Hi Joan - Unless the tumor was attached to the chest wall, or to your skin, then the first place the cells would migrate wouldn't be to your chest. Breast cancer cells would migrate to the lymph nodes under your arm - is this what you meant by "samples"? Your lymph nodes?

If you're talking about samples of breast tissue from your breast containing cancer cells, then chances are they've removed them all. If you have radiation or chemo, then that will work to kill as many remaining cells as possible. There's always a SLIGHT chance you can end up with cancer in the tiny bit of remaining breast tissue you have - around your incision, for instance - but this is rare.

Hope this helps - good luck to you. And stay in touch here - we can help. PJH

Joan

8/12/09 4:09pm

The cells were found in the breast tissue, at the time of the biopsy.There were 8 samples taken duing the biopsy, at random areas..all showing cancer cells..Part of my chest wall was removed at the time of the mastectoomy on the 4th of Aug...The path report, showed, no cells in the lympth nodes...at the time of the mastectomy...I also had breast cancer in 1997, and had a left breast mastectomy at that time..I was told it was a Estrogen Fed tumor..Is the newest cancer (IDC) different than that cancer? I was on Tomoxifin for 6 years following that surgery...and that is what my surgeon has mentioned he will have me on this time as well.

Thanks again,

Joan

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

8/12/09 4:57pm

Joan, it's good there's no cancer in your lymph nodes! Your cancer may or may not be estrogen-responsive; the pathology report tells you that. If it is, you'll take either tamoxifen if you're pre-menopausal; or an aromatase inhibitor if you're post-menopausal. IDC hasn't changed since 1997; it's the most common type of breast cancer, and as far as I know, always has been. Good luck - PJH