This is a process that uses antibodies to detect certain proteins within the sample of tissue. An antibody treatment called Herceptin has been developed to treat early HER2-positive breast cancer.īreast cancers are all tested for HER2 expression using immunohistochemistry (IHC). These are called HER2-positive cancers, and they have an aggressive growth pattern and a higher risk of recurrence compared to HER2-negative cancers. In approximately 25% of breast cancers there are too many of these proteins, which contribute to the breast cancer cells growing and dividing more rapidly. HER2 receptors or proteins are present in all breast cells and they help control how healthy breasts grow. If these are present the cancer cells are described as ER and/or PR positive, indicating that hormone-blocking therapy may be effective in reducing cancer recurrence. Two-thirds of breast cancers have hormone receptor proteins on their surface which bind to oestrogen and/or progesterone, receiving signals that help them to grow. These receptors indicate whether the cancer is likely to respond to hormone blocking therapy. Regardless of the type of breast cancer, tests will be performed on the tumour to establish whether the cells are under the influence of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, or of HER2 (Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2).ĮR & PR (oestrogen and progesterone receptors) This will tell you how many lymph nodes were removed during surgery and whether any of them contain cancer cells. or Grade 3 (high grade, poorly differentiated/undifferentiated, fast growing)ĭCIS is classified separately, as either low, intermediate or high grade.Grade 2 (intermediate grade, moderately differentiated, faster growing).Grade 1 (low grade, well differentiated, slow growing),.This tells you how abnormal the cells are and how rapidly they are dividing. If there is more than one tumour in the breast it will be described as either multi-focal (tumours confined to one quarter of the breast) or multicentric (tumours in different quarters of the breast). In-situ disease is called ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS). Invasive cancer can be classified as ductal, lobular or another special type. This will tell you whether it is invasive/infiltrating (has spread outside the breast ducts into normal breast tissue) or in-situ (still contained within the breast ducts). This is a description and measurement of the surgical specimen when viewed under the microscope. This is a description and measurement of the removed part of your breast (surgical specimen) as seen without a microscope. Your pathology report will contain the following information: The pathologist will compile a report of the findings and your breast specialist will discuss the results with you.
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