Node positive but no ALND - how to know if stage IIB or III?

Lou10
Lou10 Member Posts: 332
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

I had a SNB and the sentinel node plus an intramammary node (found during my lumpectomy) were positive. Both nodes also had extranodal extension, so my MO believes I had considerable node involvement. I ended up having radiation to my nodes instead of ALND surgery. So I have no idea how many other nodes were positive, what condition other cancerous nodes were in (e.g., clumped together, etc.), or where they were located. How, then, can I know with any certainty that I'm stage IIB and not stage III?

Anyone else in this situation? Did your MO tell you how this might affect staging? Thanks!

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Comments

  • evergreen9
    evergreen9 Member Posts: 131
    edited October 2012

    Try not to worry about whether it is stage 2b vs. Stage 3. Dr Susan Love, big-time oncologist/writer/advocate in the U.S. says that staging is useful for collecting stats, but not as significant as other factors, e.g., the biology of your cancer, which determines its best treatment. I know when I was first diagnosed I was fixating too, wishing I was stage 2, etc. As time passes, it seems to become less important.
    But I regret, I don't have the answer to your question...
    Good luck to you!
    /p>

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  • Lou10
    Lou10 Member Posts: 332
    edited October 2012

    Evergreen9 - I appreciate your response. I don't know why I'm thinking about it now -- I agree it's not as significant as other factors and I wasn't worried about it before. I think it surprised me that I've never even considered, or asked, the question! A close friend of mine was just diagnosed for the second time, so that may be part of it. Also, I'm being checked out for bone pain, which is probably nothing ... but all sorts of things are going through my head these days. 

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

    I was told the same thing Lou. The staging wasnt as important as the Grade which I was told was the size of the tumor. I had the biology of my cancer tested by Genomic Labs for the Oncotype test. Thankfully it was determined to be small and non aggressive. My score was 11 so I was blessed.

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited October 2012

    Lou, staging is mainly one of the tools used to decide your tx. It has psychological significance for us but no other practical significance. I think what's on your mind is wondering what will be in the future, and really, defining you cancer by stage will have no effect on whether or not you get progression in the future.

    Whether you're Stage II or III, I hope you never go any further.

    Leah

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

    Lou, in Australia we aren't given a stage.  When I asked my bs and onc about it, they said it wasn't important.  I just looked at the info on BCO to determine my stage.

    Trish

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  • Lou10
    Lou10 Member Posts: 332
    edited October 2012

    Thanks for your posts, Edwards, Leah, and Trish.

    Leah - you've hit the nail on the head .... it's my concern about what will happen. Now that I've had this "revelation", it's almost as if I think I'm worse off, which is ridiculous of course. I appreciate your well wishes, and hope you're doing okay.

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  • KathyNSW
    KathyNSW Member Posts: 57
    edited November 2012

    Hi Trisha-anne,

    I am from Australia and I was given a stage and grade as well as everything else . My friends also did too.

    But I agree though, that is not important .xx

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