final path back now im stage 3

melmcbee

Hi ladies. I just wanted you to now I received my final path from my alnd today and it showed 7 positive nodes instead of 3 so I guess that bumped me from 2b to 3a. Dont you just love numbers. lol. It wont change my treatment cause I was gonna have to do chemo rads and tamoxiphen anyway with the extranodal involvement and macrometastesis of the nodes. I work in the medical field and now know that I really dont nknow anything. I have learned so much since my dx cause I was so blessed to find this forum with such caring and knowledgeable people. Thanks for letting me hang out here. hugs to all

Karina121293

Mel, I am just one node less than you. I remember I was so obssesed with those numbers after the final path report too. But not any more!!! With time you somehow come to terms with the stage. I like the fact that with our stage they treat us more aggressively. Wish you good luck with the treatments. Come here often and let us know how you doing. This is an amazing place for support and knowledge. Being " in touch " with everyone here will get you through the journey a lot easier and informed. We are here for you. BCO and especially stage iii forum was my life saver...

geewhiz

Mel..I had one more node than you almost 3 years ago, and I was her 2 + to boot! I am doing very well. I live happy and healthy : )

lanagraves

Mel: welcome to the club none of us wanted to be in. That being said, this is a wonderful place with some wonderful ladies. I was dx'd in February, had surgery and chemo, and. Am now halfway through rads. It really does get easier. (((hugs)))

JudyO

My dx very similiar to yours..ILC, 2.2 cm,7 positive nodes. I had a masectomy (both), chemo (4 ac and 4 t), rads and am on arimidex. Wanted you to know I hit 4 years in May and still doing well. Treatment is hard but it does get easier and you will find your life will go back to normal.

jennyboog

Welcome Mel, I'm glad you found us...even though I'm sorry you had to join us. This is a great forum full of wonderful people, support and info.  Come here often, we get it.

MaxineO

Welcome Mel. Many of us thought we were stage II and turned out to be stage III, but like you said, it's just numbers.  It sounds like you are well on your way with treatment, so you are on your way to recovery.  When do you start chemo?  You will meet a lot of great stage III ladies here. A very supportive bunch.

lkc

Hi Sweet Girl.

 I had 12 Flippin positive  nodes !!!!! That was over 7 years ago and I am healthy and living large. It' is  a journey and the ladies  here will help  every bit of the way.

Take Care!

melmcbee

Thanks for the warm welcome I sooo appreciate it. Just saw my breast surgeon today and I misread the path report. Its 8 out of 15 nodes but again thats just a number. Its extra nodal invasion with macro metastesis. Dont you just love these words. lol.  It doesnt change my treatment plan Im still getting 6 tx of a/c/t and 34 rads and tamoxiphen.I asked where the nodes were that she took out and she showed me. I asked what about the nodes in my neck or below the area she removed. She said chemo and rads will take care of it. I said ok. lol I learned today that I cant rush this. She did not take out my drain today or remove one of the dressings off my revision of rt mastectomy. I had an appt with MO for Sept 4th and I pulled a few strings and got in yesterday just to pay him 45$ for him to tell me he couldnt do anything with me till my drain was out.  LOL So lesson learned I cant rush this. I found the lump around 6-20-12 and I still havent started any kind of treatment except for the necessary surgeries.  But its ok cause its given me plent of time to read this forum and learn about this disease. Im so thankful for everyones help. And I hope one day that I will be able to help someone else. Hugs to all

evergreen9

I was told by my surgeon and Dr Susan Love says the same, that stage will be not as significant in the future. We agonize over 2b vs 3a (same thing happened to me) when the cancer biology and many factors they don't even understand yet will have more impact on the end result. Which may explain why some folks that are 3c with many nodes still are NED for years! The staging helps in collecting and organizing research info, I think. They are saying more now about the impact of exercise as well. So I try to sweat hard daily, at least 30 minutes, with exercise.