Stage III versus lower

Options
1234568»

Comments

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2011

    Windlass, with all due respect, you aren't the sickest ladies in the room. Let's give that to the Stage IV ladies.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2011

    Ouch.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TonLee
    TonLee Member Posts: 2,626
    edited March 2011

    Windlass,

    I see you are triple pos too.  We have a thread for we triple pos gals...if you'd like to join us....

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80/topic/764183?page=15#idx_436

    I dunno why that link isn't working...but we're under HER2/NEU...TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2011

    Thanks, TonLee - I appreciate the invitation!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • HollyinMich
    HollyinMich Member Posts: 210
    edited March 2011

    Hmmm, I've been reading through all the posts on this thread and trying to formulate my response to the topic.  I agree with a majority of the ladies that cancer is cancer and that the staging really is more for deciding treatment paths.  Everyone has their own unique situation and regardless of staging we should be here to support each other.

    Windlass, I am also on the February Surgery board and I was very saddened to see your news.  But keep in mind that while positive pathology posts might make you feel worse about your results there is a bigger picture to someone's diagnosis than just the post surgical patho reports.  I am one of the ladies that had really excellent post surgical pathology reports, everything came back clean, but I was diagnosed with IBC stage IIIb Her2+ and as my onco likes to remind me it's an extreamly aggressive cancer and a lot of times aggressive cancers respond well to chemo but they have a HIGH rate of reoccurance!  I am soo not out of the woods by any means! 

    Also, I had to endure 6 months of hellish and aggressive chemo to get to where I am and the loss of both of my breasts.  Due to my high risk for reoccurance I CAN'T have reconstruction for at least two years!  So I have at least two years of feeling mangled on top of the loss of my VERY long hair that will also take years to grow back before I can begin the process to feel a new normal.  This disease strikes a large blow to us all in different ways and we should all be mindful of that and be as supportive as we can to all of those on this journey!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jteach
    jteach Member Posts: 199
    edited March 2011

    Agent Mo (and all others),

    I can only say that I couldn't tell you what stage the people were that I've responded to.  I have never been disrespectful or trite, and when I vehemently disagree with a post, I say it to myself, not online.  But if I've offended anyone, I apologize.

    Janice 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2011

    Liz:  Did the article you had read say anything about a cancer that has more than one "grade" involved?  I had just that type of tumor, said to have both Grade 1, 2 & 3 areas.  I'm just pissed that they didn't even see any evidence of it until I actually felt something.  Ladies, whether you have to get mammos now or not, tell your docs to push for better testing standards.  Now there is supposedly a 3-D mammo, but I'm sure it will be a couple of years before it's used everywhere.

    TonLee:  I agree with you.  I have heard Stage 1's quickly going to Stage 3.  This disease is a thief and deception is its strong card. 

    HUGS to all -- Shelly

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2011

    Shelley, they would treat you as your highest grade, so you'd be a grade 3.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lilylady
    lilylady Member Posts: 1,079
    edited March 2011

     I just got my pathology report today but haven't yet filled out the thing where it shows under my name. I am IDC triple negative, >6cm primarily imbedded in the chest wall, Stage IIIb, Grade 2. Has anyone come across anyone whose tumour is in the chest wall? They said that's why it hardly showed on the mammo. I will be having neoadjuvant chemo so I will have to visit the triple neg thread to see what's going on there. What I wonder is if they shrink it with chemo will it just get smaller and still be in my chest or will it receed away from the chest? She has measured the tumour at more than 10cm with only 2.5cm in the breast itself.

     The BS said to try to remove it surgically right now I would lose the majority of the chest muscle as well as the breast. Any advice welcome please.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited March 2011

    Lily, you would probably get more responses if you started a new thread with this post. there are quite a few of the Stage 3'ers that had chemo before surgery to shrink things.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lilylady
    lilylady Member Posts: 1,079
    edited March 2011

    Thanks KerryMac-I am still a real beginner at this.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kathleen1966
    kathleen1966 Member Posts: 793
    edited March 2011

    AgentMo, I am sorry you feel this way.  We are nearly the same diagnosis, only you are not HER2+.  Your cancer is, therefore, not as aggressive as mine is.  I would be more than happy to hear from you on the Her2+ forum. And I wish I could convince you to not be hurt when another from a lower stage posts on the stage III forum Smile.

