"early stage" breast cancer

sling99

What is considered "early stage" breast cancer? If there is an early stage then what is late stage?

When people ask you the question: "So, your cancer was caught early, right?", how do you answer.  I know those inquiring minds mean well by trying to put a hopeful and positive spin on the question, but really though, early enough for what?  And who really knows the answer to that. I know that only time can give us that answer.

chrissyb

Hi sling99, there is a scale by which breast cancer is measured.The list below will give you all the information needed.

Early (zero) stage of breast cancer is considered as a state in which the malignancy is localized in the breast tissue and there are no signs of circulation to the lymph nodes.
*       Stage 1 of breast cancer: tumor size less than two centimeters, metastases to other organs and tissues are not available.
*        Stage 2A: tumor less than 2 cm in cross section with the involvement of the lymph node, or tumor from 2 to 5 cm without involvement of axillary lymph nodes.
*        Stage 2B: tumor more than 5 cm in cross section (the result of axillary lymph nodes research is negative for cancer cells) or tumor from 2 to 5 cm in diameter with the involvement of axillary lymph nodes.
*        Stage 3A (also called local spread of breast cancer): tumor more than 5 cm with spread to axillary lymph nodes, or tumor of any size with metastases in axillary lymph nodes, which are knitted to each other or with the surrounding tissues.

*        Stage 3B: tumor of any size with metastases into the skin, chest wall or internal lymph nodes of mammary gland (located below the breast inside of chest).
*        Stage 3C: tumor of any size with a more widespread metastases and involvement of more lymph nodes.
*        Stage 4 of breast cancer is defined as the presence of tumors (regardless of the sizes), spread to parts of the body that are located far from the chest (bones, lungs, liver, brain or distant lymph nodes).

Peace, strength, love n hugs.  chrissyb

sling99

So early would be stage 0, 1, 2A with no lymph node involvement, and 2B with no lymph node involvement? Are stage 3 and 4 considered "late stage" then or do we not use that term?

chrissyb

People who don't understand BC always ask 'was it caught early?'.  I think they say this as they unknowingly follow the myth that BC caught early is curable. Having said that, cancer caught when it is very small can be considered in long term remission after treatment as to my knowledge there is no confirmed cure.  ÍMHO it matters not what stage it was caught so to speak, as all with the exception of stage IV is treatable.  Stage IV is considered terminal and as such, treating physicians usually look only to giving good quality of life treatment.

Peace, strength, love n hugs.   chrissyb

lago

Typically all stage 0, I and II are considered early. There are some that consider stage III early as well.

Someone once posted "Cancer doesn't know what stage it is." What that means to me is if you have a later stage and it responds to treatment then who cares. If you have an early stage and for some reason you are in that small percentage that ends up with a more serious condition in the future then being classified "early" at the beginning of your fight means crap.

Think of stage as a guide for treatment. Assume what ever stage you will survive. Even Stage IV folks go into remission and can live for decades. Just tell these folks that looks like your prognosis is good and treatable.

Iamstronger

i am stage IIB and on my inital paperwork, my onc wrote Early Stage breast cancer.

V

sling99

I myself do not like to think in terms of stages or whether I am classified as early stage or not. To me no matter what stage I am there is the possibility that I could eventually succumb to this disease and also the possiblity that I may not. I just get irked when someone asks me what stage I am or if it was caught early believing early means cured. Chrissyb, it is tough to dispel that myth. It is hard to always be positive when asked that question, when in the back of your mind you wonder when your expiry date sticker is going to be printed. On a more positive note, I am really glad I found these forums. They have helped me enormously with dealing with options, decisions, and day to day matters and venting too with people who truly understand. All the best with our treatments. Hugs to everyone.

lago

You could also tell them you are stage 10… can you image the look on their face! (Sorry I do have dark humor at times)

Seriously people ask questions and don't realize that you might give them an answer they are not prepared to hear. It best to leave it ambiguous IMO. Maybe telling them"stage treatable". If they press for a number tell them to pick one. Eventually they will get the hint that is really is an inappropriate question unless your family. ;D

LRM216

Just tell them that ANY stage is the "roll of the dice" stage, because, technically, that it true.  There are Stage IV gals that are still living with their chronic stage  some 10 plus years later, and then there are Stage 1 gals that unfortunately, within one scan, became Stage IV as well.  There is just no rhyme or reason to this disease.  It follows it's own rules.  To the "virgin" layman, whose life has not been touched in some way by breast cancer (and I hope it never is) they can only go by the hype they are fed in the outside world about cancer - and so sadly, most of it is just that, hype. Everyone at work now insists that since my treatments are over and I am one year out I am now most-assuredly "cured."  I don't even debate it anymore, it's a losing battle with them.

Linda

mychoice321

My doc told me that I am one of the lucky ones with an early stage 1A of BC. She said if she got BC, she wanted my kind. She said when she made her incision the tumor was "right there" at the top. So she just plucked it out! All the tests came back neg for any cancer left. So I only have to do radiation. I will start that at the end of Oct. I'm glad I don't have to do chemo!

MarieKelly

mychoice321, in your diagnosis info line it says stage 1a but the tumor size says 5 cm. Is that a typo? 

 In order to be stage 1, the tumor size would have to be less than or equal to 2 cm and a stage 1a would have a size no greater than 0.5 mm ( = 0.5 cm)

lago

MarieKelly I was thinking the same thing.

Mychoice: here is a link to that info:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/Patient/page2

jacee

Isn't 5mm = .5cm, rather than 0.5mm?

Marple

Yes jacee, 5mm is .5cm

There are 10mm in a cm.

Ain't metric grand?

MarieKelly

Yes, you're right.  5 mm = 0.5 cm.

D4Hope

I have had people tell me that because I had both breasts removed and did chemo and it wasn't in the lymph nodes that I am cured. I always tell them there is no cure and that the disease is sneaky and can come back at anytime. That's when they will tell me to think positively grrrrr.