T3N1M0 is locally advanced or early stage?

dobbins_margie

Hello Kerry Mac. I have not visited this site in some time. Just coming back and found your post. I apologize for not responding back then. I see that you misunderstood my wording. I never said that Stage 3 of any type was un-curable. I had stated that I felt 'beyond stage 3's' which would be Stage IV only. However, I had immediately apologized to the members for my wording, and I had explained that I do not give up hope or belief that ANY cancer of Any stage can be cured. That is, and will always be my wish for all of us. My original comment was basically referencing 'statistic' and other 'crap' if you will, that I had read. Again, I stick to the theory that none of us are born with an expiration date stamped on the bottom of our foot. God will not take us until he is ready for us, cancer or not. My best wishes for you, and I keep you in my prayers. Margie

beegee

When I was diagnosed, I heard the words "locally advanced" but did not know the stage.  There was skin and chest wall involvement so that put me in stage 3b which I really was not attentive to until after I was done with treatment. I don't like what I read about 3b, so I talked to my onc about it.  I am doing everything I can, and as far as I know, at this time, I don't have cancer.  Every case is different, even within the stages.  I'm enjoying my "cancer free" status for now, and living healthy and happy, hoping that it will last for the rest of my long life.  The staging is important for the treatment planning, but we can always beat the odds that the staging suggests.  One thing my onc said is that the subjects in the studies that we are reading now were treated many years ago, and didn't have the treatments available to them at that time that we do now.  So, ladies, we are now making new statistics, as we speak. 

Whatashocker3

Not to get into a debate about staging but it does seem to have slot of variables. For instance you can have a grade 3 tumor, that is 5 cms and have 9 lymph nodes and still be a stage 3a. On the other hand you can also have a grade 1, with 2.2 cms, 4 lymph nodes and be considered a 3a. Although my breast surgeon had stated a 2b. Six of one, half a dozen of another. There is two different staging methods. The one is with the lymph nodes stuck together or the cancer is seen coming out if a node. The variables are very different with each case and I assume this is why they use it primarily fir treatment and will refer to a website like cancermath to input your individual information. This is just my own personal thoughts.

kathleen1966

Hello!  With eight nodes, that would put a person at N2 and not N1.  Four or more nodes is N2.  And this is considered locally advanced. My largets tumor wasn't all that large, but I had four nodes and LVI.  I see that I have replied earlier, but never actually answered the question.  I discovered this information recently, as I thought I was early stage but realized I am not. Some stage IIIa is considered early stage.  That would be possibly a large tumor with no nodes (over 5cm alone will put you in stage IIIa with no nodes) or an over 5cm tumor with under four nodes. Either way, I hope your mother is doing well as your original post was over a year ago!