Understanding my pathology report: I need urgent advice

doctor want to give 3 doses chemical then make surgery then another 3 doses ??

Hi @pisces85, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can imagine that all of this information is hard to understand, and is emotionally very upsetting. We're glad that you've joined the breast cancer group for support. Connect members are patients, like you. We are not doctors.

This article from the American Cancer Society helps explain pathology reports for breast cancer: http://bit.ly/2zppVLW Everyone's pathology report is different. Yours is unique to you. Have you reviewed the details of your report with your doctor?

Getting chemotherapy before surgery is called neoadjuvant treatment. It is used to help shrink the tumor before surgery. You can read more here: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy-for-breast-cancer.html The ACS article explains:
"Neoadjuvant chemo can be used to try to shrink the tumor so it can be removed with less extensive surgery. Because of this, neoadjuvant chemo is often used to treat cancers that are too big to be removed by surgery at the time of diagnosis (called locally advanced cancers). Also, by giving chemo before the tumor is removed, doctors can better see how the cancer responds to it. If the first set of chemo drugs doesn’t shrink the tumor, your doctor will know that other drugs are needed.It should also kill any cancer cells that have spread but can't be seen. Just like adjuvant chemo, neoadjuvant chemo can lower the risk of breast cancer coming back."

Zayd, do you know what type of chemotherapy drug or combination you will be getting?

Dear pisces85. When you are first diagnosed it is very stressful and hard to understand all the terms and treatments. I wish you the very best luck in your journey. This support site has been extremely helpful for me because outside of your doctors, having others traveling the same path is comforting and helpful. I am not familiar with your particular cancer type so unfortunately I can't help you here but there will be others in the group who may be able to support you. AND..THANK YOU collenyoung for the link to the pathology report. I messed around the internet a lot when I got my diagnosis and wanted to understand all of the pathology....it took me a long time and I didn't get anywhere near as clear an explanation as what this link has. Appreciate you posting the link.

You have triple negative infiltrating ductal carcinoma, grade three. There must be some reason why he wants chemo before and after surgery. Trust him, ask questions, take notes. Just reading a pathology report can really be confusing to the lay person. Wishing you well on your journey.

Why not get a 2nd opinion, you will feel better and more confident on the treatment plan. Ask doctor 'why' to any of your questions, and if you do not feel comfortable with the Dr., seek a 2nd or 3rd opinion . Do harm to be sure of your treatment plan.

Dear Zayd, I hope you are well and your Treatments was successful! Sorry for bothering you, but the boyfriend of a friend of mine is currently in Egypt and told her his egyptian mother has a cancer by sending her a pathology Report looking ecactly like yours with the same signature. Could you Tell me in which Hospital or at Least in which country your report was Done?

The initial diagnosis of cancer is very stressful and everyone is unique. The following American Cancer web site has some excellent questions to ask your doctor to help understand your cancer and what treatment plan is recommended.

Laurie M