Anyone out there stage 1 with grade 3 tumor?

mircann
mircann Member Posts: 45
edited July 2015 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Just was wondering how others out there were doing since you had a grade 3 tumor (fast growing). My tumor has  been removed...but I get scared of the grade and wonder about lurking cancer cells..I start chemo tomorrow...anyone else out there with this diagnosis? I has one breast removed already and a high oncotype score of 40+.....

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited June 2015

    Sorry you have to be here, but welcome. Yes grade 3 sounds scary, but on the promising side, grade three responds better to chemo. Good luck.

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  • Stephmoen
    Stephmoen Member Posts: 563
    edited June 2015

    I was also grade 3 I am recievjng neoadjuvant chemo and my tumor is responding very well! Can't palpate it any more and I am halfway through! If they caught it early be happy it's grade 3 reacts very well to chemo

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  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 658
    edited June 2015

    I was diagnosed last July with stage 1 stage 3 BC with oncotype of 23.  I completed 8 treatments of CMF chemo in April and am on Femara.  My MO said that grade 3 is very aggressive but responds really well to chemo.

    Praying for good things for you!

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  • mircann
    mircann Member Posts: 45
    edited June 2015


    Thanks ladies...Im glad to hear it respnds well to chemo! Mandy, you are on the chemo drug the same I will start today...did you have any nasty side effects? Did you have immediate breast reconstruction? was it an implant? Im putting mine off for a year...just wondering what others have gone thru on the reconstruction...Smile

    Ann

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  • Suladog
    Suladog Member Posts: 952
    edited June 2015

    Mircann,

    I was diagnosed with stage 1 grade three very aggressive IDC 25 years ago in my 30's . There was no nodal involvement and I did 8 rounds of CMF. Still here!

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  • JWoo
    JWoo Member Posts: 1,171
    edited June 2015

    Hi- I was dx'd May '13 with stage 1, grade 3 idc. had adjuv chemo, then DMX, and no rads. Today is my 2 year chemoversary- and just had an all clear chest CT scan today. no blood markers so far. So, so far, so good! still waiting on my recon. trying to get into better shape first.

    chemo melted my tumors so fast- it was surprising! it killed it! just remember to stay HYDRATED. min 2 quarts of water a day. a gallon would be better. add a little fruit juice to flavor it as everything will taste terrible. Tang and lemonaid were my preferred flavors, but be careful using real citrus as your teeth enamel will be soft.

    It is scary at times, but you have to believe that you will be healthy for years to come.

    best of luck!

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  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 658
    edited June 2015

    Mircann - CMF was really doable and I worked through chemo.  I had my infusions on a Friday and when I had the Neulasta shot, I took Monday off too.  As long as I kept up with my nausea meds, I wasn't sick to my stomach, but I did feel generally yucky Saturday through Monday depending on the shot.  I was tired and that was progressive as the treatments wore on, but that is normal.  I did get the metal taste in my mouth at about treatment 3 - everything tasted off.  My hair thinned, but I never lost it.

    I did have immediate reconstruction after my BMX and had implants.  Unfortunately, I go back this fall for revisions as the implants have settled and shifted.

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  • RosieMjdtrt
    RosieMjdtrt Member Posts: 30
    edited June 2015

    stage 1 grade 3 but waiting for once type results. Trying to avoid chemo but I see some choose chemo even with low score

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  • Hstlynne
    Hstlynne Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2015

    well I'm close! Just had lumpectomy this report says I am Nottingham grade. What ever that means grade 11/111. Guess I'm in between haven't sen the oncologist yet have no idea what treatment will be. So much on this report I don't understand

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2015

    Hi Hstlynne,

    Welcome to the BCO Community, though we are sorry you are here. You may find this could help answer some of your questions regarding the pathology report: Your Guide to the Pathology Report.

    Thinking of all of you!

    The Mods

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  • Weolf
    Weolf Member Posts: 4
    edited June 2015

    That's what I am as well. Diagnosed in April from my base- 1 lump Stage 1, grade 3, 1 lump atypia cells. I have a lumpectomy scheduled for Monday to remove both with possible chemo depending on the pathology of the tumor and definite radiation. I'm nervous about the lump/rad combination because of the long term affects of radiation (I'm 35) and I'm a small A, but my doc is very positive about it. As I understand it a lot of women end up having a mastectomy anyway. Anyone have the DIEP recon? That's what I'm considering if I have to go that route.


    Thanks Ladies! Your stories and advice to each other has helped through this, even if I was just lurking for a little while :)

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  • Reader425
    Reader425 Member Posts: 653
    edited June 2015

    Also stage 1, grade 3 here. Low oncotype. Had a lumpectomy with clear margins and rads. I had no issues to speak of with radiation if that's any encouragement. Best wishes to you!

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  • hummingbirdlover
    hummingbirdlover Member Posts: 421
    edited June 2015

    I too had a grade 3 tumor. It was upgraded after final pathology. I had BMX and no chemo (oncotype score of 17) and no rads. I'm taking tamoxifen and doing great. I'm almost done with TEs and will have my exchange surfery in August.

