Breast Cancer Stages.

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angelbaby1
angelbaby1 Member Posts: 46
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

When I got my breast cancer diagnosis, I was not given a stage. I did some research online and found that a tumor less than 2cm is stage 1. My notes tell my that my invasive tumor was 15mm, but DCIS brought my overall tumor size to 28mm. So which one do I go by for staging? Am I stage 1 or stage 2?

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  • Belinda977
    Belinda977 Member Posts: 381
    edited September 2012

    I believe they ususally give you your stage after surgery.  They need to make sure of the size if it has gotten in your lymph nodes.  I was 1.5cm and no node involvement, so state 1A

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  • angelbaby1
    angelbaby1 Member Posts: 46
    edited September 2012

    They gave me all the other info, just not stage. I will definitely ask them at my next appointment, but thats not for a couple of months and I am really curious. there was no node involvement. im just confused as to whether i go by the size of the invasive tumor (1.5cm) which would put me at stage 1, or the overall size including DCIS (2.8cm) which would make it stage 2

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  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited September 2012

    I'm confused. Did you have surgery already? If so, then yes, they should know the stage. That's when they also know whether there is node involvement, which is one of the factors. I believe the stage is based on just the IDC portion. If you don't want to wait, you could call and ask for a copy of your path reports. Does your cancer center have a nurse advocate? That person should be able to go over everything with you--mine was a great resource between appts with the docs.

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  • angelbaby1
    angelbaby1 Member Posts: 46
    edited September 2012

    Yes i've had a lumpectomy and a mastectomy, so I have all the info other than the stage. I will def ask them at my next appointment, i just thought someone could tell me before then. Invasive tumor measures 1.5cm, DCIS increases overall tumor size to 2.8cm. No node involvement, grade 2, Estrogen and pregesterone positive, HER-2 negative. DCIS is intermediate to high grade. The only thing they didnt spell out to me was the stage. I dont know whether to go by the invasive tumor size or overall tumor size including DCIS

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited September 2012

    Ebony, do you have a copy of your surgical pathology?  It should be included on that.  If they got most of your bc except for margins and that's why you went back for an mx, then it should be on the report from your lumpectomy.  If you don't have a copy, call your surgeon's office and ask them for one.     Deanna

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  • angelbaby1
    angelbaby1 Member Posts: 46
    edited September 2012

    I've read it over and over and its def not on there. Looks like no one really knows so i will wait til my appointment. my margins were clear except for the DCIS which is why i had a mx. Thanks anyway for the responses :)

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited September 2012

    You might also call the surgeon's office and ask them to clarify the stage for you.  If it was omitted from your report, they should be able to track down that info' for you so that you won't have to wait until your next app't. for the answer.  It's a question I think most women would want to know, for your own peace of mind.    Deanna

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited September 2012

    Ebony agree with dlb and others. My BS told me I was Stage 1 before the surgery. I guess he knew from the mammograms; however, it became Stage 2 when a micromet was discovered in the SN. I was told the drs were more concerned with the grade than the stage. I would think both were equally important. Regardless you need to know what you are dealing with. Let us know. Diane

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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited September 2012

    I'd call them. Two month wait for an appointment?  I had both IDC & DCIS in both breasts. Only the IDC dimensions were used. I ended up stage 2 because of lymph node involvement on one side.

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  • angelbaby1
    angelbaby1 Member Posts: 46
    edited September 2012

    2 month wait because i've already have follow ups with the surgeon - and even had an oncology appointment recently, but at the time i thought it was stage 2 so i didnt feel the need to ask. now i am not so sure. how nice it would b to find out my diagnosis is not as bad as i thought instead of receiving bad news all the time! i think i will bite the bullet and give them a call

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  • jacee
    jacee Member Posts: 1,384
    edited September 2012

    I believe for staging, the largest invasive component of the tumor is what determines the size of the tumor.

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  • LittleMelons
    LittleMelons Member Posts: 273
    edited September 2012

    My impression is also that it is the IDC protion that is used for staging.  So with no node involvement that would make you stage 1.  Good idea to give them a call.  Good luck and please let us know what you find out.

