When do they give a stage?

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Jadedjo
Jadedjo Member Posts: 469
edited July 2018 in Just Diagnosed

The nurse read what she had from the biopsy and it only said it was ductal (I don't think it said invasive but I was shutting down mentally and didn't catch everything ) and the report listed it as grade 1-2. No stage.

Does that mean it's stage zero or do they stage it with other tests?

Thank you in advance for any responses.

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  • Icietla
    Icietla Member Posts: 1,265
    edited July 2018

    I am very sorry about your diagnosis. It is always a terrible shock.

    Any early-stage staging done prior to treatment surgery is only provisional, a "guesstimate" subject to change, depending on findings as to the tissues removed in treatment surgery. The size of your tumor and the findings as to your lymph nodes will figure into your stage. DCIS can be large and widespread, but if the tumor tissue is entirely DCIS, it is still Stage 0.

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  • Jadedjo
    Jadedjo Member Posts: 469
    edited September 2018

    Thanks for responding.

    So essentially I won't know anything until after surgery?i thought there were other tests that could be done but they don't seem to be sending me for any. Just wait to see the doctor and wait to see the surgeon.

    As far as I know the tumor is 1.5 cm on CT but the CT was abdominal they caught it by accident  nobody would tell me size on mammorgram and ultrasound because they seemed to be in an all fired hurry to leave. 

    I'm pretty sure invasive wasn't used  just remember ductal and carcinoma.i i will know more Thursday and writing it down. She kept stressing that it was caught very early. I guess she was trying to ease my mind but it just made me frustrated because I want to know everything  I can about the little bastard that's trying to kill me.

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  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited July 2018

    Hi there. you should be able to request your mammogram and ultrasound reports, which will give you some info. If there are any further tests needed at this point, like MRI, they would be ordered by your surgeon as he/she considers surgical options. But most tests, like Oncotype DX, come after surgery.

    Do keep in touch; we are here for you.

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  • Icietla
    Icietla Member Posts: 1,265
    edited July 2018

    You are welcome.

    You will find out shortly the particulars of the biopsy specimen/s. Understand, a biopsy specimen is only that -- a tissue sample, what was within the needle track. It sometimes happens, though, that other type tumor tissue -- of another character or type or types -- is found among the tissues removed in surgery.

    Another thing relating to staging is that the size of your tumor cannot be determined with certainty until those tissues are examined after your surgery. Tumor size indications from imaging may be pretty accurate, or not.

    If there is any invasive disease found, there will be some lymph node/s removed for examination. Imaging may give indications, but only Pathology Laboratory examination of tissue is conclusive as to disease.

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  • Jadedjo
    Jadedjo Member Posts: 469
    edited July 2018

    So basically I won't know until they remove it? Which could be awhile around here. I mean it's already a 3 week wait until the surgeon consultation,then who knows how long for surgery but it will be over a month for sure.we have long wait lists even for people with cancer. I once over heard one guy talk about he couldn't get a scan for close to 4 months and he has lung cancer.

    All I keep thinking is the longer it's in there the more likely it's going to spread if it hasn't already. I guess I have to live with the hurry up and wait of all this.

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  • star2017
    star2017 Member Posts: 827
    edited July 2018

    I had to ask my doctors because everyone kept asking me. It wasn’t information the doctors offered or seemed to find helpful.


    But yes, to really know, it would have to be after surgery

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  • Jadedjo
    Jadedjo Member Posts: 469
    edited September 2018

    I will be asking mine on Thursday,and I want himto explain it to me and I want to know why I'm not getting requisitions for other tests while I wait for the BS appt.its not like it's going to happen in three weeks when the appt is there is a wait list even for cancer patients the faster the requisition is in the faster I get an appt the faster the surgeon can do the surgery cause there are wait times for that too.

     At this rate it will be Christmas before anything happens and it's leaving me frustrated . Canadian healthcare sucks when you need things done and it got worse after all the cutbacks.

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited July 2018

    I was told “probably Stage 1” but, as the others said, there is no way to know until after your surgery. You will probably be given the option of lumpectomy/mastectomy—that will be your first decision. The waiting is hard but we all go through it. It sounds like it’s a good thing they’re not in a huge rush

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  • Jadedjo
    Jadedjo Member Posts: 469
    edited September 2018

    @ ingerp

    Thanks for responding.

    It's Canadian health care in a major city  that serves surrounding communities and rural areas around the province, the not in a rush has more to do with an overtaxed system that's had recent extensive funding cuts  and long wait times.

    If he says lumpectomy because mastectomy is too radical a reaction for what I have ,I am gong to try to see if I can get lumpectomy with reduction in both breasts . I have really big breasts, they are uncomfortable. I wanted them smaller just couldn't afford a cosmetic surgery they only cover in Canada if its health related and maybe not even then I will have to check. 

    I guess it depends on my likelihood of reoccurance.

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited July 2018

    I am all about the probabilities, so yes—that will help you decide. My RO asked me two years ago if I was thinking about having the other side reduced. I asked her if it would be obvious that my breasts were different sizes when I’m dressed and she said no. I had a big chunk taken out—8cm x 6cm x 3.3cm. I honestly don’t think about it any more.

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  • Jadedjo
    Jadedjo Member Posts: 469
    edited September 2018

    If I can buy myself a few more years and it returns I might be both physically and mentally strong enough then to jump into the deep end of chemo and rad treatment. Right now I'm not. Maybe rad butfrom what I'm reading I might as well just take my chances with surgery diet and exercise. And if it's fed by hormones I will get my ovaries removed after  I have had time to recover but I suspect losing weight will turn the tables a little there which if I can get the funding will be starting in September.

    I have concerns about my left side it acts more like a cancerous breast then the actual cancerous breast does. I'm actually going to ask them to recheck with ultrasound on the left side just to be sure and I'm going to explain why. My right side. Didn't show much signs except an indentation and it's softer and looser then my left which is the complete opposite of the breast cancer symptoms as it should be firmer. That's it. 

    Every body is right in the fact I need to know probablities before I make decisions but being that right now I'm probably only going the surgery route I may have to go with a mastectomy at least on the bad boob. 

    After this the only one who is going to see me naked is me. Clothed I guess we will see what happens.

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