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  • michele123
    michele123 Member Posts: 17
    edited June 2015

    I too am stage 1, grade 3. I will find out tomorrow what my oncotype score is...I am really nervous however, because I fear that my score will fall in the intermediate range and my oncologist stated at our last appt that if it comes back 25 or less, she does not feel chemo will be needed. I am concerned by this because I see many people with onco scores of less than 25 that do have chemo....especially if they are grade three, some even have grade 2. I am 47 years old, but i have a seven year old...so as much as i don't want to go through the chemo, I certainly would if I felt it would benefit me. My biopsy pathology report said my tumor was grade 1, but then when I had the lumpectomy, the pathology report said the tumor was grade 3. It was very small, 1 cm, but the grade three scares me and really makes me think if my onco score comes back in the intermediate range, maybe i should do chemo? Also, my onco said if i do need chemo, she would recommend AC, i don't see many doing AC on these boards, is there anyone out there that has done it? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated...thanks all!

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  • michele123
    michele123 Member Posts: 17
    edited June 2015

    BosumBlues, thank you for your reply. I think that the small percentage of benefit is probably why my oncologist said that if my score comes back 25 or less, she would recommend I don't do chemo....she said only if it comes back higher than 28 or 29, then she thought I should. I really don't want to do chemo, but like I said...i do want to do what is necessary to hopefully not have this come back!! Did you have a lumpectomy? and how bad was the chemo? I am pretty nervous about it...so really hoping my onco score just comes back really low. Thanks again!!

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  • mircann
    mircann Member Posts: 45
    edited June 2015

    Thanks Mandy for your info on your experience with chemo.....every little bit of info helps when we are on this scarey journey...!

     I had my CMF chemo and it really wasn't as bad as I expected - the first night my body really felt it and I was knocked out flat in bed 5 hours after I had the infusion. They put me on a steroid with the drip that almost put me in a panic attack...and I slowly came out if it by the time I left the clinic. I was a little manic from the steroid and didn't sleep that night (maybe an hour). So my treatment team is not doing the steroid next time--thank God! I do have weird sensations when I swallow food ,drink, etc. like my esphogas is not coated enough or not doing 100% of its job (like its too dry in there). I did get very tired Sunday (day 5 after chemo) through day 8 (day 8 after chemo) and had to pretty much be in bed for 3 days straight due to exhaustion and weakness.

    And I have a 2.5 year old so he was in day care while I was a couch potato in bed. My energy is back now 11days after chemo. My energy started coming back 7 days after chemo...but I have had horrid cold with horrid congestion for almost a week now. Have to be on allergy and decongestion meds every day...

    But I had no nausea and none of any of the horrid side effects I have heard of from some who have chemo. My hair is thinning a bit...I see it in the tub after I shower/bathe. Ive heard it really HELPS TO EXERCISE so Im TRYING TO WALK everyday....Smile

    Michelle- If I were you I would do the chemo,especially because you have a young child. You could do the CMF version like I did and it has mild side effects. They say sometimes you can have small cancer cells out in the body floating around...and eventually they can build up to be a tumor again..so just ZAP them with chemo.. Im stuck doing this  6 months and am off 6 months from work. I cant work like this no way..and I did feel like my brain was only half working the first 7 days after my infusion.

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  • michele123
    michele123 Member Posts: 17
    edited June 2015

    Thanks all! My oncotype came back at 20. I am starting AC chemo on July 1st. I'm pretty nervous and would love to hear from anyone who has had this type of treatment. I only need four doses over eight weeks so every other week. Anyone know if I will definitely lose my hair...should I shave my head or is there a chance I won't...my oncologist said I will def lose it. Also...were you able to carry on daily activities?? Thanks!

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  • allurbaddayswillend
    allurbaddayswillend Member Posts: 355
    edited June 2015

    Me too. My onco was 33 or 34 I think. so far so good.

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  • Artista928
    Artista928 Member Posts: 2,753
    edited June 2015

    Does it have to be water? I'm an iced tea person. I'm going the BMX with reconstruction route as well and am not a big fan of water but am of tea.

    I'm stage 2 grade 3 and am happy to read it responds best to chemo! Thanks and best wishes to you!

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  • Blondeskittler
    Blondeskittler Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2015

    hi all, my mother in law was recently diagnosed with a 4cm, stage 1 (invasive ductal carcinoma), grade 3, her2+, estrogen +/progesterone-, tumor in her left breast. She is deathly afraid of doctors, hospitals, and traditional medicin. She actually felt the tumor about 8 months ago but she was too scared to find out what it was. Because of the size her doctor wants to do a mastectomy as well as chemo and radiation. She said she will consent to the masectomy but nothing else, so we are worried about her long term prognosis . Anyone else here with similar story

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  • Dakjo
    Dakjo Member Posts: 32
    edited July 2015

    I had a 1 cm, stage one, grade three tumor. I had a lumpectomy followed by chemo and radiation. I wanted to do all possible to prevent a recurrence. Everyone must evaluate their own situation, research, ask questions, speak to their doctors and make the best choice for themselves. I wish her the best.

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  • mircann
    mircann Member Posts: 45
    edited July 2015

    Blondeskitt-

    Your mother in law is only Stage 1 cancer, stage 1 is very treatable...and many do quite well after treatment. If she were a stage 3 or 4 then the cancer is more serious and then one would worry more about the prognosis. But even then, I have a mentor with ACS who has stage 4 breast cancer and is in remission and doing remarkably well after 8 years ! so miracles happen every day. Your mother in law has a much better chance of fighting the cancer if she does chemo and the hormone drugs (after chemo).

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