Grade 3 of 3

LRN715
LRN715 Member Posts: 34
in Breast Cancer #1
Diuagnosed with IDC and had a partial mastectomy this past Monday. Received only partial results of my pathology report, as doctor was out of office. Was informed the margin area was negative, which is good, but am grade 3 of 3. Was told the Stage and the T size would be give at time of oncology appointment. I have been told I will probably be having chemo, radiation and some form of pill. What concerns me is the Grade 3 of 3. My tumor size was approximately the size of a quarter. No lymph node involvment. So far, does this all sound pretty positive outcome?
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Comments

  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #2
    Well , your Onc. will have
    Well , your Onc. will have to tell you what your staging means...but clean margins is good news! And no lymph node involvement is also very good news! So chemo and rads followed by 5 years of either Arimidex or Tamoxifin is the pretty standard protocol for most of us.
  • Sher43009
    Sher43009 Member Posts: 602 Member
    #3
    dyaneb123 said:

    Well , your Onc. will have
    Well , your Onc. will have to tell you what your staging means...but clean margins is good news! And no lymph node involvement is also very good news! So chemo and rads followed by 5 years of either Arimidex or Tamoxifin is the pretty standard protocol for most of us.

    Grades
    Cancer cells are graded by how much they look like normal cells. Grade 1 means the cancer cells look like normal cells and aren't considered aggressive. Grade 3 cancers are more likely to grow fast. This along with it's stage, 0 being lowest and 4 being the highest, and size of tumer determines the treatment. Having no node involvement is great. Sounds like yours was caught early. I am stage 1C, grade 3, no nodes, estrogen and progesterone positive, and HER2 positive. Like you, I had a partial mastectomy, chemo, radiation, one year of herceptin, now 5 years of Tamoxifen to disable the hormones that my cancer feeds on. None of it was (is) fun, but it's doable.

    Best of luck
    Sher
  • LRN715
    LRN715 Member Posts: 34
    #4
    Sher43009 said:

    Grades
    Cancer cells are graded by how much they look like normal cells. Grade 1 means the cancer cells look like normal cells and aren't considered aggressive. Grade 3 cancers are more likely to grow fast. This along with it's stage, 0 being lowest and 4 being the highest, and size of tumer determines the treatment. Having no node involvement is great. Sounds like yours was caught early. I am stage 1C, grade 3, no nodes, estrogen and progesterone positive, and HER2 positive. Like you, I had a partial mastectomy, chemo, radiation, one year of herceptin, now 5 years of Tamoxifen to disable the hormones that my cancer feeds on. None of it was (is) fun, but it's doable.

    Best of luck
    Sher

    Thanks you two. Sher---I
    Thanks you two. Sher---I think my HER is negative, does that make a difference. I am estro/prog positive though.
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #5
    LRN715 said:

    Thanks you two. Sher---I
    Thanks you two. Sher---I think my HER is negative, does that make a difference. I am estro/prog positive though.

    HER2 negative is also good.
    HER2 negative is also good. Her2 positive is usually more agressive and needs a different treatment protocol. I also am estro/prog+, and my Onc. said this was the slower growing cancer. So, really , you've got 3 good things going for you....clean margins, no node involvement, and HER2 negative....
    Dee
  • LRN715
    LRN715 Member Posts: 34
    #6
    dyaneb123 said:

    HER2 negative is also good.
    HER2 negative is also good. Her2 positive is usually more agressive and needs a different treatment protocol. I also am estro/prog+, and my Onc. said this was the slower growing cancer. So, really , you've got 3 good things going for you....clean margins, no node involvement, and HER2 negative....
    Dee

    Thank you so much, that wook
    Thank you so much, that wook a lot of weight off my shoulders, let me tell ya. I really wish I had my onc appointment sooner than 3 weeks, but it is what it is. I know the surgeon told me it was totally treatable, but then you hear various stories and one's mind beings to wander......thanks again!
  • LRN715
    LRN715 Member Posts: 34
    #7
    dyaneb123 said:

    HER2 negative is also good.
    HER2 negative is also good. Her2 positive is usually more agressive and needs a different treatment protocol. I also am estro/prog+, and my Onc. said this was the slower growing cancer. So, really , you've got 3 good things going for you....clean margins, no node involvement, and HER2 negative....
    Dee

    Thank you so much, that wook
    Thank you so much, that wook a lot of weight off my shoulders, let me tell ya. I really wish I had my onc appointment sooner than 3 weeks, but it is what it is. I know the surgeon told me it was totally treatable, but then you hear various stories and one's mind beings to wander......thanks again!
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #8
    LRN715 said:

    Thank you so much, that wook
    Thank you so much, that wook a lot of weight off my shoulders, let me tell ya. I really wish I had my onc appointment sooner than 3 weeks, but it is what it is. I know the surgeon told me it was totally treatable, but then you hear various stories and one's mind beings to wander......thanks again!

    Yeah, it's so scary at first
    Yeah, it's so scary at first and trying to dicipher all the cancer jargon can be too much.
    3 weeks is a long time to wait, but be sure to take someone with you to take notes during the meeting. It really helps when you get home and try to remember everything that was discussed. But there are plenty of ladies here who will be glad to answer what questions we can, so ask about whatever is worrying you.
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #9
    LRN715 said:

    Thank you so much, that wook
    Thank you so much, that wook a lot of weight off my shoulders, let me tell ya. I really wish I had my onc appointment sooner than 3 weeks, but it is what it is. I know the surgeon told me it was totally treatable, but then you hear various stories and one's mind beings to wander......thanks again!

    Three weeks is such a long
    Three weeks is such a long time to wait! I would call again to see if anything has become available, or ask if they can call you if there's a cancellation.

