What is stage 1a and stage 1b

Janie-bug
Janie-bug Member Posts: 181
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

Can someone plz tell me the difference between stage 1a and 1b. I see ladies dx with tumors that were the same size as mine but have their stage at 1b. My MO told me that there was no stage 1a or 1b and said I was a stage 2a so I am very curious. I have tried to research this and have found little information.

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  • Linda1966
    Linda1966 Member Posts: 633
    edited February 2012

    Theres some wonderful women in BCO that can explain it all to you, unfortunately Im not one of them lol. Beesie gave me this link when I was checking my own staging http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/healthprofessional/page3.

    Also she explains my staging to me very well in the the last few comments in the below thread.

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/68/topic/727590?page=4#idx_113

    Im sorry Im not not experienced enough in helping you determine your own staging or the reasons for it, but if you read these 2 threads, i think it will help you while we wait for Beesie or some other very experienced lady to come online and help you with your own situation.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited February 2012

    Hi Janie-bug,

    There's some really good information on staging on the main Breastcancer.org site:

    Haven't seen any information about Ia or Ib, but there is info on IIa and IIb.

    Hope this helps!

    --The Mods

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  • Janie-bug
    Janie-bug Member Posts: 181
    edited February 2012
    Thank you VERY VERY much for respondingSmile
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  • hawk
    hawk Member Posts: 305
    edited February 2012

    I don't know how to make hillck's Link a working link either but I cut and paste the section you were asking about "The overall stage of breast cancer ranges from 0 to IV. Stage 0 breast cancer is noninvasive; that is, cancer cells are found only inside the ducts or lobules in the breast (Tis). A breast cancer that is small (T1) is classified as stage I disease. The updated AJCC staging system now subclassifies stage I disease as either stage IA or stage IB. With stage IA breast cancer, there is no spread of disease to lymph nodes (pN0), and with stage IB breast cancer, there is micrometastasis in the nodes (pN1mi). Micrometastasis refers to a very limited number of tumor cells in a node."



    My path report actually say 1a. You can find the defininition of 1a and 1b on other cancer sites as well.

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  • hawk
    hawk Member Posts: 305
    edited February 2012

    Here is another link with the stages and differences. This one also refers to stage 1a and 1b.



    http://www.nccn.org/patients/patient_guidelines/breast/files/mobile/index.html#26

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  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 25,634
    edited February 2012

    http://PatientResource.net/Breast_Cancer_Staging.aspx

    Here is hillck link.

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  • Janie-bug
    Janie-bug Member Posts: 181
    edited February 2012

    Thanks again everyone the information is very helpfull....Your ALL rock!!!!!!!

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  • munnybunni
    munnybunni Member Posts: 156
    edited February 2012

    just been told i have stage 1A

    recurrence is 22% in five years without chemo

    i will have to listen to the tape that i took in drs office with me cause i cant remember how she said some things

    going to a genetic dr on march 1....go to chemo dr on march 2...at drs office they gave me script for wig said i will lose my hair during chemo.  i dont know what kind of chemo yet...this is all so overwhelming.

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  • SallyBee
    SallyBee Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2012

    Hello everyone ,  I am new to this site.  I was diagnosed with Stage 1cancer this past November 30, 2011.  I had my lumpectomy on Dec. 21-11 and am deciding upon a treatment plan.  My question to you is this, should I include chemo?  My oncotype is 16% with no chemo.  From what the nurse tells me, I have the typical "garden variety" readings which puts me smack in the middle of "intermediate risk of recurrence".  I have no choice but to work through my treatment.  What is tipping the scale for me to consider chemo is my doctor saying that first time around with cancer is an attempt at curing.  Should it return, it becomes preventative treatment.  Can I live with the fear of waiting for the other shoe to drop?  Any sharing, any directing me to a site or any advice would be so appreciated.  Thank you so much.

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  • Janie-bug
    Janie-bug Member Posts: 181
    edited March 2012

    bumping

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  • bluepearl
    bluepearl Member Posts: 961
    edited March 2012

    My understanding in Canada is a tumor under 1 cm is Stage T1a and between 1cm and 2cm, T1b. They add micrometastisis (nodes) too.

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  • TinaT
    TinaT Member Posts: 2,300
    edited March 2012

    My path report states that my main tumor (ILC) was Stage 1b.  My BS and MO told me that the letters after the "1" indicate the tumor size.  Mine was 8mm so I was Stage 1b (5mm to 1cm). 

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  • Janie-bug
    Janie-bug Member Posts: 181
    edited March 2012

    Ok that makes since tina T I asked My MO about it and she told me that there was realy no a or b just stage 1..Huhhhh.....I have seen so many people on the boards with these stages whats up with that?//

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