a few questions about diagnosis

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rabbit
rabbit Member Posts: 613
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

I am curious, I can't get a stage yet until surgery, which will happen after chemo...the MRI showed a few inflamed nodes, does this mean I am a stage II probably? I know it's a grade 3.....I had a bone scan and CT scan and it showed clear, how accurate are those? Does that mean the chances that it has spread anywhere else are slim to none? Or is that not accurate at all? 

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  • jdeking
    jdeking Member Posts: 408
    edited June 2011

    It's so hard to say until they actually have the nodes under a microscope. They can be inflamed for a number of reasons. If your tumor is 4cm, then you are already stage II - just needs to be determined whether you're IIa or IIb.

    I think the CT and bone scans are fairly accurate, and you should feel confident in those results. There is no guarantee that cells have not traveled to other places in your body, but chemo will take care of those pesky buggers. You will most likely have repeat scans in 6 mos to a year and will look for any changes that may have occurred.

    Good luck to you! This beginning part is the worst - things get better once you start the treatment ball rolling and feel like you have some control again.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited June 2011

    rabbit you might not repeat those scans. My onc doesn't unless there is a symptom.

    BTW stage II is still considered an early stage (as is some of the stage III).

    jdeking is correct. The beginning of the journey is hell. You are just scared of the unknown. It really isn't quite as bad as I though it was going to be. You will be OK. They are going to treat you now. This is a very treatable disease. And you will feel like you again.

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  • rabbit
    rabbit Member Posts: 613
    edited June 2011

    Thank you both for the info, I so much appreciate it. My family and friends say I am handling this with such positive attitude and doing so well mentally, considering. I know I will be okay too, it's the rocky road ahead that I am welcoming with open arms to get that nasty stuff out of my body, but if rocky is what it is, I'll deal with it! 

    And yes, the unknown is the worst to think I was freaking a bit about the MUGA scan LOL ... can I do that every day for the next 5 months instead!

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  • vickilf
    vickilf Member Posts: 95
    edited July 2011

    there is no guarantee that cells haven't traveled to other places in your body.  

     Question:      Should we all have chemo even if it looks like the cancer is in one place? 

    Vicki

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited June 2011

    Vickilf I had one tumor and no lymph nodes. (Small amount of LCIS in other breast but that's really pre-cancer). Anyway I did the chemo & Herceptin.  Why? because there is a chance that something microscopic did get out to some other part of my body. The scans will only pick up lesions once they reach a certain size. Scans do not see microscopic cancer cells.

    So even though my cancer seemed localized we don't know for sure. 

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  • rabbit
    rabbit Member Posts: 613
    edited June 2011

    Yep, I think it's a great thing I am doing chemo then surgery...I think it makes my chances better that it's all stopped or removed from my body. 

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