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Joanne S · 11-11-2007, 12:05 AM

Hopefull, It sounds like your mom is doing very well and has a very good prognosis. Please don't confuse cancer Stage and Grade as they are not the same.

Based on your description, it sounds like your mom is Stage IIA = tumor is larger than 2 cm in diameter and less than 5 cm, has not spread to underarm nodes and has not spread to distant sites.

I highly recommend that you check out the following (1) National Breast Cancer Foundation video
and the Imaginis and the National Cancer Institute sites about: (2) Staging and Survival, and (3) Histologic Grading.

(1) Beyond the Shock (Video) is a wonderful step by step guide to understanding breast cancer in a manner that is informative and engaging. Although this is an hour long video, it is divided into separate chapters so that you don't have to watch it all in one session:
http://www.nationalbreastcancer<WBR>.org/about-breast-cancer/ beyond-the-shock

(2) Staging and Survival Rates of Breast Cancer
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/staging.asp and
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/Patient/page2
(3) Histologic Grading of Breast Cancer
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/histologic_grades.asp

Best to you and your mom,

11-11-2007, 12:05 AM	#9
Joanne S Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Detroit Metropolitan Area, Michigan Posts: 592	Hopefull, It sounds like your mom is doing very well and has a very good prognosis. Please don't confuse cancer Stage and Grade as they are not the same. Based on your description, it sounds like your mom is Stage IIA = tumor is larger than 2 cm in diameter and less than 5 cm, has not spread to underarm nodes and has not spread to distant sites. I highly recommend that you check out the following (1) National Breast Cancer Foundation video and the Imaginis and the National Cancer Institute sites about: (2) Staging and Survival, and (3) Histologic Grading. (1) Beyond the Shock (Video) is a wonderful step by step guide to understanding breast cancer in a manner that is informative and engaging. Although this is an hour long video, it is divided into separate chapters so that you don't have to watch it all in one session: http://www.nationalbreastcancer<WBR>.org/about-breast-cancer/ beyond-the-shock (2) Staging and Survival Rates of Breast Cancer http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/staging.asp and http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/Patient/page2 (3) Histologic Grading of Breast Cancer http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/histologic_grades.asp Best to you and your mom, __________________ Aug06...Dx Age 50, IDC Left Breast, 6+/16 lymph nodes, Stg 3, ER+/PR+/HER2+ Sep06-Jan07...Mediport. Chemo: AC x 4, T x 4 Dec06-Nov07...Herceptin Feb12,2007...Surg MRM Left & SM Right, reconstruct w/expanders Mar07-Jun07...Saline Exp Jun07...Start Tamoxifen Jun07-Aug07...Rad x 25 Jun07-Oct07...Persistent fevers-unknown origin Jun07-Nov07...PT for Severe PMPS & Capsular Contracture Nov07...Surg Capsulectomy, Gel Implants, PMPS pain gone instantly. Feb08...NED 1st CANCERVERSARY!!!!! Feb08...2 months post surgery Caps Cont again :( Mar08...Stop Tamoxifen. Start Arimidex. Apr08...Sudden high fever, Hosp ICU 10 days, staph infect, emerg surg, implants removed. Outpt IVantibiotics Daily x 6 weeks Feb11...NED 5th CANCERVERSARY!!!!! Feb12...NED 6th CANCERVERSARY!!!!! Aug12...Spotting. Surg=D&C Sep12...STAGE IV = RARE BC METS TO UTERUS ILC ER+/PR+/HER2-Negative) (Different BC than originally diagnosed = IDC ER+/PR+/HER2+). Sep12...Stop Arimidex. Start Afinitor & Aromasin. Jan13...MRI = no progression no reduction Apr13...Progression. Stop Afinitor & Aromasin. Apr13...Start Chemo: Taxol & Carboplatin. Nov13...Scans & Pelvic 95+% Reduction. Nueropathy>Stop chemo start Fareston. Jan14...PET scan = no progression stable. May14...Pelvic > Bleeding & cramps. TMs up. May14...PET scan = uterine progression :( May14...Stop Fareston. Start Chemo: Xeloda.