Close Margins

My pathology report states resection margins of invasive tumour: negative. grossly and microscopically however tumour lies within 0.1 cm of superiour deep and superficial margins. Does anyone know if this means my margins were clear or not and after having chemo twice and radiation 25 times do I have and chance or reaccurance my receptors are negative and her-2 is also negative?

I don't know the answer to your question, but my webpage www.cancer-websites.com/breast has links to many breast cancer websites where you may find some answers. Regards, Ed.

Hi, my pathologist report stated that my margins 'could not be considered to be clear', and the margin was close to the surface. My oncologist and radiologist told me this means there is a high chance of microscopic disease, and higher risk of reoccurence of 75-80% in the left side (had a mastectomy). Because of this, I have to have radiation (which I am waiting for) to the chest, axilla and clavicle. I was told the radiation will not prevent a reoccurence due to being so high-risk, but it will minimize the chance to about 35%. I had lymph node involvement and am age 45 at time of diagnosis. Your age, 45 and under, lymph node involvement, grade of tumour and margins when added up decide your risk factor, and chances of reoccurence. All factors combined make me a high risk for reoccurence. Hope this helps, but maybe you can ask your doctors...I did! Good Luck.

Josie H.

After my lumptectomy, my surgeon said that two areas of my tumor had close margins. There was definitely good tissue but not as much as he thought was medically advisable. I had a second surgery two weeks later to redo the questionable margins. He made me believe that this was a normally acceptable practice (he is with a major cancer center hospital). I still needed chemo and radiation but I feel all the treatments together have given me a greater prognosis. Many other women told me their margins needed to be redone also. Talk to your surgeon.
Linda