Can I get hormone receptor status through biopsy done for DCIS?

Question

Hi doctor,

I had a biopsy and I was diagnosed with DCIS. The sample was taken and the pathology report did not show any information about hormone receptor status. I was recommended for surgical excision. I did a lumpectomy and the pathology report came back with the absence of cancer. Can a biopsy sample take all the cancerous cells? How can I know my hormone receptor status?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I shall definitely resolve your concern. When there is no tumor tissue, then it is impossible to know hormone receptor status. On understanding your concern, you have undergone a breast conservative surgery, in which the surgeon has removed the tumor and a small amount of normal breast tissue around it. Lymph node removal is not always needed with BCS (breast conservation surgery), but it may be done if the doctor thinks that the area of DCIS might also contain invasive cancer. In the area of DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ), there is a presence of invasive cancer and it grows up fast with an increase in size. If BCS is done, it is usually followed by radiation therapy. It reduces the chance of recurrence of cancer coming back in the same breast. It is possible when the DCIS is done alone and when there is no invasive cancer.