Vascular invasion

cats_purr · New User Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Virginia

My pathology report said I have vascular invasion. I am node negative, ER/PR - and HER/neu -. The tumor was about 1 cm.

I am worried about the "vasuclar invasion". What does this mean for my prognosis? I have read a lot of differing opinions on the net.

I am meeting with an oncologist next week to get started on chemo and rads, but want to know if anyone out there knows about this.

Thanks.

"Worried in VA"
_________________
Age 47, postmeno
9 mm Mixed IDC/ILC Dx 3/21/06
Lumpectomy 5/12/06
Stage 1, ER/PR - , HER/neu -
Not sure what treatment yet

AlaskaAngel · Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 3:39 pm Post subject: Re: Vascular invasion

Being close to 1 cm can be sort of a blessing or a curse, because it is usually the cutoff point for adding chemo to treatment. You probaby already have this link that shows what the standard breast cancer treatments are but I'll put it here just in case:

http://www.nccn.org/patients/patient_gls/_english/_breast/3_work-up.asp

My personal interpretation is that LVI is a significant factor and particularly for those who are ER/PR negative, and would mean being more aggressive with treatment.

AlaskaAngel
_________________
Dx Dec 2001 at age 50
Lumpectomy Jan 2002, 1.6 cm IDC plus some DCIS
Node neg
ER+, PR+, HER2+++
CAF x 6, 35 rads+boost
NED
Tamoxfen 1 3/4 yrs
In 2 clinical trials
bc for mom and 1 sis and 1 aunt and 1 granny
ovarian cancer for 1 aunt

bethanyaok · Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 9:45 pm Post subject: Re: Vascular invasion

Hi! Sorry you have to join the club no one wants to join Sad

Here's my story. I was diagnosed with:

Stage 1,
1.8 cm IDC & DCIS,
0 nodes,
ER/PR +,
and lymphatic invasion.

My cancer was grade 2 (not slow-growing, not fast growing either). I spoke with 2 oncologists, and both felt that chemo was indicated for 3 reasons
1) my age (39)
2) tumor size (between 1 and 2 cm is a grey area for chemo)
3) lymphatic invasion

If a cancer cell had gotten into the lymph stream (or in your case the blood stream) it could have travelled to a distant area in the body. Since radiation and surgery only treat the cancer locally, and systemic treatment like chemo was recommended. Since you are ER/PR negative you would not have any benefit from systemic hormone treatments like tamoxifen. And since you are HER2 negative you would not be helped by systemic treatment with herceptin.

So, I am guessing your doctor's recommendations for treatment will depend on a few factors
1) how aggressive is the cancer , what grade?
2) your age (altho with ER/PR - that may not be a big factor
3) the vascular invasion
4) how aggressively you want to treat the cancer

Because you're in the grey zone, you might want to get two opinions from oncologists. And if possible have one opinion be from an oncologist who specializes in breast cancer.

In my personal (not professional) opinion, it's best to treat the cancer more aggressively at the time of original diagnosis rather than waiting to see if it returns and then treating it aggressively. I can only speak from my experience, but I have no regrets about the decision to have chemo. I did not have a lot of horrible side effects from the chemo. I actually looked kinda cute bald!!! Wink

It wasn't fun, but it was doable. The chemo did not put me into menopause (that can be either good or bad....) And here I am six years later, and there has been no more evidence of cancer to date! That's the best part!

Good luck with your appts and decision making. You're actually going through one of the toughest parts of the cancer process now...the uncertainty of not having a treatment plan. Soon you will have all the info you need and a decision will be made! Take care, let us know what happens, and please let me know if I can answer any questions for you!
_________________
Bethany
breast cancer dx 4/17/00
4 AC, 28 rads, tamoxifen
7 years NED, and counting!
BRCA2+ 2/1/07

Lost Dad to Lung Cancer June '05

Cindy · Senior User Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 171

Hi cats. Just popped in, saw your post and wanted to let you know that my pathology was VERY poor. I had extensive angiolymphatic invasion (vascular and lymphatic invasion) as well as a tumor that was between 3 & 5 centimeters. They couldn't get an exact measurement due to the invasion. I also had 3 lymphnodes positive and negative receptors...plus grade 3 aggressive. That was 4 years ago and I am doing fine, with no recurrence. I worried in the beginning and then I just started doing a lot of research into things that could help, since there was no more treatment for me after chemo and rads. I supplement. Also, it has been learned that people who eat lo-carb diets have less chance for recurrence. My thinking is that this is due to a couple of reasons: one, cancer's fuel of choice is glucose. With lo-carb diet (consuming only complex carbs and not simple carbs), your insulin levels mellow out, causing the body not to over-produce glucose. If the cancer doesn't have it's fuel...it can't survive; two, when your insulin levels are mellowed out, your blood chemistry changes for the better. A whole host of diseases can be prevented. I now supplement was well as eat lo-carb. My blood pressure, which had gotten up to 170/100, is now down to 117/73, at last check. I have to admit, that my insides feel a whole lot cleaner/better. Feels like the "cobwebs" are gone, if that makes any sense. Keep us posted as to what happed with your onc consult. I'll check back soon. Take care of you.
_________________
Where is the cure???
www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org
www.diepbreastreconstruction.org
www.mybreastcancerstore.com
www.habierose.com

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