Need Help with Mom's Diagnosis

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited March 2018 in Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
Need Help with Mom's Diagnosis
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  • Washingt
    Washingt Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2018

    Hi All!

    I never thought I'd be on this forum, but here I am! My mom was first diagnosed with breast cancer years ago. In December she noticed some swollen lymph nodes above the collar bone that were determined to be malignant a few weeks ago. I have been pretty disappointed with her first chemo treatment today. She taking 4 rounds of AC every three weeks followed by 12 weekly Taxol treatments. She took the PET, CT, and brain MRI a week ago. I asked the nurse about the stage because the path report stated "The largest measures up to about 4.5 x 3.8 cm mestastic disease is felt to be likely." Because the report didn't mention any distant organs being affected, she said she would say stage 2 or 3. She then said "I'll see about asking the dr or I can probably stage it myself." It wasn't until we left that I asked again about the stage...she said at the nurses station, "um, it looks like stage 4 because of the size of lymph node." Does this even sound remotely correct? I'm freaking out because we know how much of a difference this makes! HELP!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited March 2018

    Hi Washingt, and welcome to Breastcancer.org! Sorry for what you and your mom are going through, all this uncertainty must be very hard to cope with... You will probably receive responses from our always helpful Community members soon. Until then, the following article from our main site may be interesting to help you understand the Breast Cancer Stages.

    Thinking of you. Please let us know if you learn more from her diagnosis!

    The Mods

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  • xxyzed
    xxyzed Member Posts: 230
    edited March 2018

    It doesn’t sound right to me. Stage IV is distant spread which is doesn’t sound like the scans showed. I would say stage 3C as it is in a lymph node above the collar bone

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  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited March 2018

    Hi Washingt, I am very sorry to hear about your Mom’s recurrence.

    I would talk to her oncologist about the stage, not to the nurse. Only the oncologist can provide the details you are looking for and answer your questions. Staging is not always accurate as it is just the reflection of available information.

    Best of luck

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited March 2018

    The nurse was out of line. You can have lymph node spread without distant metastasis

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  • Washingt
    Washingt Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2018

    I’m going to ask to speak with the onocologist next week. It’s so frustrating! Her treatment plan according to NCCN recommendedguidelines is for Stage 3. Thanks for everyone’s input! Praying blessings for all of you on your journey!

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited March 2018

    Washingt, yes, I was going to say that the treatment plan indicates that they are treating it as stage 3.

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