What stage am I?

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SuzyWillKickThis
SuzyWillKickThis Member Posts: 24
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Hey all

 I am new here so sorry if this isn't in the right place! I'm Suzy, I am 32 and live in Northern Ireland.

I was diagnosed on 29th July and had a bilateral lumpectomy on 20th August.

They've now told me that I have grade 3 cancer, and that whilst the lump removed from my left breast wasn't cancerous, on the right the primary tumor was 2cm across and that cancer was also found in 5 out of 17 of the lymph nodes.

It's negative for HER2, estrogen and progesterone.

My surgeon never discussed staging with me, and stupidly I assumed that if it was grade 3, it was also stage 3, but I now realise that isn't necessarily the case?

I can't believe how clueless I am about all of this!

Thanks in advance for any help you can give a newbie, and good luck to all!

 Suzy

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  • Tamara67646
    Tamara67646 Member Posts: 293
    edited September 2008

    If you go to the home page on this site, under diagnosis, there is an explanation of staging that might help you.  Based on the size of yorutumor and Since cancer was found in 5 lymph nodes - you may be stage 2 but there is some other criteria (that I don't understand) regarding characteristics of the cancer in the lymph nodes that might make it stage 3.  I am sure others from the board will follow with better explanations. 

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  • SuzyWillKickThis
    SuzyWillKickThis Member Posts: 24
    edited September 2008

    Thanks Tamara, from what I read there, it seems to be IIa, which makes me feel a lot better, I really appreciate your help, thanks!

    Suzy

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2008

    Hi Suzy

    Im sorry you had to join us here.....I agree with what you think.....IIa seems to fit your situation.

    How are you holding up? Made further treatment decisions?

    Like you I had no idea all the detail that revolves around a breast cancer diagnosis!!!! I was dx'd at 45/46...I say that because I found my lump the end of Oct 2006 but didnt have my lumpectomy until Nov 15th..the day of my 46th birthday.....what a b-day present huh!!!!

    Im glad you found this site, the woman here are a deep well of information and support...

    Best wishes to you

    Jule

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  • smerf
    smerf Member Posts: 615
    edited September 2008

    I echo what Jule said, the women here are wonderfully supportive and very knowledgeable. Usually in the US your medical oncologist determines the stage for you. Have you made that appointment yet? You will gain information and treatment planning then.

    I was dignosed at age 60 with triple negative like yours, and I finished treatment in 06, and now I'm 63.

    Best wishes to you, smerf

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  • SuzyWillKickThis
    SuzyWillKickThis Member Posts: 24
    edited September 2008

    Thanks everyone! I have my first proper meeting with the oncologist on 26th September (I've met him before- initially they thought the cancer was in both breasts and I was going to have very agressive chemo followed by a bilateral mastectomy sometime next year- the core biopsy results changed their mind!) so hopefully will know more then! :)

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  • searching4
    searching4 Member Posts: 55
    edited September 2008

    Also Suzy, feel free to ask your doctors what stage you are.  This is information they should share with you. 

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  • lisa39
    lisa39 Member Posts: 255
    edited September 2008

    Hi Suzy,

    You might also want to check out the Triple Negative board on this site. It sounds like that's your classification since your tumor is HER 2, Estrogen and Progesterone negative.  Best of luck with your treatment.  I suspect that given your young age and having node positive BC, that they will still recommend chemo for you.  It won't be fun, but you will make it.  BTW... we're all clueless about breast cancer details until it happens to us!  I was going through what you are last November, when I found my breast lump at age 38.  Now, I've finished 8 rounds of chemo, 21 zaps of radiation and am preparing to return to work and get my life back to normal.  It's a journey nobody wants to make, but you will come out the other side just fine.

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