     I don't understand the stage wars.  I would never be offended by a stage 0 or 1 or 2 person posting on a stage III forum. We are all on the same journey.  Some are at the beginning, some are at the end, some are in the middle.  Some stage 0's will go on to become stage IV in the future, some stage III's will never have breast cancer again in their lives (notice how I choose this outcome for stage III's, being one Wink) and some stage IV's will live for many, many years and possibly out-live a stage I or II whose cancer will not respond to any treatment and who will quickly proceed to a higher stage and succumb to this horrid disease.  We are all in treatment for BREAST CANCER!!!!!!!!!! I would hate for us to feel we had to change our diagnosis to private to "protect" ourselves from other women who may have less breast cancer than the breast cancer we have.  I know that if I were a stage 0 (how I wish for this at times) or a stage I, that I would be just as scared as I am being a stage III. I know this because I spend about a month being a stage I.  I was happy and hopeful to be in this stage but equally as terrified.  Imagine how scared I was when I woke up from surgery a stage III? I feel much affection for everyone on this site as we are all in this together. And I sure do wish these stage wars would end.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited March 2011

    I would not be offended if a lower stage (or higher stage, for that matter) member responded to a post in this section as long as what they wrote was relevant to the topic and respectful of the different situation of the members.

    A little anecdote: My next door neighbor was diagnosed a couple of years before me and at a much lower stage. However, we are currently on the same medication and are experiencing many of the same side effects. Her much older age (about 15+ years) means she will very likely die before me, so she has her own concerns about her mortality aside from bc.

    My point is that at times, depending on our circumstances, we will overlap with other stages, and even with as many forums as bc.org has created, this section might be the one that has a thread that is relevant to everyone.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited March 2011

    I am on several threads with TonLee. We have been through quite a bit together these past several months. Had we stayed in our separate stage cages we wouldn't have never been there to support each other. I'm a stage IIB and she's a stage IIIA.

    People will always have something that you don't. It could be a higher salary, nicer legs or no nodes. But it could also be things that you don't want like lower salary, crappier legs are more nodes.

    Being HER2+ I try to focus on the half full glass. I mean really only 1/4 of the women are HER2+. I can't be upset with those who are HER2-. I'm so happy they don't have to worry about this extra added "bonus." I focus on the fact that I am being treated by this newer drug Herceptin.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2011

    Lago:  How's the Herceptin going for you?  Did your doc talk about the other choices of AI's, i.e. Arimidex? 

    Barb1958:  Glad they threw everything at it. But then they do the same treatment for 3's as they do for 2's, with my same ER + status/Her neg.  I'm one of the few that think blood types should play a role in how effective treatments will be.  But that's a new thread !

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited March 2011

    Shelly I've had 2 herceptin's only and doing fine. I've been on Anastrozole (generic Arimidex) for 10 days and I think so far things are fine.

    I'm finding my stiffness from chemo is getting much better. Finger nails are growing out and less sore but I still need to be a bit more careful using them. I do seem to have some slight heartburn issues but that might be left over from chemo. Also I have had issues falling asleep at times but once I'm out I sleep fine. Still waiting to see if these thing correct themselves.

    Thanks for asking. How are you doing?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2011

    Lago:  Did your onc tell you the SE's of Anastrozole?  There are many, how long did your doc tell you to be taking it. I am on tamox for another 6 months then change over to AI.  You menopausal or "post" MP? 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited March 2011

    Shelly The plan is 5 years so far. We talked about the SE. I told her I was more scared of this than chemo. Chemo is only for 3.5 months while this treatment is 5 years! Osteoperosis is one of my biggest concerns on this drug.

    We are watching my osteopenia (had a bone scan before chemo due to mom had osteoporosis, thin, white, small boned, used to smoke). I was warned of small joint pain too. She also had my D retested. She said many times the achy bone issue is due to low D. I'm also on calcium for my osteopenina and I have been on D3 for over a year now.

