deciphering tumor size...help!

Melissa,

First - sorry that no one has responded to your post.

Second - I believe that it would be measured as under 2cm.

Let us know what your doctor tells you. 

Gentle Hugs,

Trish

The measurement for staging is usually the largest listed in the path report.  So... for you... I'd guess 1.8.  MRI's frequently OVER-estimate size so that would fit.

Hi Melissa.  Glad you are feeling better about things.  My tumor was 1.7cm, no nodes involved, clean margins, put me at stage 1 also.  Mine was high grade and aggressive also.  I am doing great 5 years later and no sign of recurrence.  Hope you have the same luck.  brenda

Hugs Melissa,  It's only natural that this has thrown you for a loop.  Try not to be too scared of everything you notice.  It gets easier once you start getting some positive checkups.  I go by the 2 week rule.  If a symptom lasts more than 2 weeks, I go to the dr.  Most things are gone by then and turn out to be nothing.  Oncs are all different.  my onc did chest x-rays every 3 months and cat scans every 6 months for the first year and then cat scans every 6 months for another year.  He didn't do other tests unless I had symptoms that needed checking out.  Some oncs will do tumor markers but they can have many false positives so some don't do them.  pet scans are expensive so they usually aren't done unless indicated.  Ask your onc next week what his usual protocol is.  Remember to breathe!  Brenda

Hi,  Meliss -

OK - go in a closet or outside and scream until you're empty.  Then, when you breathe back in, visualize calming and healing going back through your body.  See yourself in control of  your body.  Visualize little brooms sweeping through your body, busily cleaning out anything that doesn't belong. 

My daughter, Melissa, told me I should invite the cancer cells to move out - not with anger, but with conviction! The anger wasn't making my life any easier, but "conviction" made me feel as though I was in charge.

You are at the awful limbo stage of knowing that you have cancer, but not yet in the medical fight of chemo and rads.  Once that starts, you become so wrapped up in the treatment, that you start to relax somewhat.  There are so many people looking out for you, caring for you, giving you strength.

 Very good news that you have no node involvement!  Very little chance that it has spread!  Woo Hooo! 

 I spent many hours researching on this site and many others when I was first dx and I always fixated on the stage ones who didn't make it.  I was certain I would be one of those.  You can always find a few exceptions to the rule; however, that's just what they are  - exceptions. 

You will make it.  Let yourself break down, rant, rave, stuff yourself with dark chocolate (or whatever tastes good), take a hot, bubbly bath...anything that gives you comfort.  Plan to cry a lot.  Anytime.  Anywhere.  It's all part of the new package deal we call cancer.

Keep coming here.  You'll find many wonderful sisters who can guide you through the worst of it.  Who can hold you.  Cry with you.  Make you laugh.  Understand your fears.  All for the click of your mouse!!

 Take good care of your self and remember - you will get through this.  You have no choice but to fight your hardest - you have too many people depending on you.

Susan