What happens next if the pathological report shows that the tumor is cancerous?

Will my scar be red and swollen?

Probably you will see a slight redness and swelling along the incision or find a small amount of pink draining from the scar area. These symptoms are normal. If there is a lot of redness and swelling or pus around the area or if you have heavy bleeding, call the doctor right away. Your scar will be red for a while but will soon fade in color.

What if when I ask for a separate procedure for the biopsy, the doctor says that I will be doubling my risk of undergoing general anesthesia twice? 

Your doctor, if he uses this argument, has overlooked the fact that a general anesthetic is not usually needed for a biopsy. In most cases, a biopsy can be performed under local anesthesia, with the patient fully conscious or, if she prefers, semiconscious. Most biopsies are now performed on an outpatient basis.

What happens next if the pathological report shows that the tumor is cancerous? 

Eight out of ten times, the lump will prove to be benign, but if the report shows the tumor to be cancerous, the next step will be for you to have a metastatic examination or workup. The workup may involve bone and sometimes liver scans to see if the cancer has spread. In addition, a chest x-ray, blood studies, and mammogram all of which have probably already been done will be part of the decisionmaking process before the treatment is decided upon.

I am about to go into the hospital for a biopsy for a lump in my breast. I am very depressed. Is it normal for me to feel this way? 

It is not unusual for women who are about to have a breast biopsy, and possibly face having breast cancer, to be very distressed. Studies show that women, particularly those who have had a friend or relative with cancer and are now facing that possibility themselves, tend to be depressed. On the other hand, there are some women who are optimistic in this situation, either feeling that the lump will be benign or that their doctor will be able to take care of it. It is important, if you can, to discuss how you feel with someone. Some people find it easy to talk with their husbands or their mothers, sisters, or close friends. Others feel more at ease talking with someone who is not close to them such as one of the members of the hospital team. If you are in the hospital and feel you need this kind of discussion, ask for a cancer nurse, a doctor, social service worker, or the chaplain. There is also a toll free cancer information service where trained volunteers can help answer your questions and discuss alternative kinds of treatment with you.

How does the doctor classify the stages of breast cancer when it is found? 

Staging will usually include three sets of letters and numbers. The first two in the classification column grade the tumor size, the second two indicate the nodal involvement, and the third pair relate to whether or not the tumor has metastasized.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Where does Melanoma most often metastasize?

Image
What is malignant melanoma? Malignant melanoma is a less common form of skin cancer . When diagnosed early, it is easily cured. But if it is not found soon enough, it can be very difficult to treat. It is dangerous because, unlike the other skin cancers, it mestastasizes early and spreads quickly. It is one of the more uncontrollable cancers. The cell involved is the melanocyte, the cell which produces melanin, the dark protective pigment of the skin . What is the difference between an ordinary mole and melanoma? An ordinary mole is evenly colored, and either brown, tan or black. It may be flat or raised. It is round or oval and its edges are sharply defined. An ordinary mole is usually less than 6 millimeters in diameter about the size of a pencil eraser. Ordinary moles may be present at birth. Sometimes several appear at the same time, usually on areas of the skin which have been exposed to the sun. Once the mole develops, it usually stays the same size, shape and color for ma...
Read more

Oral(Mouth) Cancer: Symptoms, Bleeding, Treatment and Diagnose

Image
What kinds of cancers are found in the mouth? The cancers of the mouth (oral cavity) include the lip, tongue, floor of the mouth, cheeks (buccal mucosa), and gums (gingivae). Who is at high risk to get cancer of the mouth? This cancer is predominantly found in men between the ages of 60 and 70. People who are heavy smokers (more than a pack a day), drink alcohol heavily, are over 45, and have a family history of this kind of cancer are at a higher risk to develop cancers of the oral cavity, the mouth, and the throat. Is cancer of the mouth easy to detect? Yes, it is usually discovered early, since it can be seen easily. White patches ( leukoplakia ), velvety red spots (erythroplasia), or dark patches are symptoms which should be seen by a doctor, who will do a biopsy of them. Many cancers of the mouth are first discovered by dentists. What are the symptoms of oral cancer? The warning signs of oral cancer are as follows: • A lump in the cheek that can be felt with the ...
Read more

Ejaculation and sexual life problems after prostate surgery

Image
Yes. After prostatectomy , the ability to ejaculate through the penis is lost. What happens is that ejaculation occurs but it is directed backward into the bladder , rather than forward through the urethra. The semen remains in the bladder until urination, and is carried out via that route. The man who ejaculates in this manner has the very same sensations during sex that he had before except that there is no discharge through the penis. Can a total prostatectomy be done without impairing the ability to have an erection?  Dr. Patrick C. Walsh, a surgeon at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, has developed a way of removing the prostate which preserves potency by bypassing the intricate nerve branches of the pelvic plexus. This technique is now being adopted by many surgeons for patients with early stage prostate cancer. Until the advent of this type of surgery, 90 percent of those having prostatectomies lost their sexual ability, and 2 to 5 percent becam...
Read more

How to know if your ankle is broken? How is a broken ankle treated?

