grade 3

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Rachel1
Rachel1 Member Posts: 363
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Do those with grade 3 do just as well as those with other grades. Someone once told me or I read it that grade 3 cells respond really well to chemo. Is that true?

Thanks,

Rachel

______________________

IDC 4.5 grade 3, lymph nodes +, BRCA2+, ER/PR+ 

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  • caaclark
    caaclark Member Posts: 936
    edited November 2011

    I am not sure but I was Grade 3-5 yrs. ago so I hope you are correct.

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  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited November 2011

    The theory behind that is based on the fact that chemo targets fast dividing cells...and cancer is mostly fast dividing cells. Grade 3 cancer is the fastest, so the response seen in that grade is usually more pronounced.



    It certainly isn't to say that slower growing cancers don't respond to chemo, but they are tougher to gauge.



    The trick with all cancers is to find the right chemo combination that finds the chinks in your particular cancer so it can infiltrate and kill the cancer cells.

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited November 2011

    My personal opinion is that grade is too broad a brush.  I believe there is more to it than that.  I also heard that grade 3 responds more readily to chemo but it sure didn't in my case.  No response.  I've also seen grade 3 women continue for many years with no evidence of disease.

    My onc is more concerned about the BRCA2 mutation.  But I'm a year and a half from active tx and still NED.

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited November 2011

    I'm sorry, I hate to change the subject but my dr never mentions anything about my BRCA+ status....what does your dr say about it, Christy?

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited November 2011

    Of all the factors (stage, grade, pleomorphic lobular, etc), he feels that the BRCA mutation is the most concerning.  Probably because we got no response on neoadjuvant chemo.  I think he still carries concerns that we might not have gotten all the rogue cells.  That was why he finally decided that carbo would be good to try after I was done with rads; they have found that the platinum chemos work better on BRCA cancers.  Of course there is also that little bit of breast tissue left after the BMX.  Too bad they couldn't have used a vacuum cleaner to wipe up all the corners!

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  • Rachel1
    Rachel1 Member Posts: 363
    edited November 2011

    Hi AnacortesGirl,

    I'm BRCA2+ also. Doesn't that bite. I also had BMX with diep reconstruction.  We didn't know I was BRCA2+ at the time I had chemo.  In fact, my local onc was the one who insisted on testing for it. My 2nd opinion -- university hosp. oncs -- figured I was too old -- 50 at dx.  I've also had an oomph and am on tamoxifen. Judging from how I look or feel I think my estrogen at this point is pretty dang low, if any at all.  For me there was no family history what so ever. What is your follow-up going to be? I just had my BMX and the pathology was fine, but I'm curious will you do ultra sounds or MRI's at regular intervals?  I'm right there with you on the vacuum cleaner approach. 

    I do think as time goes on they're going to find that there are a lot more genetic mutations involved than BRCA1 and 2.  

    Rachel 

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited November 2011

    Thanks Christy...I find out more from ya'll than I do from my dr.  Everything you said is the first I'm hearing about it...WTH!  I had response from neoadj. chemo...I guess we're all different and so is every BC.  I agree Rachel, there are more mutations and I think some eviromental things are a concern too.

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited November 2011

    Rachel,

    I didn't have any reconstruction so I won't be getting any MRIs or US on the chest wall area.  Any bumps will be easy to detect.  I'm suppose to have a follow-up every 3 months with my onc and he tells me this will be for the rest of my life.  Since I'm on tamoxifen I will be getting a transvaginal US once a year.  My mom only had a lumpectomy so she has to switch between a mammo and an MRI every 6 months.  Yuck!

    After two and a half years with my onc I sense that he wants baseline scans after tx and then scans only when symptoms call for it.  However he doesn't seem adverse if it's been a year since the previous scan.

    We've had conversations about the future and if I should recur or get mets.  The Parp Inhibitors are still looking pretty good for BRCA cancers.  I just wish there had been a trial for stage III with a Parp Inhibitor at the time I did chemo.

    Jenny -

    When I was in active tx I did a lot of researching.  Each time I went to the onc I had a list of questions in my notebook.  It didn't take long for the onc to figure out that I was leaving the exam room until I had all my questions answered to my satisfaction!  He's a good guy and gets a kick out of teasing me about it.

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited November 2011

    Thanks Christy...I do write down questions and take to my dr.  I like her but we don't have a connection, if that makes sense, I think part of the problem is I was done with active tx when I got to her.  I'll be asking about my BRCA at my next appt., it was addressed by my other onc and gyno just for the ooph but that's really all I heard about it after getting my test results.

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  • JacquelineG
    JacquelineG Member Posts: 282
    edited November 2011

    I'm BRCA2 positive and had an internal mammary node that was positive and wiped out with chemo (had PET scans before and after). My onc thought that was a good sign that chemo was working well. She also told me about an extensive study done in Israel with BRCA positive vs. negative patients, and there was no difference in survival rates for them. There are also various studies which show BRCA patients responding better to chemo than non BRCA -- an important one regarding BRCA2 and ovarian cancer.

    Just trying to offer an counter argument for BRCA2! Also,lots of different BRCA2 mutations so we all respond differently!

    jackie

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited November 2011

    Thanks Jackie...lets hope the same is true for BRCA1 as well :)

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  • Rachel1
    Rachel1 Member Posts: 363
    edited November 2011

    Thanks Jackie -- wow, lots of good info. on BRCA2. Glad to hear survival rates are the same with BRCA negative and positive folks and that BRCA patients respond better to chemo. Something in our favor!!;o)

    Rachel 

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