Forum Discussion

Ping's avatar
Ping
Member
14 years ago

Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

Why was I handed a copy of the EarlyBreast Cancer Book only to find out that seemingly from the outset, I was locally advanced. The prognosis seems very different. Or Am I the dummy for not asking my oncologist enough questions. I am so confused. will they know If I had 2tumours as first suspected or a 6cm one after surgery. First pathology report was grade 2 then 2nd biopsy became grade 3. When does it be one clear. is there anyone else out there with LABC, that can enlighten me. As u can tell positivity is low for me right now. Masectomy looming this Week and my husband made me so cross last night I threw my plate w dinner at him. Hopefully one of you can direct my frame of thinking. Not sleeping well and obviously very hungry, I had to mop up the dinner off the floor
  • Julia44's avatar
    Julia44
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hi Ping,

    From my understanding it is called early breast cancer unless they find it has spread to other parts of the body after the lymph nodes.

    All the best,

    Julia

  • serenity11's avatar
    serenity11
    Member
    13 years ago

    Whilst it has not applied to me, I understand that chemo prior to surgery is quite common.  My surgeon explained it as an option where they want to enable a better encapsulation of the cancer for removal.  I think the other advantage is that chemo will stop any radicals that are bouncing around the rest of your body.

    If you phone the cancer council I think you will find they have someone who can explain it very well to you as well as answer any other questions you may have.  I found them very helpful (and calming) between diagnosis and surgery when I had a myriad of questions tumbling around my head.  No question is too silly to ask.

    Also if you attach to your blog some key words like "chemo before surgery" you might find a number of pink chicks who will have had similar treatment. 

    Be gentle on yourself.  Take care.

  • leith's avatar
    leith
    Member
    13 years ago
    Hi all Yet another newbie to this site. Got news today that i have grade 3 and the concern is not just the 4cm lump kn my breast but the size of my lymph nodes. Surgeon is saying that having chemo first to shrink these would give better surgical outcome....anyone else been given this as an option. Im concerned that the chemo will be aggressive thus weakening my body and my cancer cells developing a resistance to the treatments and spreading further... Anyone???? Leith
  • leith's avatar
    leith
    Member
    13 years ago
    Hi all Yet another newbie to this site. Got news today that i have grade 3 and the concern is not just the 4cm lump kn my breast but the size of my lymph nodes. Surgeon is saying that having chemo first to shrink these would give better surgical outcome....anyone else been given this as an option. Im concerned that the chemo will be aggressive thus weakening my body and my cancer cells developing a resistance to the treatments and spreading further... Anyone???? Leith
  • annie2's avatar
    annie2
    Member
    14 years ago

    Poor you, its normal to be angry, sad, scared and feeling blue.Its so much to get your head around.

    Like you my first biopsy was grade 2 then after surgery was a grade 3.I think after your surgery they will know more.Thats when they get the grading and find out what is going on.It was in surgery that they found i had a 2nd tumour growing under the original.hence the grade 3 finding.I also had 6 lymph nodes that were cancerous so they did the mastectomey, and took all the nodes out.

    It is called early breast cancer and like you i thought i should be called advanced.I looked up as much information as possible and asked as many questions as i could.I found this site a great help.all the ladies on here are very supportive,even though they have their own issues to deal with.I also made a few friends during chemo and asked them lots of questions.you need to ask your oncologist what the grading means and to explain things so you can get your head around it.

    Its a lot to take in.I am 12 months down the track now and feeling positive and well.Im sure you will be fine,but all the anxiety and differant emotions are a part of this journey unfortunately.But you do realise how strong and resilient we all are.

    wishing you the very best.Annie xxx