have grade 3 IDC at age 73 and scared....

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fanny4
fanny4 Member Posts: 2
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

I had a radical mastectomy with 14 lymph nodes removed and 3 were cancerious I have IDC.  I am Est+, I have stage IIb and grade 3.  I am have 4 month of Chemotherapy, 25 sessions of Radiation.  I am having my first chemo session on Thursday...  I asked the Dr what the outcome would be after all the treatments, and the Dr said we take one day at a time.  What dows that mean.  Life expectancy wise..  Is there anyone who has this or knows someone who has lived through this and for how long.

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  • ratbait
    ratbait Member Posts: 141
    edited December 2010

    I was diagnosed in February, 2008 with grade III, stage III breast cancer.  Four lymph nodes were positive.  And I had just turned 40. 

     Fast forward nearly three years, and I am still here and, to my knowledge, am cancer free.

    Through support groups, I know people who have survived fifteen plus years after diagnosis, including at least one person who is a fifteen year survivor of stage IV breast cancer.

     Hang in there.  It is scary at first, but gets better with time.

     

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  • marie5890
    marie5890 Member Posts: 3,594
    edited December 2010

    Fanny...

    First off HUGS!!!...Being scared is so very understandable....

    Second I have known 2 women in their 70s who were DX-ed with breast cancer. Dont know what stage or what grade but I know both under went masectomies and chemo...Both are doing fine (one is 2 years out from end of chemo the other 3)  although going thru treatment was tough...

    My take away was that going thru treatment was tough...but it was worth it for both of them...and they would do it again...

    God Bless...  

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  • renee2010
    renee2010 Member Posts: 93
    edited December 2010

    Hi

    I am stage 2 B also 13 lymnodes removed 2 positive

    Will be finishing 33 radation treatments this friday and completed 6 rounds chemoI come here and read what these ladies say and it has been a great support.

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  • Alyad
    Alyad Member Posts: 817
    edited December 2010

    my grandmother had bc in both breasts in her 70's- had several nodes positive, tho I don't know exactly or what grade she was. She did chemo and lived another 15 years at least and died of Alzeheimers at 88. The treatments we have now are much better than then as that was in the 1990's. Much better chemo SE prevention as well- I was not nearly as sick when I did chemo as she was.

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  • AnneBrown007
    AnneBrown007 Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2013

    hi.. I would suggest you to take the guidance of a specialist!

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited December 2010

    Stage IIB is considered early stage. It sounds like you are having very aggressive therapy which should give you a lot of years unless you die of something else. You onc should be able to give you some statistics regarding 5 and 10 year outcomes. I know my stats were pretty high but remember that only about 2% of women my age will die of something other than breast cancer (I'm 49).

    There are no guarantees but I think with the therapy you're getting the odds are in your favor.

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited December 2010

    Doctors are sometimes reluctant to give an estimate on life expectancy for many reasons -- one of the biggest is that they can be completely wrong.  My mother was dx with stage IIIc ovarian cancer, given 6 months to live -- twice -- and flew past those "deadlines" twice.  Also, there are new options coming down the line all the time that can change outcomes.  Certainly you can look at the statistics and odds and perhaps give yourself some peace of mind that way.  But in the meantime, try to focus on living today.  I know it's cliche but it's really all any of us have.  Cancer is terrifying, but as someone said, it's not an automatic death sentence, especially since you're stage II.  Treatment can be rough but it's quite do-able, they can control SE's so much better than they could even 5 years ago, and you'll find lots of support here.  Best of luck and a warm hug.

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  • molly52
    molly52 Member Posts: 389
    edited December 2010

    Hi fanny4:

    I am sorry you have been dx.  It is really scary when you look forward to all the treatments ahead.  A cancer dx is frightening.  You have come to the right place.  You will find everyone very knowledgeable here.  They are all either going through the treatments or looking back on their treatments.

    I see you are from Ontario. We have a Canadian thread here.  It is quite active with people going through treatment.  

    Your doctor should have been more informative. You are entitled to all the information necessary to make informed decisions.  If you do not feel you doctor will provide all the necessary information - you are entitled to a second opinion.  You are going to be with this doctor for 5 years.  If the relationship isn't open and honest at the beginning, is it likely to improve over time?  Put yourself first here.

    (Gentle Hugs for tomorrow)

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  • KittyDog
    KittyDog Member Posts: 1,079
    edited December 2010

    Still here one year later. My grade was a 2 and I only had one node positive and my tumor started out at 10cm.  Stage IIIB.  You can beat this and get through chemo and radiation.

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  • RachelKa
    RachelKa Member Posts: 174
    edited February 2011

    Grade 3 is scary, but 3 nodes is very few for grade three and usually once you're in your 70's the  cancer grows slower than if you were below 50. Also, estrogen positive is also often less agressive. I didn't notice you're whole diagnosis? Is it Her2 negative? I know you are scared and understand. I bet everyone here does. Ask your doctor more questions. If you don[t feel the answer told you enough, I think you should try to find a nice way to let your doctor know you still have questions to better understand, tell him/her you're asking just because you  feel more comfortable when you understand. So important to be able to communicate with your  doctor, even though we are here for you. I wish you well. Have a nice weekend if you see this before the weekend is over. :)

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