Breast cancer diagnosis Grade 3
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21 posts since
9 Jul 2020
Hello
Ten days ago I was told I had breast cancer and I would most likely need an operation to remove lump and then have radiation and all been done by October. I was pretty shocked at the time but got my head round it and thought today I was going for a treatment plan and date for my op. But I was told from the biopsy they now know the cancer is Grade 3 and I will need to start chemo within two weeks! All a lot to take in – I did ask a number of questions but wonder if anyone can help answer what the letters mean after the Grade diagnosis – it says Grade 3 (A3 N3 M2)??
I’ve still to get the results of HER2 status but I don’t know exactly what this is either?
Grateful for any help and advice
Thank you
M
5076 posts since
15 Jul 2010
Hi Marym,
I am so sorry to hear that you have recently received a breast cancer diagnosis. I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 11 years, so know just how devastating it is to receive this news. Having to have chemo must have come as quite a shock too. None of us like to get this news. Chemo is not a walk in the park, but it is doable. Some doctors get tied up in their medical speke, but forget that this is like double Dutch to patients. This is a lesson for you. If you don’t understand what something means, just stop them and ask them to explain wht it all means.
I am afraid that I do not know what A3 means.
Grade 3 indicates an agressive or long standing form of cancer.
N stands for the number of nodes affected.
M stands for metastases. This means spread to nearby lymph nodes and muscles but has not spread to distant organs.
HER2 is a protein that stimulates cancer to grow. If your cancer is HER2+ you will be advised to have chemo. If it is HER2- then targeted therapies given to HER2+ breast cancer will not be of any benefit.
You could always phone your breast care nurse to ask for clarification, or alternatively you could phone the nurses on this site, who are very helpful. Their number is 0808 800 4040. It is free to phone and, they are there 9.00-5.00, Mon – Fri.
Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on and, remember that we are always here for you.
Kind regards,
Jolamine xx
21 posts since
9 Jul 2020
Hi jolamine
many thanks for your reply and the info. It helps a lot.
i took a photo of the reports in my Hospital file – Doc said I could – and it was when I looked at it once home I saw the letters after the Grade 3 and wondered what they meant. Just a lot to take in as you’ll know. I’ll ask more questions at Oncologist appointment tomorrow. I’m still in a daze really and thinking this can’t be happening. Then I start thinking about loosing my hair which I know shouldn’t really matter in big picture …. it had grown long throughout lockdown and I just thought the other day I’ll maybe keep it longer- don’t need to make that decision now .
thanks again and I’ll send an update after tomorrow if that’s ok
Mary
5076 posts since
15 Jul 2010
Hi Marym,
I find it helpful to draw up a list of questions before every hospital appointment. This way you won’t forget to ask important questions. Are you sure that you can’t cold cap despite lockdown? There seems to be different protocols in different parts of the country. Still, even if you could wear it, there is no guarantee that this will save your hair. Many people claim that cold caps haven’t worked for them. Maybe you can grown your hair longer this time next year? As you say, it really doesn’t matter and, is only a temporary hiccup.
The way you’re feeling is perfectly normal. Many of us go around in a dwam, feel particularly angry, or are in denial that this is happening to them.
I hope that all goes well with your Oncologist tomorrow and, that s/he makes sure that you understand everything that is said.
Of course it’s fine to update me, I look forward to hearing how you get on.
Kind regards,
Jolamine xx
21 posts since
9 Jul 2020
Hi Jolamine
I’ll let you know how tomorrow goes. Got my notebook and questions ready! I’ve read not great things about the cold cap and don’t think I’ll use it but I’ll see what they say tomorrow. Doc on Monday said it can help possibly keep some of your hair but I’m thinking I’d rather have all my hair or none! I’ll see what they say about wigs or get myself some jazzy hats.
Thanks so much for your support – means a lot
Mary
5076 posts since
15 Jul 2010
Hi Mary,
See what the Oncologist says tomorrow before you decide about the cold-cap. Many people find it best to cut their hair early on, so that they don’t have to contend with it falling out.
It’s certainly worth looking at wigs anmd jazzy hats.
