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What Does The Mammography Report Indicate?
Question: The mammography report is BIRADS 4. Also, it says that the lesion is of the size 8x5.5x4.2mm. Although, if we feel the lump, it is of size 6 cm.
The doctor we visited recently, without any further tests, said that she suspects either stage 3 or stage 4 cancer without any further tests and said that we most likely need only the PET scan.
This has thrown us off a bit. Can such a late cancer stage not detected properly in mammography? Also, what symptoms would be present in the body if it were that late of a stage. My mom is otherwise healthy, although she has diabetes, which is pretty controlled and high blood pressure which is controlled as well. She does exercise everyday, and has good stamina. She is pretty active too.
The doctor we visited recently, without any further tests, said that she suspects either stage 3 or stage 4 cancer without any further tests and said that we most likely need only the PET scan.
This has thrown us off a bit. Can such a late cancer stage not detected properly in mammography? Also, what symptoms would be present in the body if it were that late of a stage. My mom is otherwise healthy, although she has diabetes, which is pretty controlled and high blood pressure which is controlled as well. She does exercise everyday, and has good stamina. She is pretty active too.
Brief Answer:
Possibility of cancer is there
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
I understand your concern. The mammogram (along with the screening USG) is more suggestive of cancer than not. However, this needs to be confirmed by a needle biopsy because conclusive proof of cancer is only on biopsy.
So I think that answers your first query that mammography can't detect it properly or not. Mammo can only suggest but never prove.
As it is already 8 cm on mammo and USG it is likely to be stage III. Many a times in stage III there are no symptoms except a lump. So it is quite plausible. Also there is something called clinical staging where a doctor examines a patient in the clinic and formulates a stage based upon size of the lump, nodes in armpit or neck, involvement of skin, etc. Obviously, once a diagnosis of cancer has been confirmed this stage is revised by getting CT scans and bone scans as appropriate (especially for a large tumor like this). I am not too fond of PET-CT scan in this scenario but some oncologists do it.
Since she is in good health, she will be able to take the treatment if it is indeed cancer. This is a good sign.
Hope this helps. I will be available for further follow-up.
Regards
Possibility of cancer is there
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
I understand your concern. The mammogram (along with the screening USG) is more suggestive of cancer than not. However, this needs to be confirmed by a needle biopsy because conclusive proof of cancer is only on biopsy.
So I think that answers your first query that mammography can't detect it properly or not. Mammo can only suggest but never prove.
As it is already 8 cm on mammo and USG it is likely to be stage III. Many a times in stage III there are no symptoms except a lump. So it is quite plausible. Also there is something called clinical staging where a doctor examines a patient in the clinic and formulates a stage based upon size of the lump, nodes in armpit or neck, involvement of skin, etc. Obviously, once a diagnosis of cancer has been confirmed this stage is revised by getting CT scans and bone scans as appropriate (especially for a large tumor like this). I am not too fond of PET-CT scan in this scenario but some oncologists do it.
Since she is in good health, she will be able to take the treatment if it is indeed cancer. This is a good sign.
Hope this helps. I will be available for further follow-up.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Hi,
Doesn't the mammography says that lesion is 8x5.5x4.2 mm. Although, if we feel the lump, it is about 6cm. Could there be blood/fluid around the lesion and the lesion itself is small. The needle biopsy suggests breast carcenoma but has not confirmed that. We are planning to go for PET scan of whole body tomorrow.
We are really afraid of getting her on to Chemo because of all the ill effects it has. Can the cancer be totally removed if we go for breast removal at third stage?
Could her cancer be fourth stage as well? Are you aware of any alternate therapies like B17 (Apricot seed kernels) and Vitamin C?
Please check the biopsy report
Doesn't the mammography says that lesion is 8x5.5x4.2 mm. Although, if we feel the lump, it is about 6cm. Could there be blood/fluid around the lesion and the lesion itself is small. The needle biopsy suggests breast carcenoma but has not confirmed that. We are planning to go for PET scan of whole body tomorrow.
We are really afraid of getting her on to Chemo because of all the ill effects it has. Can the cancer be totally removed if we go for breast removal at third stage?
Could her cancer be fourth stage as well? Are you aware of any alternate therapies like B17 (Apricot seed kernels) and Vitamin C?
Please check the biopsy report
Brief Answer:
biopsy report is not attached
Detailed Answer:
the mammo report do say it is 8X5.5X4.2 mm but also mentions it as large. A 8 mm lesion is not large by any means. Make sure it was not a typo. Also the doctor would not have said that it is a stage III tumor if it was so small.
Even if it is completely removed, a stage III tumor will require chemo because it has high risk of coming back. But if it is 8 mm then it may not be required.
Whether it is stage IV or not can only be determined by the scans. Possibility remains.
These alternate therapies are not proven and not recommended by any international or national guidelines.
Regards
biopsy report is not attached
Detailed Answer:
the mammo report do say it is 8X5.5X4.2 mm but also mentions it as large. A 8 mm lesion is not large by any means. Make sure it was not a typo. Also the doctor would not have said that it is a stage III tumor if it was so small.
Even if it is completely removed, a stage III tumor will require chemo because it has high risk of coming back. But if it is 8 mm then it may not be required.
Whether it is stage IV or not can only be determined by the scans. Possibility remains.
These alternate therapies are not proven and not recommended by any international or national guidelines.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
here is biopsy report
Brief Answer:
this can be taken as confirmatory
Detailed Answer:
This is actually an fnac not a biopsy but still the report appears to be confirmatory. The phrase 'suggestive of' is often used in medical reports but can be taken as final.
this can be taken as confirmatory
Detailed Answer:
This is actually an fnac not a biopsy but still the report appears to be confirmatory. The phrase 'suggestive of' is often used in medical reports but can be taken as final.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
But biopsy test is a confirmatory to prove that there is a malignancy? If it is not malignant than it is not cancer? please help? and also guide us.
