Will a new biopsy change my breast cancer diagnosis?

The stage is determined by the size of the tumor.

Ok ty

Debbie just to let you know i confirmed with my physician about tumor size for staging and she told me with no uncertainty that breast cancer is not staged by tumor size.

I should have expressed my answer based on my experience. I am HR+ HER2- Staging could not be determined until the lumpectomy was done and the tumor measured. Originally, Based on imaging it was viewed to be 1 (? Unit of measure). The tumor was initially thought to be small so possibly stage 1 but could not be confirmed until removed. Once removed it was 3 unit of measure. Therefore it was determined officially stage 3. I had radiation and a clear mammogram 9 months later. 6 weeks after the mammogram my BC had metastasized to my bone and lungs. So it is called mBC and not stage 4. I apologize for giving any wrong information. All I can do is share my experience. I wish you well.

Ty Debbie. So sorry to hear that about your diagnosis. God be with you on this journey. I wish you the best from the bottom of my heart.

I disagree about tumor staging and size. I was initially staged 1 but after lumpectomy was staged to 3a due to the tumors size and growth rate (5.1 cm and 37%). Also, ER+ and PR+. Look at the website https://www.nccn.org/

Ty i registered.

Update. Not only DCIS LEFT BREAST, DCIS RIGHT BREAST ALSO. I was told by my breast surgeon that I have busy breast( masses,lesions and alot of calcifications in both breast. Im upset right now because i was given 2 options for treatment. 1 hormonal therapy,followup every 6 months. 2 mastectomy smh I chose mastectomy because I didn't want to be sitting and wondering if it has spread on that 6 month followup. Now the reason I'm upset NCCN HAD 4 OPTIONSfor my type of BC. My surgeon never offered me those 3 options. I'm so upset right now that I can't even remember the damn options. Im going to post this 1st and will post the 4 options in 5 min. How could she do that. Im definitely calling her tues 5/27 morning bright and early. Somebody has some explaining to do. Smh

Hi Karen. Breast conserving therapy is also based on how large the lumpectomy needs to be. Although your path is DCIS, if it’s extensive and they don’t think they will get clear margins with a lumpectomy, then mastectomy would be the surgery to do.

Very confused. Is Breast-conserving surgery a lumpectomy?

Hey Wendy. I dont really understand the margin thing either

Yes. Breast conserving is lumpectomy. The goal of surgery is to get all the disease out and also with an acceptable cosmetic appearance. If you have pretty diffuse DCIS in multiple locations in breast then a lumpectomy likely wouldn’t work.

The margin is the edge of the surgical specimen…you want to remove all the disease with leaving a little normal tissue along the edge. If pathology shows disease up to the edge you have a “positive margin” and likely residual disease in breast.

Ty Wendy. I understand now.

Good luck with it all Karen. It’s all really overwhelming. I hope whatever you decide goes well.

Ty Wendy Scheduled bilateral DMX 6/11

New biopsies can definitely provide updated information that may change staging or diagnosis details, especially when additional suspicious areas are discovered. It sounds incredibly frustrating to deal with discrepancies between imaging facilities, but having a thorough surgeon who's advocating for the best possible outcome while considering other health conditions is really valuable. The medical team will be able to provide clearer answers about staging once all the biopsy results are in and can be reviewed together. This community understands how overwhelming it can feel when test results don't align - sharing experiences and questions here can be really helpful during this uncertain time.