Grade 1 breast cancer

Nancy2581

so I thought having grade 1 cancer was a good thing (no cancer is good of course).  I keep reading that chemo doesn't work well for grade 1 because it is a slower cancer.  Yet here I am doing chemo since I had 1 lymph node involved.  No onco test was done as I am premenopausal and my MO said that is in the clinical trials.  I guess I am feeling that maybe grade 1 isn't such a good thing.  Any thoughts?  I sure would like to feel better about this

Thanks

Nancy

MsPharoah

Nancy, the tumor grade is only one piece of information that is used to determine chemo/no chemo.  If you are unsure about the chemo decision, ask for the oncotype DX test or Mammaprint.   Both pre and post menopausal women are included in this test as are node negative and node positive women.  Your onc's reason for dismissing the test don't add up.  Ask again.

MsP

Nancy2581

I'm ok with doing chemo have my 4th treatment tomorrow -  more wondering though if grade 1 isn't such a good thing. 

Nancy

MsPharoah

Hi Nancy, I think Grade 1 is a good thing and preferable to being a higher grade.  All the best to you with finishing chemo! 

MsP

ml143333

Nancy - I am no physician, just another IDC stage 1, grade 3 sister.

Stage 1 is still an early stage cancer so I think you are probably good there.  From what my BS told me, the higher the grade of the tumor the more aggressive and the better chemo responds.

Ask your doctor questions - he or she will answer them honestly.

Annette47

My understanding is that Grade 1 tumors are less receptive to chemo because they are slow growing, but because they are slow growing they are much less likely to require chemo, so it really depends on how you look at it as to whether it's a good thing or not.

Hopefully the chemo is just an insurance plan in your case, not a necessity.    Even if you are already committed to doing chemo, you could still ask for an oncotype test just to get a sense of your possible recurrence risks.