Any stage 3 ladies that only had surgery no chemo?

melissa233

I was stage 3 at 35 yrs old. 0/12 nodes and no vascular invasion. only had mastectomy, refused chemo. regretting my decision 14 months later.

Meow13

Did your cancer return?

Kicks

Why are you regretting no chemo now? mets?

ksusan

This confuses me. I thought stage 3 was defined by extensions outside the tumor (e.g., positive nodes).

ElaineTherese

ksusan,

If you have a tumor that is bigger than 5 cm., you can be classified as Stage IIIA.

NancyHB

Melissa mentioned in another thread that her cancer had also invaded her breast skin, which would make it 3b even without nodal involvement

Meow13

They must have removed the skin during mastectomy, that is what happened to me. My tumors were so close to the skin my breast surgeon speculated that my skin was involved but on pathology no skin involved.

MinusTwo

Melissa: It would be easier if you stick with one thread so those of us answering can see the back story.

Refusing chemo at Stage 3 is unusual. Even more unusual since you list that your triple negative. Did you have rads? Did they do skin sparing or nipple sparing surgery? Did you have reconstruction?

I read your other thread. Several things don't make sense. But I don't think you can go back & do chemo a year later with out precipitating diagnosis. I'm assuming you've had at least a mammo on the remaining breast? Have you had a CT? If you are worried, I would suggest you contact your MO and see if he will order a PET/CT.

wrenn

Melissa is posting contradictory info on several threads. I hope she can explain. It is confusing.