Stage2 A/B

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sloyd66
sloyd66 Member Posts: 202
edited August 2014 in Stage II Breast Cancer


Hi everyone,


I am a new lumpectomy patient, not sure of my treatment yet, see oncology on Tuesday. But I am stage 2 but my surgeon said its because of the size of the tumor which was 2.8cm. She said the stages are based on certain categories, and since my lymph nodes were negative the size is what put me into stage 2. But what is the difference of Stage2a and Stage2b? And how do you know which one are you, I have my pathology report and don't see neither of the a or b.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited November 2013


    Your surgeon is giving you preliminary information, staging is not done until after surgery and post-operative pathology is complete. Here is the breakdown of staging 2A and 2B per this site:


    Stage IIA describes invasive breast cancer in which:

    • no tumor can be found in the breast, but cancer (larger than 2 millimeters) is found in 1 to 3 axillary lymph nodes (the lymph nodes under the arm) or in the lymph nodes near the breast bone (found during a sentinel node biopsy) OR
    • the tumor measures 2 centimeters or smaller and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes OR
    • the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters and has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes


    Stage IIB describes invasive breast cancer in which:

    • the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but no larger than 5 centimeters; small groups of breast cancer cells -- larger than 0.2 millimeter but not larger than 2 millimeters -- are found in the lymph nodes OR
    • the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but no larger than 5 centimeters; cancer has spread to 1 to 3 axillary lymph nodes or to lymph nodes near the breastbone (found during a sentinel node biopsy) OR
    • the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters but has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes
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  • sloyd66
    sloyd66 Member Posts: 202
    edited November 2013


    Again thank you SpecialK =)


    So I am Stage2A.. I did to my post op, got the pathology report she went over everything to me but never heard A/ or B. But I fall i the category of the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters and has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes.

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  • MrsDarcy
    MrsDarcy Member Posts: 162
    edited December 2013


    Hi sloyd66 :)



    I am new to this forum as well - had my lumpectomy on October 8 - and like you, I am Stage 2a, Grade 2 (but 0/1 nodes). I am also ER+/PR+, HER2-. My tumor was 3.5 cm though. My DX was also ILC.


    My BS never gave me the (a) or (b) either, but I looked it up in the "Breast Cancer and You" book that my hospital gave me.


    So, welcome to this forum .. even though I know we would prefer "not" to be here - at least we are welcomed here to ask our questions, voice our concerns and receive kind-hearted responses in return.


    It's a very warm and caring environment here - and I am grateful that I stumbled across this forum :)

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  • GraceBer
    GraceBer Member Posts: 43
    edited January 2014

    I also just met with my MO for the first time and she also didn't say whether its A or B.  I'm just assuming it's A because of no node involvement.  I wonder why she didn't mention it?  She just said my 2.2 is bigger than she likes.  Heh, me too, MO, me too. 

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  • justamy
    justamy Member Posts: 532
    edited August 2014

    i have not had surgery yet but have a 3cm tumor and a .8 cm tumor in my right breast...my oncologist said stage 2a grade 1, but her partner says 2b...if they don't know how am I supposed to? They did biopsy a suspicious lymph node but said it had no cancer at all.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited August 2014

    justamy - 2B is either larger than 5cm with no nodes, or smaller with lymph node involvement, so I would read your stats as 2A - here is the info from BCO:

    Stage IIA describes invasive breast cancer in which:

    • no tumor can be found in the breast, but cancer (larger than 2 millimeters) is found in 1 to 3 axillary lymph nodes (the lymph nodes under the arm) or in the lymph nodes near the breast bone (found during a sentinel node biopsy) OR
    • the tumor measures 2 centimeters or smaller and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes OR
    • the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters and has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes

    Stage IIB describes invasive breast cancer in which:

    • the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but no larger than 5 centimeters; small groups of breast cancer cells -- larger than 0.2 millimeter but not larger than 2 millimeters -- are found in the lymph nodes OR
    • the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but no larger than 5 centimeters; cancer has spread to 1 to 3 axillary lymph nodes or to lymph nodes near the breastbone (found during a sentinel node biopsy) OR
    • the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters but has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes

     

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