Breast Cancer Questions To Ask The Doctor (cont.)
In this Article
What type of medical team do I need for the most accurate
diagnosis?
A well-coordinated team which includes input from the pathologist, surgeon, and radiologist is usually the best way to approach treatment decisions. Advice from the entire team must be available during biopsies and any tumor-clearing surgery to ensure the best chance of a favorable outcome for the patient.
How important is the role of the pathologist reading my
slides?
The pathologist evaluating the slides made from fine-needle
aspiration biopsies, core biopsies, and tissue slides of the breast
must have a great deal of experience and special training. It is
important that the pathologist reliably determine the presence or
absence of cancer and distinguish cancer from other conditions such
as hyperplasia with atypia (an overgrowth with unusual looking but benign cells).
Have my slides been reviewed by more than one
pathologist?
A review by more than one pathologist is optimal. There are many
subtleties which
can
be overlooked when reviewing microscope slides. These can lead to
both over-reading (making a false-positive diagnosis) and under-reading
(making a false-negative diagnosis). When slides are read a second
time by another pathologist followed by a discussion of the
conclusions, most
diagnostic problems are resolved.
There are almost always several pathologists
available who can review the pathology of your slides (this is termed
a "double reading"). The added safeguard of double reading may not
be
necessary in most cases of breast cancers but can be a critical
factor
in some cases.
Can I have my biopsy reviewed by a pathologist at another
diagnostic center?
It should always be possible to send slides from your biopsy to a
pathologist at another diagnostic center. First of all, there should
not be
a rush to treatment; breast cancer is almost never an emergency.
Developing the best treatment plan depends on a good, thorough
pathologic
evaluation as well as a complete workup of both breasts, as noted
above. You should discuss this with your treatment team or primary-care giver as they can help you arrange for this.
Second, good pathologists are never offended by a request for
an outside opinion. They also usually know the names of some of the
finest breast pathologists in the country and should be willing to
arrange a consultation with one of these doctors.
In most cases of breast cancer, it is not necessary to obtain this
in-depth consultation. However, if there are any unusual aspects of
your case, it can be important in your decision-making process. The
matter of obtaining additional consults may take a week or more.
Next: Is my family history relevant to my diagnosis? »
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