thanks everyone.
The cancer hasn't been staged at all yet. full pathology not in yet, and I've long since stopped trying to stage it myself from all the bits and pieces of information we have so far. According to available grading criteria, I can place it in any of several categories. Too many variables, and frankly it's a depressing past-time that amounts to nothing. We'll wait to see what the experts grade it as, then we'l probably disagree
We assume that vascular invasion is very common. It just seems to be the nature of the disease.
Next week's tests, along with the pathology from the mastectomy, should finally give us a more specific idea of where we are right now. The trouble is that obsession for knowing is making me crazed, and I was at information overload a while back. There is so much literature that is generally worthless, yet has to be sorted through to find something worthwhile.
I'm sure we aren't a unique case when I say we just want to know what our situation is. It is like trying to know the answer to exactly how long, and how good, your life will be. A pointless question overall, as there is no answer.
Feeling very frustrated and scared and truthfully very angry. ...and life keeps right on delivering other joys as well, bad news on all fronts right now.
SO, we really need to take stock, to meditate and get grounded again. it's ok to lose it from time to time, right? Must be...
---Kevin and Sue---