1. Verify you Have the Right Report!
Look closely at your pathology report and make sure all your personal information is correct. Look at your name, the date and type of surgery and every other detail that identifies that it is yours. Check your clinical history and make sure it is accurate. Mistakes are rare, but it's always wise to double-check these details to avoid getting the wrong information.
2. Breast Cancer Stages
The stage of your breast cancer will be included in the pathology report. The stage is determined by the size of the tumor, whether the lymph nodes are involved and whether the cancer has spread beyond the breast. There are 4 stages of breast cancer ranging from Stage 0 or 1 to Stage 4. The stage of cancer also can be determined by whether the breast skin or chest wall behind the breast has been affected. Remember that every piece of the pathology report is important. It's the whole picture that matters, not just one piece of it.
3. Cell Descriptions
Your pathology report will tell you what kinds of cells are in the tumor. Non-invasive or in-situ cancers stay within the milk ducts or milk lobules of the breast. They don't invade surrounding tissues and travel to other parts of the body. Invasive cancers move beyond where they started and can travel to other parts of the body through your blood or lymph system.
4. What are Cancer Grades?
There are 3 grades of cancer. Grade 1 is a low grade cancer because the cells that make up the tumor still look like normal cells. They usually grow slowly. Grade 2 is an intermediate grade because the cancer cells don't look like normal cells and they grow somewhat faster than normal cells. Grade 3 is a high grade cancer with very abnormal looking cells that grow rapidly.
5. Clean Margins
Your pathology report will refer to "margins." When the doctor removes the cancer cells, he tries to get it all along with a little extra to give you what they call "clean margins." If no cancer cells are visible at the outer edges of what was removed, they describe your margins as "negative," which usually means they got it all and no further surgery is needed. If cancer cells extend all the way to the edge of the tissue, they call the margins "positive" and sometimes more surgery is required. There are also "close" cells that are near the edge of the tissue, but not all the way. In some cases, "close" margins may require more surgery, too.