Brief Answer:
please refer below
Detailed Answer:
Fnac has confirmed cancer. This is fine if we want to go for surgery because there will be a detailed biopsy after surgery.
But if we need chemo first to shrink the tumor then a core or trucut biopsy will be required. This is because cancer can vanish with chemo and some precious information will be lost if it happens so.
Regards
please refer below
Detailed Answer:
Fnac has confirmed cancer. This is fine if we want to go for surgery because there will be a detailed biopsy after surgery.
But if we need chemo first to shrink the tumor then a core or trucut biopsy will be required. This is because cancer can vanish with chemo and some precious information will be lost if it happens so.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
so surgery will be after PET scan? my mom will have PET scan tomorrow. will PETscan will also help in sergery? how?
Brief Answer:
yes PET can facilitate surgery
Detailed Answer:
If the PET shows only a small localised cancer then best to go for surgery first followed by chemo/radiotherapy as needed. If it is advanced locally (big size, lot of glands in armpit) then chemo followed by surgery.
In the case of unfortunate event of disease spread distantly then chemo only.
yes PET can facilitate surgery
Detailed Answer:
If the PET shows only a small localised cancer then best to go for surgery first followed by chemo/radiotherapy as needed. If it is advanced locally (big size, lot of glands in armpit) then chemo followed by surgery.
In the case of unfortunate event of disease spread distantly then chemo only.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
one more question. my mother does not have any symtoms like inverted niples, niple discharge, only she is having itching not anything else.
Brief Answer:
these are good signs
Detailed Answer:
That means the disease may not be stage III (no skin or nipple involvement) and can be even stage II.
Hope for the best
these are good signs
Detailed Answer:
That means the disease may not be stage III (no skin or nipple involvement) and can be even stage II.
Hope for the best
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi,
Are there any alternatives to chemotherapy like immunotherapy for breast cancer being offered in India?
Also, what are long term side effects of Chemotherapy. Are there any new chemotherapy medicines which have less side effects. After chemotherapy session, how much time does a patient need to get back to normal life?
Another thing is that after the FNAC, the tumor has swelled a lot and become hard and also causing a lot of pain.
Thanks
Are there any alternatives to chemotherapy like immunotherapy for breast cancer being offered in India?
Also, what are long term side effects of Chemotherapy. Are there any new chemotherapy medicines which have less side effects. After chemotherapy session, how much time does a patient need to get back to normal life?
Another thing is that after the FNAC, the tumor has swelled a lot and become hard and also causing a lot of pain.
Thanks
Brief Answer:
please refer below
Detailed Answer:
My answers?
1.Are there any alternatives to chemotherapy like immunotherapy for breast cancer being offered in India?
A. Immunotherapy for breast cancer is investigational and not being offered in XXXXXXX In the West, trials are on.
2.Also, what are long term side effects of Chemotherapy.
A. There may heart or lung damage (3-5% risk), bone marrow disorders (1%), deterioration of brain function (seldom serious), etc.
3. Are there any new chemotherapy medicines which have less side effects.
A. For breast cancer the chemo drugs are more or less same for last 10-15 years but side effect controlling medicines have advanced.
4.After chemotherapy session, how much time does a patient need to get back to normal life?
A. After 4-5 days of each cycle, patient may start feeling better. But this varies. After all cycles are over, 2-3 months may be required to get back to normal life. Again, this varies.
After FNAC there may bleeding inside which can make it hard but that should not cause much problem. She can take medicines to relieve the pain for few days.
please refer below
Detailed Answer:
My answers?
1.Are there any alternatives to chemotherapy like immunotherapy for breast cancer being offered in India?
A. Immunotherapy for breast cancer is investigational and not being offered in XXXXXXX In the West, trials are on.
2.Also, what are long term side effects of Chemotherapy.
A. There may heart or lung damage (3-5% risk), bone marrow disorders (1%), deterioration of brain function (seldom serious), etc.
3. Are there any new chemotherapy medicines which have less side effects.
A. For breast cancer the chemo drugs are more or less same for last 10-15 years but side effect controlling medicines have advanced.
4.After chemotherapy session, how much time does a patient need to get back to normal life?
A. After 4-5 days of each cycle, patient may start feeling better. But this varies. After all cycles are over, 2-3 months may be required to get back to normal life. Again, this varies.
After FNAC there may bleeding inside which can make it hard but that should not cause much problem. She can take medicines to relieve the pain for few days.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
hi,
i am little bit worried, my mom is having the blue and red all around her breast and arm pit, we call it as XXXXXXX in hindi after the FNAC, is it the effect of FNAC. showed to the doctor she gave antibiotic via drip and she did some dressing for that.
is it the temporary effect of FNAC?
i am little bit worried, my mom is having the blue and red all around her breast and arm pit, we call it as XXXXXXX in hindi after the FNAC, is it the effect of FNAC. showed to the doctor she gave antibiotic via drip and she did some dressing for that.
is it the temporary effect of FNAC?
Brief Answer:
May be bleeding
Detailed Answer:
It may be bleeding after FNAC. A bit unusual to have so much problem, but may happen.
A course of antibiotics, pressure bandage and analgesics should help.
Regards
May be bleeding
Detailed Answer:
It may be bleeding after FNAC. A bit unusual to have so much problem, but may happen.
A course of antibiotics, pressure bandage and analgesics should help.
Regards
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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