Just Dx, Waiting for tests... Stage?

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LauraWarrior
LauraWarrior Member Posts: 6
edited June 2014 in Just Diagnosed


Hi All,


My wife was diagnosed with IDC yesterday. I am the one who does the reading and researching (she is not a great reader and does not want to be overwhelmed with information). I have already done a lot of reading on this site and am amazed by the support and knowledge here!


What we know so far is that she has invasive IDC, Grade 3 (Nottingham Grade 9). We are still waiting on the HER and estrogen tests to come back. She has one tumor that is 1.5 cm and 4 small tumors near it which are about 2mm each. So the surgeon (the only doc we have met with so far) said this is "multi-focal". Next step is MRI to get a feel for whether there is lymph node involvement, and blood work. We see the oncologist next week.


A few knowledgeable friends have asked what stage the cancer is. At first I said it's probably Stage I because of the size of the tumor. However after more careful reading of the criteria I see that you can't know the stage until it's determined what the lymph node involvement is. So, my question is, how long after first diagnosis does one generally find out what stage the cancer is?


Another question -- I read somewhere on here that high-grade cancers respond well to chemo, is that correct? Or do we need to wait for the other tests to come back?


Thank you in advance and I am glad to have this site.


p.s. I chose my user name because we need to be warriors in this together.

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Comments

  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited November 2013


    Hi, and sorry about your wife. You won't know stage, or even final grade, until after surgery.

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  • waterdog
    waterdog Member Posts: 46
    edited November 2013


    I, too, am pretty new to this but I wanted to add a welcome to your and your wife. I believe you find out stage after surgery but someone else can chime in here. You are correct that high grade cancers respond well to chemo. You should have your er/pr/her results back in a couple of days. I have my er/pr results from a Nov. 15 diagnosis but am still waiting on her status. There is great support here - especially when this is all so new.

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited November 2013


    So sorry for your news...waiting is so tough, so many questions and unknowns...yes, you need to know about the nodes involved to determine stage so it sounds like she has more diagnostics and surgery before you will have the answers you need to get a treatment plan and can start fighting this beast. You will find a wealth of wisdom from these boards and as you get more information you will find topics related to her specific concerns. I have heard that the more aggressive grade tumors do respond to chemo better since it attacks fast growing cells but I am sure others with more knowledge will weigh in on that question. I'm sure she is comforted in her journey knowing you are by her side...My husband is my partner and co-warrior in this fight too. (((Hugs))) to you and your wife...we're here for you both, Maureen

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  • juneping
    juneping Member Posts: 1,594
    edited November 2013


    my biopsy report has the preliminary grade of the cancer...the ki67 % can also tell you some info of it. But I read the final path report is the real info that the doc will use for the treatment. Right now everything is speculation.


    You could ask the surgeon what he thinks of the stage. Mine told me but I wouldn't think it won't change after the surgery

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited November 2013

    Your wife is so blessed to have you hold her hand through this process. The vast majority of us are also blessed to have partners who have been with us through a very difficult process. Let me echo that doctors can "guess" what they believe the stage to be pre-surgery but that's all it really is - an educated guess. In my case I was Stage 1 before surgery and after my lumpectomy I was Stage 2 because a micromet was found in the Sentinel Node. My BS was surprised; I was shocked. Your wife will be inundated with information so she is definitely going to need you for moral support and to take notes. My husband did that for me - thank goodness. There is just no way to absorb all the information you need to know by yourself. I was also told the Grade of the tumor is very important too; the ideal grade would of course be Grade 1. My suggestion to you and your wife, in this case you, is to do your homework which apparently you are already doing and ask questions when you don't understand something. I can speak for myself in that when I was DX I was so stunned nothing registered but when I came to I thought of a lot of things I wanted to ask. Also, don't let Google be your go to source of information. Many women have said it isn't always accurate. There are a number of BC websites that are more legit. So keep the faith and hold on to each other. You both will get through this; all of us are testaments to that and keep us posted. Diane


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  • LauraWarrior
    LauraWarrior Member Posts: 6
    edited November 2013


    Thank you for all the support! Her cancer is a Grade 3 (Nottingham Grade 9/9). You are right that the waiting is very hard... MRI is tomorrow. I am definitely doing homework and plan to be a very educated patient advocate.


    Thank you!

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  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 3,571
    edited November 2013

    So sorry you find yourself here for your wife.  Until all the tests are done and the final pathology is read you are kind of in a holding pattern.  This was the hardest part for me.  Yes, grade 3 cancers respond better to chemo than grade 1 cancers.  Good luck!!!


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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2013


    I just wanted to thank you for being there for your wife and helping support her through this. Although I was the one participating on these boards, my husband would find it helpful to read through some of the threads with me. It helped him get a deeper understanding of what was happening and what I was going through. Perhaps you might find helpful threads to read with your wife too. :)

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