How do you know Stage 3A, 3B or 3C?

jelloelloello

I honestly don't know where to find out this info... I don't think my doctor's actually labeled me in this way, maybe they only used the more general term of Stage 3...? Or maybe I have a bad memory (you know how appointments go sometimes). I tried to decipher the long description of stage diagnoses here on this site, but it was really hard for me to figure it out. Is there somewhere, like a certain exam notes or something, that I can go back in my file and read to find out the stage, or do I just need to ask my doctor?

And why doesn't this site let you indicate Stage III in general, without a specific letter, in the "My Diagnosis" section? Is it that common for everyone to know exactly which stage?

Thanks!

pupmom

I'm not Stage III, but I suggest you ask your doctors. That's what I did to find out the details of my dx.

ErenTo

Staging system has changed a bit recently and overall it's become a bit more confusing. This if from BCO: https://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/staging

Stage III

Stage III is divided into subcategories known as IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC.

In general, stage IIIA describes invasive breast cancer in which either:

• no tumor is found in the breast or the tumor may be any size; cancer is found in 4 to 9 axillary lymph nodes or in the lymph nodes near the breastbone (found during imaging tests or a physical exam) or
• the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters (cm); small groups of breast cancer cells (larger than 0.2 millimeter [mm] but not larger than 2 mm) are found in the lymph nodes or
• the tumor is larger than 5 cm; cancer has spread to 1 to 3 axillary lymph nodes or to the lymph nodes near the breastbone (found during a sentinel lymph node biopsy)

Still, if the cancer tumor measures more than 5 cm across and:

• is grade 2
• cancer is found in 4 to 9 axillary lymph nodes
• is estrogen-receptor-positive
• is progesterone-receptor-positive
• is HER2-positive

it will likely be classified as stage IB.

In general, stage IIIB describes invasive breast cancer in which:

• the tumor may be any size and has spread to the chest wall and/or skin of the breast and caused swelling or an ulcer and
• may have spread to up to 9 axillary lymph nodes or
• may have spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone

Still, if the cancer tumor measures more than 5 cm across and:

• is grade 3
• cancer is found in 4 to 9 axillary lymph nodes
• is estrogen-receptor-positive
• is progesterone-receptor-positive
• is HER2-positive

it will likely be classified as stage IIA.

Inflammatory breast cancer is considered at least stage IIIB. Typical features of inflammatory breast cancer include:

• reddening of a large portion of the breast skin
• the breast feels warm and may be swollen
• cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes and may be found in the skin

In general, stage IIIC describes invasive breast cancer in which:

• there may be no sign of cancer in the breast or, if there is a tumor, it may be any size and may have spread to the chest wall and/or the skin of the breast and
• the cancer has spread to 10 or more axillary lymph nodes or
• the cancer has spread to lymph nodes above or below the collarbone or
• the cancer has spread to axillary lymph nodes or to lymph nodes near the breastbone

Still, if the above-mentioned cancer tumor measures any size and:

• is grade 2
• is estrogen-receptor-positive
• is progesterone-receptor-positive
• is HER2-positive or negative

it will likely be classified as stage IIIA.

MinusTwo

And that said - you need to ask your Doctor and get the official diagnosis from him. but you can certainly post anywhere.

cutiekate

https://cancerstaging.org/references-tools/quickreferences/Documents/BreastMedium.pdf

cutiekate

ducky06

It's interesting you ask -- I am in the same boat where none of my doctors actually gave me a stage. They just said it was "early stage" and told me I had a large tumor with lymph nodes involved. I'm Stage 2B? Stage 3A? I figured if they didn't tell me, it wasn't that important, so I didn't ask. But I do find that friends and family ask and seriously expect me to know as a cancer patient. So I say 2B or 3A depending how I'm feeling. I also find it interesting that the site makes you give your precise stage. Like ErenTo says, my understanding is that the "old system" which cutiekate posted, has been tweaked to incorporate receptor status. But I've found inconsistent info between the site ErenTo posted and Susan Komen's. My doctor uses the "anatomical staging" only in my chart - T3N1M0 is mine. That's stage 3A in the old system, so I figure I'm 3A. I don't know if this is something just specific to Stage 3, but at my cancer center it seems like my oncologist doesn't find the precise stages super important.