Image
Fractures of the Ankle How do ankle fractures occur?  Ankle fractures are caused by a forceful and excessive twisting of the ankle , either in or out. The twist comes from stumbling, catching the foot in a crevice, or falling, in which the weight of the body is unevenly distributed. Many skiers suffer fractured ankles, and some of the best treatments have been evolved by surgeons practicing near ski slopes. The stress and strain factors in the ankle are so uniform that the pattern of the injury, dislocation and deformity is specific. Many varieties of ankle fractures are grouped together under the name of Pott's fracture. What shall I do, Doctor? I'm at a gas station phone and my wife just fell down and twisted her ankle.  If it is painful and she can't walk, it may be a fracture. Don't manipulate it, don't pull it. Just wrap a towel or pillow around it and take her to a hospital for an X ray. It is best if she does not walk. You can carry her in a chair. ...
Read more

How painful is a bone marrow transplant for the donor

Image
What is a bone marrow transplant?  Bone marrow transplantation is an approach used over the past 10 years for the treatment of acute leukemia and lymphoma. It is a complex procedure and should be undertaken only by physicians with the experience and resources needed to get the best results. When is a bone marrow transplant used?  It may be used in some cases of several types of diseases aplastic anemia (when patients do not have enough red cells to carry oxygen, enough white cells to fight bacteria, or enough platelets to help clotting), in some types of acute and chronic leukemia, for some lymphomas, for severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome, and for certain inherited blood disorders such as thalassemia. A bone marrow transplant replaces a patient's abnormal or diseased marrow with healthy marrow from a donor. Can any leukemia patient undergo a bone marrow transplantation?  No. When patients and doctors consider the possibility of treatment with a bone marr...
Read more

What are the most important side effects of taking female hormones?

Image
Would the doctor prescribe estrogen if my ovaries were removed because of cancer?  No. If there is any sign of a cancerous condition, estrogen would probably not be prescribed.  What is the estrogen controversy?  Estrogen is a female hormone produced by the ovaries. Scientists have also developed chemical estrogen. Both regulate the development of female sexual characteristics. For a number of years, estrogens have been prescribed for women during and after menopause to make up for the decline in this hormone normally produced by the ovaries. Estrogen has been found helpful in relieving symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, in overcoming drying of vaginal tissues and in retarding osteoporosis (thinning of bones). However, the use of estrogen during and after menopause has been linked to an increase in endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus), and it may be linked to other cancers as well. At this time,scientists do not agree a...
Read more

What is the symptoms of a head concussion? Is concussion a brain injury?

Image
Head Injuries The brain is man's most vital possession. Recent details about organ transplants have centered on the definition of death. These discussions have emphasized that, even though the heart may continue to beat, the individual is considered dead if there is no brain activity. Nature provides a thick scalp and skull to protect the brain and further encloses it in envelopes called the meninges. Some injuries to the head may be trivial, others may be fatal. The surgeon who is called upon to evaluate the patient with a head injury tackles the problem from within out. Damage to the brain and its envelope is most important; injury to the skull is of concern in only some instances. Bleeding from the scalp is the most apparent manifestation of injury but is the least important. Survival and the late effects of a head injury depend on the extent of the injury to the brain and not to its coverings. The best possible supportive medical crre is provided to those who will reco...
Read more

How is a broken or cracked rib treated?

Image
Chest Injuries The chest consists of the bony thorax and the organs that lie within it. The thorax comprises twelve ribs on each side of the chest, each of which attaches to the bony spine in the back and to the chest bone ( sternum ) in front. Each chest cavity has a smooth delicate lining ( pleura ) within which the lung rhythmically expands and deflates. The diaphragm is the dome shaped muscle that seals off the lower end of the chest from the abdomen. Its upand down motion provides the bellows action for the expansion of the lungs that fills them with air. The function of the lungs is to provide ventilation. Air is moved in to provide oxygen, and carbon dioxide is moved out as a waste product. The heart is in its own envelope in the center of the chest, behind the breastbone. The heart functions solely as a pump. It circulates the blood into the lung for oxygenation and delivers oxygenated blood to the entire body. The chest also harbors the large blood vessels and the br...
Read more

The most important difference between Hodgkin's disease and non-hodgkin's lymphoma

Image
Hodgkin's Disease and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma What are lymphomas? Lymphomas are cancers that affect the white blood cells of the immune system. They are characterized by the abnormal growth of lymphocytes, the infection fighting cells in the lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus. The tonsils, stomach, small intestine, and skin may also be affected. Lymphomas are usually classified as Hodgkin's disease, the most common form, or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. There are also other rare forms of the disease, such as mycosis fungoides, a primary skin lymphoma. Burkitt's lymphoma , rare in most of the world, is the most common childhood cancer in central Africa and is one of the fastest growing human cancers. What is the role of the lymph system in the body?  The lymph system is made up of nodes and thin walled tubelike veins along which the nodes lie. Its job is to help fight diseases and infection, and it serves as part of the body's drainage system. Lymph nodes are ...
Read more

Common Hand Injuries: Treatment for swollen hand due to injury

Image
Hand Injuries Most of us earn our living with our hands. The goal of the treatment of hand injuries is maximum preservation of function. In terms of possible permanent disability, there is no minor surgery in this area. The magnitude of the problem is apparent in the frequency with which it appears in the statistics of the Workmen's Compensation Board and insurance companies. The best treatment is prevention. One must be constantly alert to the possibility of punctures, door slams, burns, pressure injuries, and the perverse potential of certain mechanical tools. Failing this, early treatment to prevent infection is best. There are relatively clearly defined methods of managing various types of injury. The patient can describe the site of the injury by indicating its relation to the various creases in the palm or to the knuckles and nails on the back of the hand. Physicians can treat all hand and finger injuries under some form of nerve blocking anesthesia, so the patient feels...
Read more