what does all this mean
Hi everyone Probably like you all, never in a million years did I think I would hear the “c” word yet here I am! Such a scary place. I had a lumpectomy last week and removal of sentinel lymph node...
Forum Discussion
Hi Hunny, I’m sorry to hear you have had this awful shock. Here’s some decoding of the terms used:
the grade is the way the cancer cells look under the microscope. The pathologist gives a score of how abnormal the cancer tissue looks, on a point scale from 3-9. Grade 2 is a score of 6 or 7out of nine. It is called intermediate. That means it lies between grade 1 -cancer cells that look more normal and grade 3, cancer cells that look very abnormal.
the grade is the way the cancer cells look under the microscope. The pathologist gives a score of how abnormal the cancer tissue looks, on a point scale from 3-9. Grade 2 is a score of 6 or 7out of nine. It is called intermediate. That means it lies between grade 1 -cancer cells that look more normal and grade 3, cancer cells that look very abnormal.
Stages 1 and 2 are called ‘early breast cancer’ and in early breast cancer these stages are basically about how big the cancer actually was ( in mm ) and what has gone to the lymph nodes if any. Each of these stages is divided further into a and b - just gives a bit more details.
ER is the oestrogen hormone receptors if present on the cancer cells, and likewise PR is the progesterone hormone receptors, and HER2 is a gene that makes HER2 protein. All these three are involved in helping cancer cells grow.
Clear margins means that there is an adequate amount of normal breast tissue right around the tumour ie that has been completely surgically removed.
I hope this helps prepare you for your upcoming discussions. Elsewhere on this site you can read more about these terms if you wish to.
I hope this helps prepare you for your upcoming discussions. Elsewhere on this site you can read more about these terms if you wish to.
Lots of positive vibes coming your way. Xx Tinks