    My onc felt that at my age (just turned 49+1 last month) that I was going to stay in chemopause. I haven't had a period since 2 weeks prior to chemo. She is monitoring my hormone levels with blood tests to be sure because of course if I am not in chemo pause Anastrozole will do nothing. She prefers the Als because although  tamox SE seem a bit more serious (blood clots, uterine cancer). I worry about blood clots too because my mom had that issue.

    I have read up on all the SE of Anastrozole (generic Arimidex).  Seems stiffness and hot flashes are the most common. I swear my hot flashes, which were not bad at all have actually been fewer since I started the drug. Hope that doesn't mean I'm coming out of chemopause… nah I doubt it. Still have chemo vagina Tongue out

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • filrb
    filrb Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2011

    I am newly diagnosed and after reading some of these posts I become even more scared. I have not started treatment yet. My doctor is rushing everything through to start as soon as possible. I know that is good for me but it scares me. I am fairly young and have a 14 year old daughter. i wake up afraid I am going to die. I want to see her graduate and get married. I want to play with my grand children. Right now all i can do is cry. All i can think about is everything I did wrong in order to get to this place. This probably sounds pretty desparate to people out there reading this but I am so terrified.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited March 2011

    O filrb.....

    First of all, you most likely did NOTHING to get to this place, so don't even go there.  It doesn't change anything, and the only thing that happens is that you make yourself miserable for no good reason.  You need to take this time to gather your strength.

    Being scared is normal.  I know I certainly was, and I was derailed by a regular virus.  However, that convinced me that I was on my way out of this world.  I wasn't.  I did a group cycling trip to get my head on straight.

    Be glad that your doctor is rushing things.  This will get you to a treatment plan a lot sooner and through this initial stage of endless waiting.  Use this time to take care of yourself, relax, get stronger, and prepare for the rough road ahead.  However, you most likely will be done with the worst in about 6 months.

    But to go back to your first point......you did nothing wrong.  Really.  This is one of those times that life isn't fair.  Your medical team will be there to help you get through everything.  Let them help you go down this path.  We all get there.  Good luck.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • filrb
    filrb Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2011

    Thank you Claire. I am on my way to visit my oncologist.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • soon2bsurvivor
    soon2bsurvivor Member Posts: 22
    edited March 2011

    I acknowledge how Agent Mo feels.  Frustration and pain are so intertwined. 

    I also believe people are created equal.

    Whatever the stage, we all experience the same unknowns.  I read stage 3 because I am stage 3, as of Jan 2011.  I have much to learn and questions to ask, still pondering AC or TC chemo treatments.  However, what I love about about the strings is the courageous words, perseverance for LIFE and inspiration.   

    I am stage 3a, don't believe it differs much from stage 2. I have 1 node positive and no idea about ER or PR but I am HER-   

    From this site I have learned a slew of questions for my oncologist! Laughing

    Anyone with advice on AC or TC treatments please answer my post under chemo treatments!

    Thanks for your love and support!

    Jeanne

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited March 2011

    Dear Jeanne,

    Since you will be doing chemo anyway, ask your oncologist which protocol gives you the better survival odds.  That is what you want.  Also, you will want to do hormonal therapy if ER+.

    I think it might help your perspective if I told you I feel worse today with the flu than I did at any time during chemo last year.  So we do make it through.  I know how daunting it is at the beginning, and I too was hoping I would escape the hammering.  When my oncologist explained things in terms of survival statistics, the course of action was obviious.

    In fact, I opted for a trial where I would get more than the standard protocol.  I have since learned that this is associated with about a 4% improvement in LT survival for someone Stage IIb (83%-87%).  This is assuming I do the five years of anastrazole.

    Anyway, good luck.  What you need to ask is why your onc is making the recommendations he or she is proposing, and what your likelihood of being here in ten years is with or without the various options.  That will really help you when the going gets tough. - Claire

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • soon2bsurvivor
    soon2bsurvivor Member Posts: 22
    edited March 2011

    Claire

    A BIG HUG and a THANK YOU! 

    Jx

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories