Pathology changing?
I've been meaning to write about this for a while, but finally getting to it. While thrilled with the result of Ruth's pre-surgery chemo, when we got the marker results several days after initial pathology came back, the lab now marked the cancer as 50% ER+ and PR negative. I was stunned by this, nurse said not to worry, it happens all the time because of the chemo.
?? What does this mean? Why does it happen? Is it likely to be the same throughout the body if there are any cells left?
And, if the chemo causes a changing pathology, then what does this mean for post chemo treatments like hormone treatment? Now that Ruth is on it, it's really not going to do as much good because the receptor cells have changed?
I welcome any thoughts.
THX
TRS
__________________
Terri, spouse of Ruth, Dallas/Ft. Worth area
Ruth dx 05/01/07 (age 50) Filipino
multifocal, several tumors .5 -2.5 cm, large area
Breast MRI showed 2 enlarged nodes, not palpable
100%ER+, 95%PR+, HER2+++
6x pre-surgery TCH chemo finished 9/15/7 Dramatic tumor shrinkage
1 year Herceptin till 6/08
MRM 10/11/07, SNB: 0/4 nodes + Path: tumors reduced to only a few "scattered cells"
now 50% ER+, PR- ???
Rads finished 1/16/08
Added Tamoxifen,
Finished Herceptin 05/08
NOW is the time to appreciate life to the fullest.
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