Lymph Nodes involved 2b to 3a?

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Kayrem
Kayrem Member Posts: 164
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

Hi

Is there a number of lymph nodes affected that move you from stage 2b to 3a.  I have 3 nodes and one micromet - so 4 in total, and my BS says I am 2b.  But I have noticed that no one else seems to have this many node involved on the 2b forum, however lots of people have this many nodes involved in the stage 3 forum.  I can not find anyinformation about this on the internet and I am just curious ... 

Thanks

Karen 

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  • christina1961
    christina1961 Member Posts: 736
    edited July 2011

    I will be interested in this also as it looks like I could have three positi ve nodes.  The path report will be back first of next week.  I am really worried now and didn't expect more than one positive node.

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  • pejkug3
    pejkug3 Member Posts: 902
    edited July 2011
    "Stage IIB: One of the following applies:

    T2, N1, M0: The tumor is larger than 2 cm and less than 5 cm across (T2). It has spread to 1 to 3 axillary lymph nodes and/or tiny amounts of cancer are found in internal mammary lymph nodes on sentinel lymph node biopsy (N1). The cancer hasn't spread to distant sites (M0).

    Stage IIIA: One of the following applies:

    T0 to T2, N2, M0: The tumor is not more than 5 cm across (or cannot be found) (T0 to T2). It has spread to 4 to 9 axillary lymph nodes, or it has enlarged the internal mammary lymph nodes (N2). The cancer hasn't spread to distant sites (M0)."

    Source:  http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancer/DetailedGuide/breast-cancer-staging

    The micromet could be the reason your onc is saying Stage IIb.  Some oncs consider micromets to be node negative.

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