Question....I am confused

[Patty F]

I had my appointment yesterday with my surgeon who is going to do my mastectomy on January 31st. He said something that I thought was very strange. He said that we would do the mastectomy because there is cancer there with 2 micronodules. He then said that we have not determined if the breast is the primary sight yet. What does that mean?

[Barbara2]

I would guess that to mean that they know there is cancer in the breast but they still need to determine if it is breast cancer, or cancer from another location.

I have never heard of other types of cancer that spreads to the breast, but I suppose it is possible.

That's just a guess...

[Bill]

Hey Patty! In my opinion, you should call your doctor on Monday and ask him what he meant. Start a notebook with questions for your doctor, often you think of questions at home or at the oddest times, and you forget to ask them when you're in the office. As far as his comment about the "primary" site being the breast, please don't worry unnecessarily. To answer your questions and concerns better, "we" need a little more info. Have you had any scans or testing that might indicate any spread? The wonderful women on this site can provide any help you might need. If you don't feel like your doctor is answering your questions to your satisfaction, and, if possible, seek a second opinion. I know this is a tremendously difficult time for you. Thoughts and prayers to you, Bill

[Patty F]

I have had a pet and ct scan and it shows is "numerous lymph nodes in the axilla, 2 lymph nodes above the collar bone and the 2 micronodules in the breast. I have already had 2 lymph nodes removed in the axilla and they were 1.5 cm and .6 cm. My path report stated tumor emboli present in lymphatic vessels.

[Joanne S]

Patty,

The 'primary site' is the location where the cancer first began to grow in your body. Based on your post, the doctor said he does not know if your cancer originated in your breast or somewhere else in your body.

I would highly suggest you get copies of all your pathology reports, including the one from your armpit surgery from last year and if any other tissue samples/biopsies you may have had. I also suggest you educate yourself on the Stage, Grade, estrogen, progesterone and HER2 status (positive/negative) of your cancer. In addition, I recommend you obtain copies of all your CT Scans, MRIs, etc. If my memory serves me correctly, the Chemo you had was Adriamycin and Cytoxan---as far as I know, those are the drugs administered when the primary cancer is in the breast.

Following are some very good educational sites that could keep you busy for a long, long, time:

NBCF Beyond the Shock Video:
http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/about-breast-cancer/beyond-the-shock

Breast cancer staging:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_How_is_breast_cancer_staged_5.asp?rnav= cri

NBCF Breast Cancer Library:
http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-library
And even more videos and articles:
<TABLE id=hlth_subCatContainer cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Video</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Are Some Breast Cancers Different than Others? (http://nbcf.healthology.com/hybrid/hybrid-autodetect.aspx?focus_handle=breast-cancer-information&content_id=1775&brand_name=nbcf) Transcript (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/video1775.htm)</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Video</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>How to Spot the Different Types of Breast Cancer (http://nbcf.healthology.com/hybrid/hybrid-autodetect.aspx?focus_handle=breast-cancer-information&content_id=1787&brand_name=nbcf) Transcript (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/video1787.htm)</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Video</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Be Active in Your Breast Cancer Treatment (http://nbcf.healthology.com/hybrid/hybrid-autodetect.aspx?focus_handle=breast-cancer-information&content_id=4509&brand_name=nbcf) Transcript (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/video4509.htm)</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Video</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Next Steps After a Diagnosis (http://nbcf.healthology.com/hybrid/hybrid-autodetect.aspx?focus_handle=breast-cancer-information&content_id=2503&brand_name=nbcf) Transcript (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/video2503.htm)</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Ask Your Doctor</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>About Breast Cancer (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/ayd3110.htm) </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Article</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Breast Self Examination (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/article3848.htm) </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Did You Know</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>While the incidence of breast cancer cases is rising, the mortality rate from breast cancer is decreasing (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/dyk3312.htm) </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Article</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Breast Cancer: On Stage (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/article1636.htm) </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Did You Know</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Stage 0 breast cancer is not always breast cancer (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/dyk3372.htm) </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Did You Know</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Stage 0 breast cancer is cancer that has not spread out of the breast tissue (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/dyk3371.htm) </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Ask Your Doctor</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>About Breast Cancer Recurrence (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/ayd3111.htm) </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Did You Know</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>The greatest risk of breast cancer recurrence is in the first few years (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/dyk3173.htm) </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Video</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>A Good Doctor-Patient Relationship in Breast Cancer (http://nbcf.healthology.com/hybrid/hybrid-autodetect.aspx?focus_handle=breast-cancer-information&content_id=1767&brand_name=nbcf) Transcript (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/video1767.htm)</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Article</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>African Americans: Overcome Breast Cancer by Fighting it Early (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/article178.htm) </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Video</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Bone Complications in Breast Cancer (http://nbcf.healthology.com/hybrid/hybrid-autodetect.aspx?focus_handle=breast-cancer-information&content_id=1763&brand_name=nbcf) Transcript (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/video1763.htm)</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Video</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Coping with Bone Issues in Cancer (http://nbcf.healthology.com/hybrid/hybrid-autodetect.aspx?focus_handle=breast-cancer-information&content_id=1806&brand_name=nbcf) Transcript (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/video1806.htm)</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Did You Know</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>In two-thirds of breast cancers, estrogen can stimulate growth of cancer cells. (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/dyk3238.htm) </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Article</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>More Than Mammograms: MRI for High-Risk Women (http://nbcf.healthology.com/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-information/article139.htm)



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Our HER2 site has a wealth of information too:
http://her2support.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=49&Itemid=89

My best to you Patty!

[Becky]

Dear Patty

I think what your doctor is saying is that there are 2 tumors in the breast and they are not sure which one is the primary (the one which seeded the second breast tumor and anything that is in the nodes).

As Joanne said, make sure you get copies of everything. I even got copies of my red and white blood counts that were taken weekly during chemo and herceptin. But, you never know if you will need to go back and refer to these things.

Take care and a hug to you

[nitewind]

Just want to say "thanks" to Joanne for posting all the interesting links.

[fauxgypsy]

Don't guess. Call your doctor. Before the mastectomy. Do take your notebook with you and take notes as well as keep up with your questions. Ask questions!!!!! And always get a second opinion. I cannot stess this enough.

Leslie