Cancer For the Fourth Time - Stage 111C?

Tara28 · January 2013

Hi Everyone

My mother had BC in 1992, with a radical mastectomy and some lymph nodes removed. No further treatment at that stage.

In 1997 she had a lump removed from her lymphs in her armpit and went on tamoxifen.

In 2010 she had another lumph removed from her armpit and went onto Letrazole.

In Dec 2012 she found some lumps in her lymph nodes in her neck above her collarbone (supraclavicular). There are 'multiple'. Biopsy report:

er-/pr+ (but only 20%) and HER2-. It lists the cells as metastatic poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. CT and bone scans are clear.

We are now waiting for the appointment with the oncologist - looks like chemo and radiation, they are happy she hasn't had any before. The recent Dr from the Breast Clinic told mum that she is now not ever going to be cured but they are looking for remission/management.

I've been researching and would really appreciate any opinions on where we are at the moment. Some particular questions I have:

Is this likely to be stage IIIc?
Will the 'poorly differentiated' probably result in grade 3?
HER2+ is more aggressive than HER2-?
Is triple negative also quite aggressive? The fact than Mum's progesterone is so low does this mean she is close to triple negative?
How serious is Mum looking? (I know that there are lots of treatment options/every cancer is different, etc)

I appreciate so much any honest insights you can give. I have been lurking on the boards for about a week and have learnt so much

Kind Regards

Tara

chrissyb · January 2013

Hi Tara and welcome to BCO. Your mum will now be classified as stage IV because the cancer has left the general area of the breast and moved further afield. Stage IV is always managed in order to give as long a life as possible while keeping a reasonable quality of life. Having said this, please don't loose your bundle as stage IV women, and I'm one of them, can live for many years. Her2+ is more aggressive than Her2- but there is now a drug called Herceptin which is used to treat this very successfully. Triple negative is again more aggressive than ER/PR+ but the main difference in treatment will mean that your mum will be on some form of chemo pretty much from now on regardless rather than perhaps trying another Aromatase Inhibitor although it still may be a possibility due to her PR being 20% +...........but that is her docs call.

I hope this has helped and answered some of your questions.

Love n hugs to you and your mum. Chrissy

Tara28 · January 2013

Thank you so much Chrissy! It will be interesting to see what the oncologist says, we are getting the questions ready. Mum records the appointments which helps us digest them afterwards.

Guess what? We are in SA too, just out of the city! I am directing Mum to these boards. She has recently mastered texting so we will see if she posts or just lurks.

chrissyb · January 2013

Tara we have an Aussie girls thread here and there are some really lovely ladies there as well, of all stages.

Do you know where Burra is? It's 40ks N/E of Clare. I'm often in the city and environs and if you like I'll PM you my phone numbers if your mum would like to talk. To open a PM just look at your menu click on it and it will open. You will be notified by a number being next to the Private Message in the list.

Sure hope your mum gets some good answers to her questions. The waiting around to find out about things is probably the hardest part of this whole thing.

Love n UBS. Chrissy

Tara28 · January 2013

Hi Chrissy

I sure do know where Burra is. We lived in Tarlee for about 4 years when I was younger. Thanks for the PM. I got the phone numbers. You're very sweet!! Much appreciated

Tara28 · January 2013

Just wondering if there is anyone else who could add some insight? Thanks :-)

lkc · January 2013

Hi Tara.

Staging criteria can actually differ depending on a number of factors, including geograpical locations, along with what entity is doing the staging.

Where I received my treatment only those with CNS (brain/spinal cord) visceral ( organ ) mets or bone mets were staged at IV.

Those with recurrence to local areas, such as lymph nodes as your Moms were termed Local recurrence.

However in both local recurrence and metastatic recurrence, what the drs are recomending is right on.

What is much more important then the "stage" is that you Mom's scans are clean, which is a blessing. As the doctors advised her they will treat her to keep the disease from progressing.

Tara28 · January 2013

Thank you Linda. I really appreciate your thoughts. We are just waiting for the oncologist appointment to be scheduled. We have fought this before and will do so this time, however it's starting to get serious. Bring on the big guns!

Tara28 · January 2013

We had the appointment with the oncologist today - who was a lovely man. Mum is Stage IV, Grade 3 and Triple negative (despite the small amount of progesterone). The average prognosis is 1 -2 years however Mum is in great shape and hasn't got mets. You could almost say it's still localised.

They will probably start radiotherapy and hold off on the chemo as she is not in pain etc. The chemo will probably be saved for the future to help with her pallative care.

It's been an interesting morning. She's 71 and had a happy life but is prepared to fight.

Cancer For the Fourth Time - Stage 111C?

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