath as well as on top]. It took about a week for the special bandages to fall off naturally. I was back doing 90 minute yoga class within a few days of the lumpectomy, so on one level it was a fast recovery BUT I needed some physiotherapy to restore my right arm mobility to about 95% of what it was - that was caused by the sentinel node biopsy though, not the lumpectomy. Many women I have spoken to say they experience more problems from the sentinel node biopsy rather than the lumpectomy. The lumpectomy is a fat removal essentially whereas the sentinel node biopsy is close to a lot of nerves and pathways and muscles so this is not unexpected.
  Comment 1
Is a large mass the same as a tumor?

Asked by anonymous
Learning About Breast Cancer

about 2 years ago Answer •