What Is A Cancer Pathology Report?

A cancer pathology report is an analysis of tissue or fluid taken from your body. It explains what the cells or tissue look like and helps diagnose your condition.

Pathologic testing plays an essential role when a doctor suspects cancer. The pathology report gives your care team the information they need to plan what comes next.

“Pathology reports provide the correct diagnosis and, ultimately, the right treatment is tailored to the patient,” said Elisabeth Shearon, MD, a pathologist at Franciscan Health Cancer Center Munster in northwest Indiana. “At Franciscan, medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons and genetic specialists use the pathology report to create precise, patient-specific care plans.”

Your cancer doctor will review your pathology report with you when it is ready. Members of the Franciscan Health cancer team explain the basics so you know what to expect.

Key Takeaways: Pathology Reports

• A cancer pathology report provides critical details that guide diagnosis and cancer treatment decisions. The report can include information such as cancer type, size, stage and whether the cancer has spread.
• Pathologists play a critical role behind the scenes. They work with your doctors to carefully provide results which guide treatment decisions. 
• Most cancer pathology reports take up to one week to complete, though some results may come sooner. More specialized or genetic testing can take longer.

Pathologists Are Part Of Your Care Team

Pathologists are highly trained medical doctors who study disease. They examine tissue, cells and body fluids and document their findings in a detailed report.

A cancer pathology report includes a diagnosis and key details that help guide treatment. It may describe the cancer’s size, location and whether it has spread. Your care team uses this information to plan the most appropriate treatment for you.

In some cases, testing shows that a person does not have cancer.

How Does A Pathologist Get Cells Or Tissue To Examine?

Pathologists typically analyze cells or tissue collected during a biopsy, surgery or other procedure.

During a biopsy, a doctor removes a sample of tissue or fluid. This may happen during surgery, such as a mastectomy, or during another procedure, like a colonoscopy or blood draw.

Pathologists may also examine cells found in body fluids, such as urine, mucus from the lungs or other fluids collected during care.

Your doctor orders the pathologic tests that best match your symptoms and diagnosis.

How Long Does A Pathology Report Take?

You may receive preliminary results within one to two days. However, a complete cancer pathology report can take up to one week. Some specialized or genetic tests take longer. Your doctor can explain what timeline to expect.

The report will appear in your MyChart account, and your doctor’s office will contact you to schedule a call or visit to review the results. The doctor will help you understand the report and what it means for your situation.

A cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming. Franciscan Health offers many supportive services and programs for people with cancer. If you aren’t sure what to do next, start with this guide.

What's In A Pathology Report?

A pathology report is a document that contains medical jargon and clinical language. Some of the words may be unfamiliar to you. Below is some general guidance about what the report will cover.

• The procedure: This section explains how your doctor collected the sample, such as through surgery, a biopsy or another procedure.
• Diagnosis: This section summarizes the pathologist’s final diagnosis based on all test results.
• Comments: After the diagnosis, the pathologist may add more information for your care team. This section can include recommendations for more testing.
• Margins: Margins refer to the healthy tissue around a tumor. Clear margins mean the sample does not show cancer cells at the edges. Positive margins suggest cancer cells may remain.
• Stage and grade: Stage describes how far cancer has spread in the body. Grade describes how abnormal the cancer cells look compared to normal cells.
• Lymph nodes: If the pathologist analyzed lymph nodes, this section shows whether cancer cells are present. Positive lymph nodes contain cancer cells. Negative lymph nodes do not.
• Molecular or genetic findings: Some reports include genetic testing results. These results can help guide treatment options for certain cancers.
• Gross description: This describes what the sample looks like to the naked eye. The pathologist will note details, like size, color and texture.
• Microscopic description: This describes what the cells look like under a microscope. Special stains help highlight cell details or detect infections, such as bacteria or viruses.

Cancer pathology reports end with a summary of the findings most relevant to making treatment decisions.

The College of American Pathologists goes into more detail in this guide.

What Happens After You Receive Your Pathology Report?

Your cancer doctor will review your pathology report and use it to help create your treatment plan. At Franciscan, a team of specialists reviews each patient’s plan during tumor board meetings at our cancer care locations .

“We review patients’ information, including pathology, radiology and treatment plans, with surgeons, oncologists and radiation oncologists all together,” said Constanze Rayhrer, MD, a breast surgeon at Franciscan Health Cancer Center Lafayette. "Each specialist brings a unique perspective that helps us tailor treatment to each patient’s needs.”

The Role Of A Second Opinion

Every patient deserves clear information and a care plan that feels right. A second opinion can help you better understand your diagnosis, explore all available options and feel comfortable as you move forward with your treatment plan.

“I always encourage second opinions if the patient is interested,” Dr. Rayhrer said. “One of two things will happen: Either it reinforces what I said, which builds trust, or we learn something new and can add that to the treatment.”

If you are interested in a second opinion, talk with your doctor or schedule an appointment with one of our second opinion clinics. Keep in mind that timeliness matters. Treatment should begin within eight weeks of diagnosis. Research shows that delays beyond that window may affect survival and recurrence rates.

Franciscan's Cancer Care Team Is Here For You

The medical language and jargon in a pathology report can be confusing. Remember: your doctors and other members of the care team will use their expertise to interpret the results clearly and accurately. They welcome your questions and concerns. And they will be at your side through every step of your treatment journey.

Do you need a cancer specialist? Our caring, experienced team of doctors, nurse navigators and other providers is here to help you throughout your cancer journey. Learn more or request an appointment.