Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 7/22/2010

Question
My mom is a 74 year old healthy lady, so far.
She found a lump in her left breast and some dimpling.

On consulting with a doctor here in India, she underwent a mammogram, and an ultrasound, followed by a biopsy.

The biopsy results state as follows:

Microscopic description:
sections show linear cores of tissue infiltrated by a malignant neoplasm composed of tumor cells arranged in groups, clusters, and nests. The cells have pale cytoplasm, vesicular nulcei, and prominent nucleoli. Mitosis is increased. Background shows desmoplastic stroma with mild lympho-plasma cell inflammatory infiltrate.

IMPRESSION:
Infiltrating Duct carcinoma, grade II; nottingham modification of bloom and richardson's grading system;

MY QUESTION IS:

My mom is scared and refuses to undergo surgery.

1. Will surgery involve complete removal of the left breast? Or is it only the lump?

2. If she refuses to undergo operation, what are the repurcussions? Will there be bleeding/ suffering as time goes?

3. If she does not do the operation, how long will she survive?

4. if she does go through with the operation, will she recover? How long will it take?

Thanks for taking the time to answer my queries doctor. It is something that only a doctor like yourself can do, and we are obligated to you for that.

Answer
According to her mammography & ultrasound how big is her tumor? I need to know that to be able to answer your question. The best is if you let me read the full reports of those examinations. But I can immediately tell you that it is BEST for your mother NOT to refuse surgery etc.! My experience of patients of this kind that have refused surgery is rather horrible to say the least! So try at your best ability to convince her that she MUST be treated! Her ONLY chance of recovery is by treatment! I can give you a more detailed reply with the information I have asked for!






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