Downstaged after bilateral mastectomy Pathology Report

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ash123
ash123 Member Posts: 99
edited September 2015 in Stage III Breast Cancer

First of all thank you for all who are writing in this forum. I got so much courage by reading the wonderful posts of such brave souls.

I was diagnosed in Feb 2015 for left breast cancer Stage three (clinical) by my oncologist, The tumor was big around 5cm clinically. I had three matted lymph nodes that came back fine after biopsy. My ultrasound measurements were 4.3 cm. I did neoadjuvant chemo for six months. Had BMX on Sept 8 and now two weeks post op recuperating. My pathology report saysI have tumor size still 3.5 cm with clear margins and negative sentinel lymph node, stage 2A. Am I considered stage three or stage two. Has it happened to any one of you.

Thanks

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  • Jenwith4kids
    Jenwith4kids Member Posts: 635
    edited September 2015

    Glad to hear you are recuperating. I think the pathological dx trumps the clinical

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  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited September 2015

    I agree with jenwith4kids. Pathology report trumps anything else....

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited September 2015

    I had the opposite unfortunately. My clinical was more stage II, but once they got in there things were much larger and multiple nodes involved. I wish someone had told me this was a possibility back at my dx. As we all know, we patients cling to whatever bit of hope we may find and hearing that final pathology was pretty depressing to say the least.

    Take care,

    Sharon

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2015

    I had very similar stats to you. I was Stage IIIC at diagnosis (due to probable subpectoral nodes) and was Stage IIA at surgery. The way it was explained to me, I would still be treated as a IIIC (for example, radiation was still a given) but my prognosis was more like a IIA. I see some holes in that theory though, as much as I'd like to believe it - for example, those with Grade 1 or 2 tumors have less of a response to chemo since chemo targets rapidly dividing cells, but have a better prognosis overall. So if someone with Grade 1 cancer has an awful response to chemo and someone with a Grade 3 cancer has a great response, does that mean the Grade 1 person is doomed and the Grade 3 person is home free? Of course not! So when it comes to prognosis charts and such, I usually split the difference and consider myself a IIB or IIIA.

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  • ash123
    ash123 Member Posts: 99
    edited September 2015

    Thankyou Jenwith4kid,dtad,pupfoster1. I got clarity on that. Sharon I am sorry to hear that your stage updraded on pathology. I have ER+PR+and HER- 3.5 cm and Grade three. For the AC part my tumor showed no improvment on size but I think Taxol worked a bit reducing its size from 5cm to 3.5. Sending hope and huggs to all of you.

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  • lkc
    lkc Member Posts: 1,203
    edited September 2015

    HI jenn, so happy to hear you responded to treatment. Remember though staging is for treatment options only. you were staged at III, and then after treatment your bc status improved,which is awesome.

    only if you had surgery before treatment , would your staging go down with a path report.

    now for the good news. stage III BC gets aggressive treatment which greatly reduces recurrence rates. My advice is don't get hung up on the"Stage" whether its I or III. It's how your respond that counts in the long run.

    sounds like you're in a good place with great news!


    I am a former central NJ myself, and we are a force to reckon with


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  • lkc
    lkc Member Posts: 1,203
    edited September 2015

    sorry i meant to ASH123 and to Jen the NJ girl!


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  • ash123
    ash123 Member Posts: 99
    edited September 2015

    Thankyou Ikc.

    Thank you for explaining my situation,of course it makes sense. This forum is a blessing for newly diagnosed and not so old members altogether.

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