Kind regards,
Jolamine xx
257 posts since
3 Aug 2019
Hi Mary & Jolamine,
I was replying to a post and I’ve come across yours Mary. Sorry to hear you need chemo now, I know its all a shock to the system esp when trying to decipher the medical letters. I’ve just finished all my treatment 3 weeks ago and thought i would add that my cells were grade 3 too. This did panic me as i had 4 /5 tumours and the largest 5.3cm and 3 postive lymph nodes. Chemo does however love grade 3 tumours as they are fast growing and look very different from the other ones, so great at zapping them. The chemo got rid of my nasty buggers then I had a masectomy and full node clearance and radiotherapy as a mop up. My cancer was not hormone driven so I had none of the receptives, so radiotherapy was a mop up.
Hope I havne’t over whelmed you with telling you my treatment but just to let you know, I have just been through it and like Jolamine we are here still fighting and smiling. I’m feeling a bit down today, silly hormone so messaging you to hopefully reassure you will help.
Take one step at a time, when i was having chemo i didn’t think about my opp or radiotherapy and just focussed on the here and now. it helped me mentally deal with one treatment at a time, otherwise it can all be very daunting.
I had a note book too and wrote everything in there. I actually still use it now and write down whats going on for me every week.
Thinking about you and sending big hugs
xxx
21 posts since
9 Jul 2020
Hi
thanks Mich. it’s good to hear your story. I now realise I know so little about cancer as no one close to me has ever had it. Doc on Monday said they’d maybe do bloods today to check genetics – even though my late parents never had cancer the chances are 15% it could be genetic – be six week wait for results. Scares me as I have two daughters and two sisters – and a brother as he said could affect either sex! If it is genetic he said I need both breasts removed plus ovaries – I had a full hysterectomy 14 years ago so that part taken care off!!
like you said I’m trying to deal with it in small bits and deal with what I know.
I’ll let you know how I get on at this afternoons appointment. A plus for me is the Hospital is only 20 mins walk away but not sure if I’ll be able to walk home after chemo sessions ? Do the side effects kick in straight away?
Thanks again.
Mary xx
21 posts since
9 Jul 2020
Hi Jolamine and Mich
Update from Thursdays appointment at Oncology.
My HER2 results are back and I’m now classed as Grade 3 Triple negative – which I think basically means some treatments won’t be any good for me – as in Tomoxafin. I’m starting chemo on Thursday (6 Aug at 4pm) and will have eight sessions in total – one per fortnight. Op to follow at some point.
Ive booked hairdresser for Wednesday as decided to get cut shorter so doesn’t seem so drastic as long hair when starts to fall out. I’ll get more practical info when I go back on Thursday such as wigs etc I believe.
Do either of you know about skin moisturiers best to use during chemo – wondered if there were some better than others. I’m currently using a very nice Clarins body lotion I treated myself to a while ago but it has a lemony perfume so I wondered if a plainer type may be better?
So many questions and weird thoughts go through my head and some seem trivial but guess thats all part of the brains coping strategy. Still find it surreal that I am using the words breast cancer in relation to myself.
Bye for now and thanks for listening
Mary xx
257 posts since
3 Aug 2019
Hi Mary,
How you doing? How did your first chemo go? Sorry for the delay, I read your email then forgot to reply, doh! We went away for a few days last week to Devon. Was nice just to switch off and go exploring the countryside.
So you the same as me then Grade 3, TNBC. What drug have they started you on first?
I went shorter too, cut my hair into a bob. My wig was a similar hair style then i shaved my head once it started falling out as was painful. i did cold cap for 4 sessions, then got tired of it especially when on weekly treatments as made the day so long and my hair was still falling out loads. it does work for some ladies, but think it depends on how thick your hair is and how tight the cap fits.
I use aveeno and e45 body lotion and got on fine with these. I also used these throughout my radiotherapy and they are very moisturising and not a strong smell.
How you doing otherwise? Sending big hugs.
xxx
10 posts since
10 Apr 2020
Hi Mary
How are you doing…
I too have triple neg, grade 3 breast cancer. Diagnosed in April and have had weekly chemo for 12 weeks and now on EC every 3 weeks.
There have been ladies using the cold cap so make sure you request it. I chose not to because i thought hair was my last priority… That was until it started coming out. I had to just shave as no hairdressers were open and not wig fitting places were open either but in all honesty once I’d shaved it off it felt great!
