Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 6/28/2005

Question
Hi- Yes it is METAPLASTIC- just like it sounds. Not Metastatic-which is what i thought in the begining. The oncoligist told us she has only treated one other person in +20 years. It is very rare i guess.  Metaplastic invasive carcinoma breast ccancer. it has spread to one lymph node and three spots on the left lung. she has a PET scan scheduled next week. Thank you for any information.

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Followup To
Question -
we have been told it is cery rare and they are not sure what effect chemotherapy will have?  we cannot find any information on this type of cancer.  thank you fir your assistance
Answer -
To be able to answer your question - I'm not sure I have interpreted it correctly (metaplastic? or metastatic?) - I have to ask you to give me more information. Give me everything you know or can find out please and I will try to help you to the best of my ability!


Answer
Well, so I'm on even more uncertain ground than her dr.! I have searched my memory but I can not remember a single case from my practice in over 35 years! Metaplasia in this case means that the glandulal epithelium (the lining) of the part of her breast gland that has become cancerous initially has changed into a stratified epithelium (= more skin like). It has then turned into a cancer.This would mean that it locally under a microscope would look moore like a skin cancer than a breast cancer - but given the fact where from it has been taken it still must be a breast cancer. I'm sorry, I have no personal experience of this and since these tumours are very rare I sincerely doubt that anyone anywhere has any good experience material to use in order to evaluate treatments.
I'm sorry I can not be of better help!