What is considered early stage?

I think of early stage as 0 or I  (maybe some stage II).  I'm not trying to burst your bubble, because I myself am stage III.

I remember the day I was diagnosed.  My breast surgeon did an ultrsound that showed my tumor and 2 enlarged lymph nodes.  He sent me down the hall (in the breast center) to get a biopsy with a piece of paper in my hand that said " locally advanced breast cancer".  My heart just sank.

One of my onc's used the term "early stage bc" in our initial conversation, and I actually stopped her so I could clarify what she had said.  Looking back now I'm not sure if she misspoke as I don't think my stats would jive with that.  Locally advanced is what I have come to accept.  Not great, but not mets, so I'll take it thank you!

Sharon

Angiolymphatic invasion is not the same thing as having lymph node involvement.  I was bilateral, and had lymph node involvement on both sides, but had angiolymphatic invasion only on the side that was staged IIIB (other side was staged at IIA).  It means the cancer has invaded the blood vessels or the lymph vessels (not the lymph nodes). 

Or some oncs use "early stage" to refer to anything that is NOT Stage IV ... I like to think of mine that way.

I like to believe that we are not a stage,  we are women that got a disease. The disease was removed by surgery, chemo, rads, and anything else that was thrown at us. The rest my friends is out of our control, early or not. Try not to loose sleep over these fine lines of early verses late,

just trust your docs, and live, just live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God bless you all,

S