Ok I might be opening a can of worms here but I am wondering what other people think.... When I was first diagnosed with my first case of breast cancer (yes I've had two) in 2003 I had to have the normal core biopsy and various tests etc. I remember lying on the table, face down with my boob pushed through a hole on the table while they "staple gunned" me (at least that's what the core biopsy felt like!!) and remember asking the technician who was doing the biopsy "Surely when you take a biopsy of an area that is supposedly contained, you are allowing the cancer cells to escape and potentially travel around the body?". I got a bit of silence and then she said that there was a bit of uncertainty whether this actually happens! Some say that the cancer cells are potentially released and that the core biopsy shouldn't really be done and others say that the risks of the core biopsy are outweighed by the confirmation that they get about the cancer etc. In my case (in 2003) I had a lot of DCIS. It showed on the mammogram as a 6cm area and in fact, when I had the mastectomy, it was actually a 9cm area. In view of this, it was highly unlikely that they were going to do anything other than a mastectomy anyway, so why did I have a core biopsy? I guess I am wondering now whether the core biopsy had anything to do with the second lot of breast cancer that I had in 2010? I was told that it was a new cancer and not secondary to the old one but?????? Anyone got any thoughts about this? Louise

I hear what you are saying and I too worried about cancer spreading after a biopsy.Doctors weren't concerned at all. I've done alot of reading/research and here is my take - whenever you have trauma to tissue,blood rushes in with extra platlets to make the area "sticky"to stop the bleeding.I like to think that the little hole punched into the tumour got "plugged"up quickly. I've read up about angiogenesis and unless the tumour has started creating it's own blood vessels then it's not likely to spread.Check your pathology because that is something they look for.You might want to google "angiogenesis". I know we can never be 100% sure that the biopsy was safe but I'm ok about it now. Hope you are travelling well now Louise. I'm off to Melbourne next month to do the bcna community liaison training. love Tonya xx

It is definately food for thought. My thoughts are if the second diagnosis was a primary cancer then of course it stands to reason that it is new not from a preexisting diagnosis. My second diagnosis was in my axilla - same breast as the first diagnosis. Only one lymph node was removed as this was the identified tumour (the lymph nodes was full of tumour and had exploded) My "condition" is classed as metatastic cancer in the lymph nodes. I had no tumours identified anywhere else back in 2010 when the second diagnosis occurred or since. The type of bc was exactly the same as the first diagnosis in 2006 (Hormone receptive) so I beg to differ that this lymph node was missed at the first diagnosis and not a secondary condition. Leaves me wondering all the time but who am I - just a mere ordinary person who keeps sailing along in life. XLeonie

It makes you wonder how closely our pathology is looked at. I had supposedly, clear margins after my lumpectomy in 2003 but back it came,7 years later. My second operation was at a different hospital and my pathology report was much more indepth than the first - basically the same cancer though. It seems logical Leonie that the cancer cell just lingered in your node for 4 years if mine can hang around for 7. Did you just have the sentinal node removed in 2006? Because there is a 5% chance that a cancer cell can skip that one and be in another.We always seem to be in the unlucky minority! Tonya xx

They didn't know about Sentinel node removal up here when I was first diagnosed. I had 10 nodes removed. I had the top surgeon however he was at his "Use By Date". Just after my diagnosis, he closed his practice and went overseas with his nurse wife doing charity work. He was literally burnt out so.......... who knows!!!???? I am now in the lucky minority - going to be Cancer Free for the rest of my life!!!!!!!! XLeonie PS You will enjoy the CLO training. With a bit of luck you will be with a great group of women. From our group of August 2010, there is about 10 of us who keep in contact.(5 of us just recently holidayed in Bendigo together)

