Staging question

12-11-2004, 08:50 AM

Hello everyone,
I was a liitle confused in the line of demarcation between Stage IIb and Stage IIIA. Does this depend only on the size of the initial tumor ( > 5 cm) or does the number of positive nodes have anything to do with it. I saw in my mom's chart T2N2M0. I want to know because some vaccine trials will accept stage III with prior Herceptin use.
Thanks,
Anne

Lolly · 12-11-2004, 09:53 AM

Anne, go to the Resources page, then go to "A Breast Cancer Primer By Novartis". There's a good definition of the stages.

Love, Lolly

Rozebud · 12-11-2004, 08:36 PM

Ann - You might want to go to the National Cancer Institute site instead as the link on this site is to the old stage system, which was revised in 2003. And yes, number of Lymph nodes is a factor.

Try this:

http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/pdq/tr...fessional/page3

According to it, your mom is IIIA. In the new staging system many people that used to be II are now III. For example, I am IIIC today, but would have been IIB if dx'd 2 years ago. So it is probably important to find out if the study means III in the old world or new world.

12-11-2004, 08:51 PM

Anne,
BreastCancer.org has a good staging section.... I hope it helps.

Hugs,
Janelle

http://www.breastcancer.org/cmn_sta_idx.html

12-12-2004, 05:05 PM

Thank you everyone. I was v. afraid to ask. Physcolocially it changes things. I know it's just a number. Does anyone know of any trials for vaccines taking Stage IIIA. My mom is currently doing Herceptin also, but the more the merrier!

Lolly · 12-12-2004, 09:02 PM

Anne,
Here's a link to a study posted on UW's clinical trial page; following is the eligibility description:

Study Population / Indication Breast cancer: Stage III or Stage IV breast cancer in remission and defined as "no evidence of disease."
Ovarian cancer: Stage III or IV. All subjects must be in first complete remission with a normal and stable CA125. Two sequential normal CA 125 values must be documented, the most recent within thirty days of enrollment in study.

http://depts.washington.edu/tumorvac/synopsis1.html

I'd suggest contacting them to find out if the study is open for enrollment yet, and if you're mom is interested in the study she can ask for a copy of the consent form to be mailed. It will have much more detailed information and is good to have to preview.

Love, Lolly