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  • jenn333
    jenn333 Member Posts: 178
    edited September 2012

    As DCIS is always stage zero, I assume you just ignore the DCIS for staging purposes and go with the size of the largest invasive tumor.  If you have no node involvement, 15mm would put you at Stage I (assuming this is your post surgery path report you're referring to).

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  • Catrina
    Catrina Member Posts: 16
    edited September 2012

    Only the invasive cancer is included in the staging; I also had dcis and invasive, the dcis was over 7 cm and not considered in the staging. With no lymph node involvement 15mm would be a stage 1.

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  • suemed8749
    suemed8749 Member Posts: 1,151
    edited September 2012

    Ebony, I agree with the others. I also had a mix of DCIS and IDC - and had two IDC tumors. Only the largest invasive tumor was used for staging.

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited September 2012

    One more confirmation here that the DCIS should not be included in the tumor size. 

    Like Catrina I had over 7 cm of DCIS, but I had just 1mm of IDC.  My staging is Stage IA, with a T1mi tumor.  I'd be Stage IIB if the DCIS and IDC were added together, which would make no sense whatsoever, given the small amount of invasive cancer that I had. 

    So with a 1.5cm tumor and no nodal involvement, you are Stage IA.  

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  • angelbaby1
    angelbaby1 Member Posts: 46
    edited September 2012

    Great!!! thank u all so much for your responses. i will still ask at my next appointment but i feel a whole lot better now that i am pretty sure its stage 1 when all this time i've been thinking it was stage 2. Thanks again!!

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  • angelbaby1
    angelbaby1 Member Posts: 46
    edited September 2012

    So i spoke to my surgeon about this and there is not really a clear cut answer. she said staging is really for all the doctors to know what they are dealing with when speaking to each other about my treatment, and that generally they look at the size of the whole tumor. but a lot of the times people to just go by the IDC so i sit somewhere in the middle. still a little confusing, but i am also going to ask my oncologist at my next appointment, although that is not for 6 months.

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  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 2,112
    edited September 2012

    Ebony - are you in Australia by any chance?  Only asking as I didn't have a stage on my path reports either, when I asked my bs about it I was told they don't use it here so much any more.


    Trish

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  • angelbaby1
    angelbaby1 Member Posts: 46
    edited September 2012
    yes trish i am. must b an australian thing. i was told they do still use it but its more for the docs than for us. not sure why they wouldnt think we wouldnt want to know Undecided
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  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 2,112
    edited September 2012

    Yes - I don't know why they wouldn't think we'd want to know either - I found mine by information on this site - if you look here http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/staging.jsp it will give you more information.

    Not sure if you know we have an Australian Sisters page on here - if you go down to "Support and Community Connections" on the Topics list  - there's an Australian and New Zealand page.  Please feel free to come join us.

    Trish

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  • angelbaby1
    angelbaby1 Member Posts: 46
    edited September 2012

    Thank you Trish that link is very helpful - it clearly states 'invasive' cancer. wow, that puts me back in 1a. i'll take it!!

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  • michellej1980
    michellej1980 Member Posts: 342
    edited October 2012

    I asked my BS what stage my cancer was yesterday when I went to get my results. He said they don't really stage BC unlike my previous lymphoma and went on to mention instead something called the Nottingham Prognostic Index. Even UK cancer sites explain stages so I don't know why it was not mentioned in my report or that he said what he did.

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  • angelbaby1
    angelbaby1 Member Posts: 46
    edited October 2012

    yes i was told they dont go by stages so much and r more worried about the grade. that doesnt make sense to me because the size of the tumor seems very important for treatment and overall prognosis. what is the nottingham prognostic index? do u have a link?

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  • momof3boys
    momof3boys Member Posts: 896
    edited October 2012

    I think they now figure lots of characteristics into formulating a treatment plan and diagnosis and prognosis. I had a large tumor, but no nodal involvement and no LVI. ILC tumors form in more of a "line" than a lump....my MO called my tumor "a big old lazy tumor"

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