Do I change Drs?

My staging was on my path report. I don't believe it was my BS or ONC that staged me but the pathologist. Did you ever get a copy of your path report? If not you should. Make sure the NP had the right path report. If your NP is correct I think you need to discuss this with  your doctor. It might be a total misunderstanding. 

What does that mean "spread beyond the nodes" It still sounds like you might be a stage 3A. Here is some staging information:  http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/Patient/page2 

Kimmom,

Neither my surgeon nor Onc came out and gave me a stage at diagnosis, and I didn't ask. It was at my first followup after chemo and rads that I asked, although I already had staged myself using the info I had, when I was ready. I think if you didn't have your pathology report, I can see where you would be confused. My staging was not on my path report, as Iago's was, but it did give the size of the tumor, the grade, and the number of nodes, so with that I could figure it out.

When I did recently ask about my stage, my onc said he doesn't want me getting hung up on a number. He said it doesn't really mean much, and I found out too that he gave me a treatment as if I was stage 3 and not 2 because of the size of my tumor. So in the end, you are right, it probably wouldn't have changed much as far as your treatment goes. So much of this disease is mental, so try to stay positive and don't fixate on your stage. I know ignorance is not bliss, with cancer. I'm just saying that your onc may have his own reasons for not being completely honest with you.

Peace and blessings,

Shelley 

I don't think the oncologists want to give out a diagnosis like IIIc.  If there's obvious mets then they have to be honest about the limitations of what the possibilities are, but they don't want patients to get so overwhelmed by the staging that they can't cope with it.  I don't think it's their intention to deceive as much as to make sure patients don't lose hope.   I do understand their thought process, but they also have to understand that when patients don't feel as though the doc is being straight with them, they begin to lose trust in them.

The 'spread beyond the nodes' part sounds like what is putting you into IIIc territory.  I would ask more questions about the specifics of this part of your diagnosis, so you understand which nodes, where, and whether they were treated with the rads you had.   Hopefully you are on some kind of hormone therapy to deal with any cancer that may have made it through all your other treatments.

Kimmom, my onc never told me stage at the beginning of my tx and I didn't ask because I didn't want to know. We discussed all the details of my path report (I also had a copy) and treatments but not numbers. 

The websites I saw staged me at either IIIa  or IIb so for over a year I called myself IIb since I liked the stats better. When I finally asked the onc at a follow-up visit he said he'd staged me at IIIa.

The point is, you got the best treatment for your particular pathology no matter what "stage" the onc said. Staging is not an absolute; it is intended to help decide treatments.

All the best.

Leah

I never asked my stage it was pretty clear with all the nodes involved.

I guess that is what makes me a c, but sherri, all my nodes were in there little  capsules.

See thats where I get confused, tumor 4.5 big,  10 nodes, but had not gone outside the nodes, so

I don't know for sure, maby I don't want to!  Kim, lots of prayers are coming your way!

You can do this!

stephanie

Kim - I get what you're saying.  Although the treatment is the same and logically you know that with either dx you would have rec'd the same treatment, it's still hard to hear that it's staged a little further than what you thought.  My surgical onc was wonderful, explained everything and refused to give me a stage before surgery, my primary said they couldn't stage, but guessed it was 2.  After surgery was when I was staged at 3A.  I do remember my drs telling me everything, as I asked the questions and not explaining more than I was asking.  Maybe they do that in order to not overwhelm us or in the midst of explaining everything it was forgotten or overlooked.