Is it possible to be ER+ in one breast, but have ADH in the other?

Posted by indy0311 @indy0311, Jan 23, 2023

I had lumpectomy in right breast. IDC Stage 1. During the surgery they did a biopsy on left breast and it came back with Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia in that breast. Don't know where the sample was taken from because they did reconstructive surgery on that breast and tissue got moved around. My right breast is ER+ and am on Anastrozole, which affects my thinking and ability to recall words. I know the the abnormal cells in left breast is not cancer, but that is how cancer starts. Is it possible for the hormone receptors to be diff in left breast than in right, so in other words if it is, Anastrozole wouldn't necessarily stop that. Does anyone know if the receptors are bilateral or can you have different ones in each?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

jaynep | @jaynep | Jan 24, 2023

I don’t know the answer to your question but I, too, have had difficulty recalling a word and was really freaked out! This makes me feel better, so thank you. I hope all goes well for you. You’ll be in my prayers.

resort | @resort | Jan 24, 2023

If your left breast is high risk benign, why don’t you just remove it thus not to worry. I just had mastectomy on my right breast because it’s IDC. My left had a high risk benign tumor so my surgeon also took the tumor out on my left breast and no further treatment needed for it. Good luck to you!

indy0311 | @indy0311 | Jan 26, 2023

In reply to @resort "If your left breast is high risk benign, why don’t you just remove it thus not..." + (show)

They learned about the other breast AFTER surgery in my right. When doing the reduction and lumpectomy, they sent a biopsy from left breast to pathology and it came back a week later with atypical ductal hyperplasia. It’s not cancer and they don’t know if it will progress to cancer so they will only monitor via mammogram.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Feb 8, 2023

In reply to @indy0311 "They learned about the other breast AFTER surgery in my right. When doing the reduction and..." + (show)

Hi @indy0311, yes it is possible to have 2 different types of breast cancer. See this related discussion:
- Anyone else diagnosed with IDC & ILC, at the same time? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anyone-else-diagnosed-with-idc-ilc-at-the-same-time/

You can also learn more from fellow members who have been diagnosed with atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) in this discussion:
- Anyone dealing with Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia (ADH)?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anyone-dealing-with-atypical-ductal-hyperplasia-adh/