Does Grade 3 tumour always mean chemo?

Hi there
Everyone is different so it’s hard to say if what one person had is what you will be recommended.
Did you mean stage 3 rather than grade 3?
Stage 3 means it’s in the lymph nodes and it does seem to be that most ladies who are stage 3 are recommended chemo.
Grade 3 is the aggressiveness of the cancer , again this grade would more likely than not mean chemo.
I see you are in Newcastle so you should have access to a very good medical team there so as hard as it is you will probably just have to wait like they say.
You may want to get your hair cut short for summer anyway and then you will be ready if needed.
I didn’t have chemo so can’t comment on the cold cap but many ladies have successfully saved their hair using  it although it doesn’t always work.
Do you have a breast care nurse - they are great for questions like this.
Take care🌺

Thanks. Yes it’s Grade 3 tumour (aggressive) and I am not formally “staged” as yet… 

Hi @R_STAR, 

I was ER+, PR+, HER2-  and grade 3. My Ki factor was 69 so high chance of return. I had a lumpectomy and radium and chemo.

Grade 3 usually means fast growing irregular cells so a bit more aggressive cell growth than a grade 1 cell. 

Radium is usually done for women who keep their breast and chemo is dependent on a range of factors eg that ki factor is one  whether it's in the lymph etc

Unfortunately with cancer while we want certainty we just have to wait until the drs get all the information and the pathology is critical to deciding the course of treatment. 

The best approach to this is one step at a time and not getting too far ahead of yourself. For now keep busy and focus just on the surgery. You'll get the rest of the plan when the drs have all the information to recommend the way forward for you. Best wishes 

Hi @R_STAR,   unfortunately it can be a waiting game and that drove me insane initially as I am very organised person. I go in weekly intervals now which is working and is my new norm. 

Fortunately the doctors/medical team need to get as much information that they can to put forward a treatment plan that matches your cancer. 
I went to oncologist on Wednesday to be told that the team have requested a KI67 test to determine if chemo is on or not.  I thought I would know what my treatment plan was after that visit but not to be.  The other markers (results after surgery) indicate I am on the fence so to speak so this next result will push me in the right direction for the best outcome. 
It is frustrating but as hard as it is take one step at a time or a week at a time.   Good luck 🎉

Just wondering if anyone knows if the initial pathology test result change after the surgery. My initial pathology test based on the biopsy had all information on status of hormones, KI67 and Her2. After lumpectomy (unfortunately waiting for the second surgery as the margins were not clear) my surgeon did not want to discuss the pathology test after the lumpectomy although I have requested a copy. I have not seen the oncologist yet but my surgeon told me that the treatment would include chemo and radiation to prevent the cancer coming back. Probably the only option is to take one step at a time. 

Thanks all for your helpful comments. It’s helpful to understand the different paths that could eventuate. @marg16 that must have been frustrating for you but I guess it makes sense… and I hope it goes well for you! 

Thank you R_STAR. I am going to be well prepared with all the questions when I see the surgeon next time. In the meantime I will see my GP as the BS stated that all the copies of the tests are sent to my GP. All health professionals advice us to be well informed, it means access to BCNA and talk to your medical team. I think I am getting angry ;)

My surgeon and oncologist work together a lot, but when I asked my surgeon what next, after discussing my pathology report post mastectomy (yes, he gave me a full copy), he responded, very properly, that my next treatment was up to my oncologist to decide. When I pushed for his opinion, he simply advised not to be too scared of chemo
if it was recommended, as ‘even a small
percentage of difference can make a big difference’. Over a decade, the two of them gave me an excellent example of informed professionals, keeping me as informed as I wished to be, and informing each other about my case. I thought that’s how it all
worked!