    A place to jot notes is a great idea. I would also suggest that you bring a list of questions, that way you'll get everything answered too. I also asked for a copy of my pathology report, it's been helpful to have for insurance, etc.

    Please come back and let us know how you're doing.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #10
    I hope you are feeling ok
    never heard partial matectomy! what is that...?


    so happy your nodes all ok...

    I"LL be thinking of you

    Denise
  • joannstar
    joannstar Member Posts: 403 Member
    #11
    disneyfan2008 said:

    I hope you are feeling ok
    never heard partial matectomy! what is that...?


    so happy your nodes all ok...

    I"LL be thinking of you

    Denise

    My lumpectomies were call
    Partial mastectomies. I'm not sure if it was because of how much they took out or if it was because they can charge more for them than lumpectomies--LOL.
    JoAnn
  • pinkkari09
    pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877
    #12
    LRN, just want to say
    LRN, just want to say welcome and I hope you're Onc. appt. can be bumped up so you don't have to wait. As said, it is a good thing you have no node involvement and your Her negative. The waiting is the hardest part, so come here often and keep your chin up.
    Miles of Love,
    ~Kari
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #13
    joannstar said:

    My lumpectomies were call
    Partial mastectomies. I'm not sure if it was because of how much they took out or if it was because they can charge more for them than lumpectomies--LOL.
    JoAnn

    @Joann...funny
    charge more...I have said since I am very small breasted I should get charge less...!


    Denise
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #14
    I was a grade 3 also
    Diagnosed in 2003 with stage 3a, tumor was 6cm and 3cm. 2 of 15 lymph nodes with cancer. Tumor was so large that I had 4 cycles of A/C before modified radical mastectomy. 4 cycles of taxol (or taxotere sp?) after and then 6 weeks of radiation. I was on Tamoxifen for 9 months and Aromasin for 2 1/2 years.

    I thought I was done for but here I still am. You will get a better idea when you talk to the doctor and tell him your fear.
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #15
    Marcia527 said:

    I was a grade 3 also
    Diagnosed in 2003 with stage 3a, tumor was 6cm and 3cm. 2 of 15 lymph nodes with cancer. Tumor was so large that I had 4 cycles of A/C before modified radical mastectomy. 4 cycles of taxol (or taxotere sp?) after and then 6 weeks of radiation. I was on Tamoxifen for 9 months and Aromasin for 2 1/2 years.

    I thought I was done for but here I still am. You will get a better idea when you talk to the doctor and tell him your fear.

    am I the only one
    who knows no #s, size etc etc. of my BC...never told and i never asked...I know nothing..not even how many nodes removed....

    I am starting to feel really dumb about this...


    Denise
  • Sher43009
    Sher43009 Member Posts: 602 Member
    #16
    disneyfan2008 said:

    am I the only one
    who knows no #s, size etc etc. of my BC...never told and i never asked...I know nothing..not even how many nodes removed....

    I am starting to feel really dumb about this...


    Denise

    Denise
    Don't feel dumb. You can still get the info if you want it. I'm a very detailed person so I wanted as much info as I could get. My surgeon gave me a copy of both my pathology reports and went through it with me so I would know how to read it. I had to have 2 surgeries to get clear margins = 2 reports. I have copies of all my test results and asked a bunch of questions. I found an error in one of my mammogram reports after surgery. It said my cancer was in the right breast when it was the left. I made them revise it so it would be correct.

    Sher
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #17
    Sher43009 said:

    Denise
    Don't feel dumb. You can still get the info if you want it. I'm a very detailed person so I wanted as much info as I could get. My surgeon gave me a copy of both my pathology reports and went through it with me so I would know how to read it. I had to have 2 surgeries to get clear margins = 2 reports. I have copies of all my test results and asked a bunch of questions. I found an error in one of my mammogram reports after surgery. It said my cancer was in the right breast when it was the left. I made them revise it so it would be correct.

    Sher

    thanks for info..

    thanks for info..
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #18
    Sher43009 said:

    Denise
    Don't feel dumb. You can still get the info if you want it. I'm a very detailed person so I wanted as much info as I could get. My surgeon gave me a copy of both my pathology reports and went through it with me so I would know how to read it. I had to have 2 surgeries to get clear margins = 2 reports. I have copies of all my test results and asked a bunch of questions. I found an error in one of my mammogram reports after surgery. It said my cancer was in the right breast when it was the left. I made them revise it so it would be correct.

    Sher

    thanks for info..

    thanks for info..
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #19
    dyaneb123 said:

    Well , your Onc. will have
    Well , your Onc. will have to tell you what your staging means...but clean margins is good news! And no lymph node involvement is also very good news! So chemo and rads followed by 5 years of either Arimidex or Tamoxifin is the pretty standard protocol for most of us.

    Congrats on clean margins!

    Congrats on clean margins!
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #20
    pinkkari09 said:

    LRN, just want to say
    LRN, just want to say welcome and I hope you're Onc. appt. can be bumped up so you don't have to wait. As said, it is a good thing you have no node involvement and your Her negative. The waiting is the hardest part, so come here often and keep your chin up.
    Miles of Love,
    ~Kari

    Always good to have clean
    Always good to have clean margins! Happy for you!
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    #21
    disneyfan2008 said:

    am I the only one
    who knows no #s, size etc etc. of my BC...never told and i never asked...I know nothing..not even how many nodes removed....

    I am starting to feel really dumb about this...


    Denise

    My oncologist went over my
    My oncologist went over my path report with me and told me everything. I am sure many don't know Denise. I also got a copy of my pathology report which tells a lot too. Do you have that?

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