Can of worms? | BCNA Online Network

FD
Member
13 years ago
Hi Louise I too asked if spread was possible. I was deeply concerned as I had a core biopsy first when they took 9 samples then two weeks later had to have a vacuum assisted core biopsy where they took a further 6 samples. Two weeks after that I had to have a diagnostic biopsy. Two weeks after that I finally got the bilateral mastectomy I had been requesting from the get go. I asked three surgeons if spread was possible one said no two said unlikely. Although one that said unlikely didn't want me to wait any longer for the mastectomy. In his words if it is invasive a week is too long to wait as it may spread. I only had DCIS. I say crapola and I have read on a site where it has said if a core biopsy is performed on DCIS a mastectomy should be recommended over a lumpectomy for this exact reason. My pathology reports after mastectomy and diagnostic biopsy both report evidence of where the samples were taken in form of extensive damage. I think it is important to have copies of your reports especially if you have children. Might help them later in life if they unfortunately are diagnosed with breast, ovarian or prostate cancer. Speak to your GP they should have copies of all. I was never offered copies and was worried about askiing. As soon as I did ask I realised it was no problem at all and was given copies of all. I say your body your right. Lara xx
Leonie_Moore
Member
13 years ago
I was very naughty and got rid of my first lot of path results. I was over it. Now I have some more. I seem to have a never ending flow of paperwork re medical stuff. XLeonie
Leonie_Moore
Member
13 years ago
I was very naughty and got rid of my first lot of path results. I was over it. Now I have some more. I seem to have a never ending flow of paperwork re medical stuff. XLeonie
TonyaM
Member
13 years ago
I think it's a good idea to have a copy of pathology for both cancers.Your surgeon and your oncologist and probably your referring gp would all have copies.Hey,I've got a thick medical file on myself at home!!

Tonya xx
louiseg
Member
13 years ago
Hi Ladies,

I don't have a copy of any pathology results....these were kept by my surgeon. Is it a good idea to have a copy?

Louise
louiseg
Member
13 years ago
Hi Ladies,

I don't have a copy of any pathology results....these were kept by my surgeon. Is it a good idea to have a copy?

Louise
Leonie_Moore
Member
13 years ago
They didn't know about Sentinel node removal up here when I was first diagnosed. I had 10 nodes removed. I had the top surgeon however he was at his "Use By Date". Just after my diagnosis, he closed his practice and went overseas with his nurse wife doing charity work. He was literally burnt out so.......... who knows!!!???? I am now in the lucky minority - going to be Cancer Free for the rest of my life!!!!!!!! XLeonie PS You will enjoy the CLO training. With a bit of luck you will be with a great group of women. From our group of August 2010, there is about 10 of us who keep in contact.(5 of us just recently holidayed in Bendigo together)
TonyaM
Member
13 years ago
It makes you wonder how closely our pathology is looked at. I had supposedly, clear margins after my lumpectomy in 2003 but back it came,7 years later. My second operation was at a different hospital and my pathology report was much more indepth than the first - basically the same cancer though. It seems logical Leonie that the cancer cell just lingered in your node for 4 years if mine can hang around for 7. Did you just have the sentinal node removed in 2006? Because there is a 5% chance that a cancer cell can skip that one and be in another.We always seem to be in the unlucky minority!

Tonya xx
Leonie_Moore
Member
13 years ago
It is definately food for thought. My thoughts are if the second diagnosis was a primary cancer then of course it stands to reason that it is new not from a preexisting diagnosis. My second diagnosis was in my axilla - same breast as the first diagnosis. Only one lymph node was removed as this was the identified tumour (the lymph nodes was full of tumour and had exploded) My "condition" is classed as metatastic cancer in the lymph nodes. I had no tumours identified anywhere else back in 2010 when the second diagnosis occurred or since. The type of bc was exactly the same as the first diagnosis in 2006 (Hormone receptive) so I beg to differ that this lymph node was missed at the first diagnosis and not a secondary condition. Leaves me wondering all the time but who am I - just a mere ordinary person who keeps sailing along in life. XLeonie
Leonie_Moore
Member
13 years ago
It is definately food for thought. My thoughts are if the second diagnosis was a primary cancer then of course it stands to reason that it is new not from a preexisting diagnosis. My second diagnosis was in my axilla - same breast as the first diagnosis. Only one lymph node was removed as this was the identified tumour (the lymph nodes was full of tumour and had exploded) My "condition" is classed as metatastic cancer in the lymph nodes. I had no tumours identified anywhere else back in 2010 when the second diagnosis occurred or since. The type of bc was exactly the same as the first diagnosis in 2006 (Hormone receptive) so I beg to differ that this lymph node was missed at the first diagnosis and not a secondary condition. Leaves me wondering all the time but who am I - just a mere ordinary person who keeps sailing along in life. XLeonie