My SIL has been diagnosed with grade 3 breast cancer

[pinkchampagne1]

We are all shocked. She had a clear mammogram just 6 months ago so we had hoped it would have been caught early. They are talking of possibly doing a lumpectomy and chemotherapy but she needs an MRI first.

I take it grade 3 is most aggressive so we are all really worried.

[pinkchampagne1]

Does anyone have any experience of grade 3 breast cancer?

[stonecircle]

Yes. My sister had stage 3 and had a mastectomy and lymph nodes removed. Quite a long haul to recovery but that was 10 years ago and she did make a full recovery. Hope your SIL does the same

[pinkchampagne1]

I am really pleased your sister made a full recovery.

It is so scary. I was convinced it was going to be an easy cancer to treat as caught early so the grade 3 diagnosis has shocked us. My SIL is trying to remain positive.

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

I don't mean to sound patronising, but I wonder if you are confusing stage and grade. Grade is how different the cancer cells are from normal cells. Grade 3 cancers are generally more aggressive and fast-growing (though this often means they are more susceptible to chemotherapy). It could still have been caught early, though may also be stage 3. Cancers are staged 1 to 4, with 1 being least advanced. There's some information about the two on the Macmillan website here.

Sorry if you already knew all this. I hope all goes well with your SIL's treatment

[Delatron]

Yep grade is how aggressive the cancer is 1-3 and there are 4 stages. I was diagnosed 6 years ago with grade 2 and stage 2.
If it is grade 3 then the good thing is that grade is very responsive to chemo.
Stage 3 means it is treatable and hasn't metastized (spread to other organs). Stage 4 can still be managed for many, many years.
So yes can still be caught early and grade 3.

Has she got a treatment plan yet?

[Delatron]

Sorry, see you are waiting for an MRI. That will give you the stage.

Younger people are more likely to have grade 3 as their cells just multiply quicker. I was unusual to have grade 2 at age 34.
Hope the scan goes well and she has a clear treatment plan soon.
Breast cancer is very treatable these days.

[pinkchampagne1]

Thank you all.

I had read up on the grading of breast cancer and seen that grade 3 is the fastest growing and more aggressive type. This obviously concerned me as seems more likely that it would spread quickly. My SIL is 50 so not really young but not old either.

We are going to go round to visit her later today and take her some flowers.

[JoandtheTribe]

This sounds like me! I had a clear mammogram 6 months before being diagnosed with a grade 3 breast cancer (I'm 39) It was caught early and was stage 1a. Because of my age and high grade I needed 4 cycles of chemo but I am now fit and well.

I wish your SIL well :)

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

Pop over to the cancer support thread and there are some reassuring posts by amberlight, about grading etc. Apologies if I've worried you. It's honestly not something to panic about either way generally, just another fact that the doctors can use to guide their treatment plan.

I hope that you had a nice time with your SIL today

[pinkchampagne1]

Sorry to hear you have been through the exact same thing, JoandtheTribe but really pleased you got through it and are now well.

I will take a look at the cancer support thread. Thank you.

My SIL seemed very strong and positive when we went to visit her yesterday. She goes to Lindon this week for a blood test to check for genetic links as her father also had breast cancer. If she finds out there is a genetic factor she will have a full mastectomy.