So far my skin has been fine but around my nails needs a little TLC so get some cuticle cream/balm xx
Hope the first chemo hasn’t been too bad and remember all side effects can be managed by the onc team if you’re struggling.
Take care
Vicky
21 posts since
9 Jul 2020
Hi Mich
Thanks for your message. First chemo went ok and I’m not feeling too bad – just bit nausea and tired but ok. I decided against the cold cap – didn’t really hear any great things about it and the extra time of sitting in Hospital etc just made me decide not to go down that route. I’ve had a look at wigs on line and going to follow that up soon – apparently I can choose some options on line which the hair company then order in to their studio and I go and try them out. Not allowed to take anyone with me but at least I can try them on. I also had a chat with Maggies which was really useful and theyve advised of a wig place which does reconditioned wigs for £15-£20 so if I fancy more than one I might try that out!
My chemo drugs are EC – epirubicin and cyclophosphamide – I don’t know anything about them to be honest! I was a bit worried about having to inject myself with the stuff to help my white blood cells but it has actually been ok.
I’ve started using the Aveeno too and so far so good. I am starting to get some mouth ulcers but hoping I can keep them under control. I guess still early days…..
Glad you managed to get away and have a lovely break – sounds great.
Thanks again for getting in touch and I’d love to hear how you are getting on too.
Mary xx
21 posts since
9 Jul 2020
Hi Vicky
Many thanks for your message. I’m doing ok – had first chemo last week and not feeling too bad from that. I decided against the cold cap – wasn’t hearing enough positive things to make it worth doing I decided. Hair is now shorter and I’ve been looking at wigs on line. There is a studio not too far from me which I can go to try on wigs once they’ve ordered in some I like and I think we might have a Zoom chat – I need to follow that up. I got some good advice from a visit to Maggie’s yesterday so steadily finding out more things!
I’m on EC drug – every two weeks for total of eight sessions. I’ve started using Aveeno skin products.
Please let me know how things are going for you and again many thanks for keeping in touch.
Mary xx
10 posts since
10 Apr 2020
Oh Mary, that’s good news that you’re tolerating the treatment well so far and hope that it continues that way.
Well done for being proactive and getting wig bits sorted although a bald head in this heat has been most welcome!
I’m generally well but struggling a bit this week with nausea and diarrhoea. My daughters (5&9) have been helping until they get bored of mummy being ill not surprising, mummy is bored of mummy being ill.
You are very brave self injecting. I told my husband that I wasn’t allowed and that he had to knowing I would struggle.
Do you have family around to help in case of bad day/s?
Vicky xx
257 posts since
3 Aug 2019
Hi Mary,
Glad to hear last week went all ok 🙂 How are you feeling this week? I started with EC too, I had it every 3 weeks. I felt quite spacey the first week then not too bad the next too. I did struggle a bit with the nausea feeling but then realised I wasn’t taking my tablets soon enough. So once I started taking the sickness tablets for the first few days it eased off. I also had a stronger anti sickness pre med, as I was ill after the first dose and coulnd’t keep anything down.
Well done in injecting yourself 🙂 i was the same, quite scared the first time. My husband wasn’t much help, he didn’t want to do it either lol! He sat with me to support me for the first time but didn’t want to be responsible for the needle. After the first couple it become quite a bit easier and actually normal. Was quite proud of myself lol! i found it easier to inject top of my thigh rather than my stomach.
I also drank loads of water which helped, as the drugs made me feel so dehydrated. I had quite a bit of bone pain so took paracetomol and anti histamine before i injected.
I’m now adjusting to life after treatment, err a sense or normality, not! I did go for a bra fitting yesterday which was really good. I had a left mastectomy and its hard to find bras that fit and there is nowhere to try them on. I got details of a local lady that now has a shop from home and had loads i could try on. i bought two and feel much better that I have some pretty and well fitting bras for boob and foob ;p
I’m still trying to get out walking when i can but i do struggle with the heat and hot flushes. My knees and hips are aching less which is good so slowly getting there.
Vicky, Hope you are doing ok too!
Big hugs to you both.
xx
Breast cancer diagnosis Grade 3
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