derek lawler

My wife Nancy has a mammogram every year and the results are always
negative. This time we were shocked to find that after a stereotactic core
biopsy was done they found invasive lobular carcinoma. We have both been
reading the booklet provided by the doctor and learning more about what to
expect.
We have a copy of the pathologist's report and there is a comment near the
bottom of the report that says: RECEPTOR ASSAY AND DNA STUDIES WILL BE
PERFORMED AT IMPATH AND A COPY OF THEIR REPORT WILL FOLLOW. THE STAGE OF
THE TUMOR CORRESPONDS TO A JCC STAGE PT1NXMX.
I feel as though we need to act quickly on this and find out if there are
any cancer cells migrating into the lymphatic system. How fast do they
migrate? Should we be contacting an oncologist now in addition to the
surgeon? I feel that every day we have to wait for an appointment the tumor
could be metastasizing. Thanks for any informative comments on this. Can
anyone explain from looking at the lab's comment what this JCC and PT1NXMX
means. Derek in Florida

lance hill

pT1NXMX means that the pathologist has determined invasive cancer is present
of less than 2 cm in size(T1), nodal status is unknown (NX), the presence of
distant cancer is unknown (MX) - but you already know all that.

That cryptic code is called the TNM staging system. You can read more about
it here:
http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/treatment/breast/healthprofessional/#Section_30

This site is part of the National Cancer Institute. Explore the NCI sites
thoroughly, all the technical stuff you need to know is there. People here
can help with translations and personal experiences.

Of course Dr Susan Love's Breast Book is also a really great resource. Go
buy it. Helped me a lot when I was in your place almost 5 years ago.

Lance
*****

tim jackson

T1 Nx Mx means Stage 1 (small and isolated), Lymph nodes not (yet) examined,
Metastases not examined. This will be updated by the Path lab after surgery
and possible further tests.

Growth and metastases of cancer is a slow process. Most cancers have been
growing for around ten years before you detect them, so a few more weeks
makes little difference to the risks. If it is stage 1 then the risks of
spreading are small.

You would normally be referred to the oncologist after surgery.


Tim Jackson

allan_grossman@hotmail.com (allan

Welcome, Derek -

Sorry to see you here but I'm glad you found this place. You'll find
a pretty vast array of experience here and without exception we're
bright, funny and generally stimulating conversationalists. Some of
us know more about bc than a lot of doctors do

I see others have already answered your question but I just wanted to
say welcome.

Hang in there - it gets a lot better as time goes on. Holler if we
can help.

cheers -

allan

derek lawler

Thank you all very much for your informative and supportive responses. I
just got home from my part time job and got my wife to read mine and your
posts. First thing she asked me was to check out that book by Susan Love.
I will be reading all the messages on this group and both of us will be
researching all available literature. Her surgeon is to call tomorrow and
we have a list of questions for him. Thanks again for taking the time to
read and respond.
Best, Derek and Nancy