I am Stage 1 but the Grade 3 continues to make me nervous

Hi Nicole,

My dx is very similar to yours.  I was Grade 2/3.  I do have LVI which means the tumor started to grow into the blood vessels.  This means that the cancer could have gone directly into my blood stream (the key word there is "could have"...but probably didn't! ).  My onc told me that it is similar to having one positive node.  The LVI is the reason that my stage is "1b" rather than "1a".  The LVI has caused me alot of anxiety, but I stay positive by reminding myself that I had chemo, so even if some cancer cells got into my blood stream, the chemo likely zapped them.   And there are lots of women with positive nodes who are doing great...   With bc, it seems like there is always something that we fixate on - whether it's the grade, the LVI, the nodes, tumor size, we all have something that haunts us.  I think we have to work hard to take those thoughts captive and not let them have power over us.  That is what I work hard at every day!  I am 3 years out and doing great, so be encouraged.   Regarding the Oncotype DX, I think you are better off without it.   A doctor who I consulted with (but did not hire) ordered it without my consent, and it has caused nothing but anxiety for me.  My score was rather high, a 29, which is the high end of the intermediate risk group.  I knew that I was having chemo without the test, which is the only beneficial reason to have the test done, so I would have been much better off not knowing this number.  So, I'm glad it has brought some of you peace of mind, but for those of us with higher risk, it just causes more anxiety.  I am really thankful for this board...  I can't really talk to my family or friends about this anymore, so it is really comforting to have all of you.....! 

LINDAGARSIDE... I also had a lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy. Extensive involvement with the other nodes can not be correct. Someone was posted about this, I will go back and try to find it for you.....Look at the top of the page it explains it the difference between lymph involvement.

Good Luck

Sheila

Hi Jill,

Sorry I have only just seen your post.  I had a mastectomy hence the "lopsided" comment.  How big was your tumour?  Mine was nearly two centimetres plus I had 4.5 cm of high grade DCIS, this is why I had a mastectomy.

Take care,

Sandy 

Hi Meg,

Thank you for your explanation.  And Sheila...thank you for looking into this as well.  I am having my surgery tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. and going for a gamma probe today, to prepare for the node testing.

I feel somewhat guilty about everything as I took HRT for about 6 years (stopped about 6 years ago) and now I think I'm the one who caused this to happen.  I also have a sweet tooth and blame my bad eating habits.  If I could do it all over again...

I am going to remain positive (regardless of self guilt) and have already started to change my eating habits.  I'm also taking vitamins now, including extra Vit D.  While I know I can't change the past...I know I can affect the future and that is exactly what I am planning to do.

Thank you so much to all my 'sisters' out there....we truly are a family and we care very much about each other.  I could weep for joy.  Thanks again.

LINDAGARSIDE....I will be thinking of you tomorrow. Please post as soon as you can.

HUGS

Sheila

Hi, ladies:

Okay, here's my 1 cent worth. My doc said the single most important prognosis factor is the STAGE. It seems the GRADE is something in addition to all the other factors; but STAGE is the 'most important' factor.

Recurrence happens most often 2-3 years after surgery; but of course, recurrence can happen any time after that. Many say after 5 years if no cancer recurrence, it means the cancer is gone; but for BC, it's after 8 years. So, I guess we are never safe.  But that's how life is for everyone else too--we don't know the future. So enjoy every donut and chocolate!

You are correct!

Being triple positive what kind of treatment did you have? I am assumming Herceptin but what about hormone therapy?

mmm5, my original biopsy put me at 8/9, but after the mastectomy, they upgraded (or do I say downgraded?) me to 8-9/9.  I think the mitosis category is the one that got changed.  I know what you are saying and how you're feeling about being called "high risk" for recurrence.  The onc I saw at UCLA kept saying those same words to me.  I finally asked (very cautiously because I didn't want to hear anything else bad!) why she would consider me any more of a high-risk than any other HER2+ gal, and she said mostly because of my age and the fact that it was growing and behaving aggressively.  Not what I wanted to hear, but it is what it is.

Tell me more about a Ki67.  I didn't have this done.  SHould I ask for it now?  What does it measure.  WHat does it tell?  Tell me a bit about the scoring, too.  I know you have researched the heck out of it!

I don't think my provider does it routinely.  It's not on my path report.  Can it be done after-the-fact, or is it more a tool to determine whether or not to do chemo (like the oncotype test)?

I have been told more than once by my surgeon and oncologist at Sloan Kettering that the BIGGEST factors related to overall prognosis are tumor size, lymph node involvement, stage, hormone receptivity, and HER2 status.  Hope this helps!

LINDAGARSIDE:  I hope your surgery went well yesterday.  Never feel that you caused your breast cancer.  I had no family history of breast cancer, fitness is my personal pastime, I eat really healthy, I have only one or two alcoholic beverages per week, and I still got breast cancer.  It is simply chance.  You can certainly do everything possible to live a healthy lifestyle, but there are no guarantees for any of us. 

I have been feeling like I fought the good fight and won, but then I felt a small lump in my armpit yesterday, and that Grade 3 diagnosis popped right back to the forefront in my head.  When BC strikes, it makes you realize how vulnerable we all really are.  Gotta live life to the fullest!

Hello Nicole,

This is my first time writing to anyone and when I saw the note I knew exactly how you felt. After reading what everyone posted I feel much better and really appreciate all of the info everyone submits for others to read. I have completed chemo, rad and started tamox 1 month ago. I feel like I am going crazy as I thought once I ended my tx I would be happy and feel so much better. I am in a fog and cannot seem to snap out of this depression. I was prescirbed Effexor but became very sick on it and stopped after 2 days. Did anyone else feel like this and does it get better? I could really use some positive insight into recovery. Thank you for any insight into how to make it through all this.