Surgery Follow-up
Mom and I met with Dr. Engel today to review the pathology report from my surgery. Here's the lowdown, some of which is a repeat from last week's conversation with Dr. Perera:
The tumour was 1.4 cm in size (unspecified type of cancer). The report showed that there were clean margins taken around the tumour up to 1.1 cm. Pat, the Nurse Practitioner, noted that this was a very good sign.
I had a grade 2 tumour, which means that the cells of the tumour were moderately different than normal cells - it was growing somewhat faster than normal cells. So, not slow and not very fast.
16 lymph nodes were removed from my armpit. Only 1 tested positive for cancer with tiny microscopic deposits. Pat, commented that it there was so little cancer in the lymph node it almost didn't count as spread! Another good sign. Also, there was no lymphatic or vascular invasion, meaning it has likely not spread to other areas of my body.
Mom asked why 16 lymph nodes were removed. Why not less, why not more? It turns out that everyone has a different number of lymph nodes in their armpit. We are all unique. The number of lymph nodes taken is determined by how many appear between the tumour and the incision under the armpit. They only take the lymph nodes that are in that section. In my case, 16. Very interesting!
The cancer cells tested positive for both estrogen and progesterone receptors. Hormone receptors are like ears on breast cells that listen to signals from hormones. These signals "turn on" growth in breast cells that have receptors. Cancers that are either ER (estrogen) or PR (progesterone) positive or both, tend to respond well to hormone therapy. So likely after chemo and radiation I will be on some sort of hormone therapy that will reduce the estrogen/ progesterone in my body or keep these hormones away from the receptors. This will be just another treatment that will ensure my good health in the future.
Another test was done on the cancer cells, looking for a HER-2/neu gene. This gene helps control how cells grow, divide, and repair themselves. The HER-2 gene directs the production of special proteins, called HER-2 receptors, in cancer cells. Cancers with too many copies of the HER-2 gene or too many HER-2 receptors tend to grow fast. They respond very well to treatment that works against HER-2 (called anti-HER-2 antibody treatment). The first test they conducted (ImmunoHistoChemistry test) to determine if my tumour had this feature was equivocal. Meaning it may or may not be positive. So a further test has been ordered (more expensive and not done on everyone because the first test usually works). It's called a Flourescence In Situ Hybridization test or FISH for short. So basically they've gone fishing and will get back to me on this one.
Ultimately I have been diagnosed with Stage II cancer, which means that the cancer started in the breast and has spread to one or more lymph nodes. That's it in a nutshell.
Basically, we have received the best news possible once again, given the circumstances.
Next Friday will prove even more interesting when Sean and I meet with Dr. Potvin, the chemotherapist. At that time, I will be presented with my options and suggestions for treatment. Once I have decided on treatment, chemo will probably begin fairly soon (within 1-2 weeks).
Dr. Engel indicated today, that given my age and the fact that the cancer has spread, I am an ideal candidate for both chemo and radiation. At my age, they want to give me all treatments that will ensure that I live and long and happy life.
Yeah, me!
Love CJ
The tumour was 1.4 cm in size (unspecified type of cancer). The report showed that there were clean margins taken around the tumour up to 1.1 cm. Pat, the Nurse Practitioner, noted that this was a very good sign.
I had a grade 2 tumour, which means that the cells of the tumour were moderately different than normal cells - it was growing somewhat faster than normal cells. So, not slow and not very fast.
16 lymph nodes were removed from my armpit. Only 1 tested positive for cancer with tiny microscopic deposits. Pat, commented that it there was so little cancer in the lymph node it almost didn't count as spread! Another good sign. Also, there was no lymphatic or vascular invasion, meaning it has likely not spread to other areas of my body.
Mom asked why 16 lymph nodes were removed. Why not less, why not more? It turns out that everyone has a different number of lymph nodes in their armpit. We are all unique. The number of lymph nodes taken is determined by how many appear between the tumour and the incision under the armpit. They only take the lymph nodes that are in that section. In my case, 16. Very interesting!
The cancer cells tested positive for both estrogen and progesterone receptors. Hormone receptors are like ears on breast cells that listen to signals from hormones. These signals "turn on" growth in breast cells that have receptors. Cancers that are either ER (estrogen) or PR (progesterone) positive or both, tend to respond well to hormone therapy. So likely after chemo and radiation I will be on some sort of hormone therapy that will reduce the estrogen/ progesterone in my body or keep these hormones away from the receptors. This will be just another treatment that will ensure my good health in the future.
Another test was done on the cancer cells, looking for a HER-2/neu gene. This gene helps control how cells grow, divide, and repair themselves. The HER-2 gene directs the production of special proteins, called HER-2 receptors, in cancer cells. Cancers with too many copies of the HER-2 gene or too many HER-2 receptors tend to grow fast. They respond very well to treatment that works against HER-2 (called anti-HER-2 antibody treatment). The first test they conducted (ImmunoHistoChemistry test) to determine if my tumour had this feature was equivocal. Meaning it may or may not be positive. So a further test has been ordered (more expensive and not done on everyone because the first test usually works). It's called a Flourescence In Situ Hybridization test or FISH for short. So basically they've gone fishing and will get back to me on this one.
Ultimately I have been diagnosed with Stage II cancer, which means that the cancer started in the breast and has spread to one or more lymph nodes. That's it in a nutshell.
Basically, we have received the best news possible once again, given the circumstances.
Next Friday will prove even more interesting when Sean and I meet with Dr. Potvin, the chemotherapist. At that time, I will be presented with my options and suggestions for treatment. Once I have decided on treatment, chemo will probably begin fairly soon (within 1-2 weeks).
Dr. Engel indicated today, that given my age and the fact that the cancer has spread, I am an ideal candidate for both chemo and radiation. At my age, they want to give me all treatments that will ensure that I live and long and happy life.
Yeah, me!
Love CJ
posted by Colleen @ 8:26 PM
1 Comments:
At 5:38 AM,
Anonymous said…
Very cool design! Useful information. Go on!
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