biopsy unconclusive

worriedmom · Regular Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 41 Location: arizona

my son, age 32 had a biopsy taken from a mass in the chest cavity( it is the size of a soft ball) 3 weeks ago . the pathologist needed more slides and today the nurse called and said the doctor needs to talk to us. the nurse said the pathologist report was unconclusive. the doctor seemed almost sure my son has lymphoma. what does this mean?

brainman · Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:57 pm Post subject: Re: biopsy unconclusive

[quote="worriedmom"]my son, age 32 had a biopsy taken from a mass in the chest cavity( it is the size of a soft ball) 3 weeks ago . the pathologist needed more slides and today the nurse called and said the doctor needs to talk to us. the nurse said the pathologist report was unconclusive. the doctor seemed almost sure my son has lymphoma. what does this mean?[/quote]

Hi, I don’t quit understand your question. Are you asking what “unconclusive” means? Or are you asking what does it mean when the doctor can be so sure that your son has a lymphoma but the diagnosis still can’t be made conclusively? In either case, I do not know how to answer other than to tell you to talk with his doctors and ask for an explanation. I know that doctors know where the lymph nodes are located and can give an “educated guess” as to a diagnosis just based on x-rays and CT scans. But they can’t be 100% certain without a pathology report from a biopsy.

I can only imagine how worried you are for your son. I wish you the best and will be praying for you and for him.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

worriedmom · Regular Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 41 Location: arizona

i was wondering what happens next when the pathology report is inconclusive, my son did have a biopsy on the mass he has in his chest. we are going to see the doc on monday but just wondering what might happen next. and what could some of the possibilities might be. thank you jim for your reply.

Boldelly · Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 8:40 pm Post subject: More Tests

When they diagnosed by daughter (16 years old) they did a week of testing such as, biopsy, bone scan, CT scan, Gallium scan, and bone marrow aspiration. So you will probably be looking at some more testing. My daughters was also in her chest a large mass pressing on her lung. We then found out it was in her tonsils, neck, supra clavical, under her left rib cage, and on her shoulder bone. Maybe they need to do a repeat biopsy from the lymph node in his supra clavical area (where the neck joins the shoulder). Does he have any swollen lymph nodes? Well hang in there mom because I know what you are going through with just having to sit and wait for results - not easy. Try not to worry and if you can't get your doctor to do some more testing, then go to another doctor because the mass in his chest is not normal and the longer you wait (if it is cancer) the more of a chance it will spread.

Good luck and let us know what happens with your son.

worriedmom · Regular Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 41 Location: arizona

Boldelly, thank you for your answer. my son is just getting over a bad case of tonsililitis, with 104 fever. his doc (GP) had him on strong antibiotics and he got better. we are now waiting to go for his appointment on feb.14, it is so hard to wait. he will be seeing an oncologist.it just seems to be going sooo slow., the mass in his chest was found nov. 20. we are just so anxious and worried.

Boldelly · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:10 pm Post subject: Hang in there

Worriedmom just hold on to your faith. I told our oncologist when he was doing all the testing that the waiting was the hardest part, because if we could just find out what it was then we could begin to move forward. Seems like you are just stuck when you are waiting. I hope everything goes well with your son. Let us know what they find. I will be praying for him and you, that God will give you the strenghth (sp) to endure the wait. Very Happy

worriedmom · Regular Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 41 Location: arizona

thank you so much for your kind words and concern. i will keep you posted when we find out more. again, thank you.

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Lymphoma - Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Forum	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others