Stage 3A
Diagnosed with big 7.5 tumor, lymph nodes involved. ER+PR+HER2- just finished AC chemo, did one taxol 11 weeks to go. I know I have a long road ahead, and I’m very frightened!! Any positive stories out there
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Hi Piperdo71
Sorry to hear you have joined the least popular club in town. The early days are very tough indeed. It does get better but it takes a while.
Are you able to share a bit more about your pathology (IDC/ILC, tumour grade, number of nodes)?
Try and take one day at a time or else it becomes too overwhelming.
I tried to walk outdoors most days during chemo - it really helped calm me and there is some evidence exercise may increase the effect of the chemotherapy.
There is a thread entitled 'large tumours' a few pages in from this one on the stage 3 board. I must have read it a hundred times! Lots of positive stories there. Also look up the Success Stories thread started by Carmelle.
I know someone who had 30+ positive nodes, massive tumour, triple positive 13+ years ago. She is fine. Totally fine.
Also a lady who diagnosed in the 1980s, no idea about her pathology but she was told it was 'very bad'. In her 80s now I think, no further issues.
And finally a friend of my mum's diagnosed mid 90s. Multiple node involvement. We don't remember her having chemo. In her 70s, busy with her dogs and grandchildren, just living life.
At the start I felt like I could never escape from the horror of my pathology. I don't feel like that any more. I have accepted it and although I do still think about it, I no longer have 'cancer radio' playing in my head. I live my life and I hope for the best.
Good luck with the rest of your treatment. Keep reaching out, we are here for you.
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Diagnosed 4/20/25 ER90% PR95% grade 2 HER 2 - low Ki67 7.5 tumor, and 9 positive nodes. I’m so terrified of recurrence. My life has just stopped and this is all that runs through my brain.
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I do have ILC
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sorry my prognostic stage1
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Yes, prognostic stage 1B and low Ki 67 all of which is good.
What age are you?
Do you think you've had it for a while? I know ILC can be sneaky. Mine was there for ages. It was missed on a scan. This was both awful and reassuring. It had ample opportunity to spread but seemingly hadn't.
Some tumours are just not the travelling kind. I was told mine was 'not showing much interest in going anywhere' (as far as they could tell).
I read recently that large low proliferation/low oncotype tumours are unlikely to spread regardless of nodal status.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360301623054822
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@piperdo71 We hear you! Getting a diagnosis like this — especially while you’re still in treatment — can feel like your whole world has stopped. Many people describe the first months after diagnosis and during chemo as the absolute hardest part emotionally.
Right now, you’re still in the middle of chemo. It’s common for anxiety to peak at this stage; you don’t yet have the “safety net” of finishing treatment or starting hormone therapy. Most people find that once they move into the maintenance phase (endocrine therapy, regular follow-ups), their sense of control and normalcy starts to return.
@starbridge gave some really good points.
Some things that can help you cope with the fear now:- Consider talking with a therapist who specializes in cancer survivorship. They may be able to teach concrete ways to manage fear of recurrence.
- Connect with peer support — either online with our virtual support groups, or locally. Hearing from people with similar diagnoses who are years out and doing well can be powerful.
- Self-compassion practices: simple breathing, mindfulness, or short walks can help calm your nervous system when thoughts spiral.
You’re doing the hard work right now that will give you the best chance at long-term health. It’s okay to feel terrified; it doesn’t mean you’re not strong or that you won’t get through this. With time, treatment, and support, the panic you’re feeling can ease and make space for hope again. We're all here for you.
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I was wondering, is there any survivor stories out there.
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Yes - my wife is an amazing survivor. Diagnosed in 2019. Stage 3c - 12.9 cm tumor, 11/13 nodes, intramammory positive node treated with radiation, both breasts ended up having involvement after reconstruction found more cells in the other breast. We have scans this week so always on edge with the 6 month scan but 6 amazing years post shocking diagnosis as we couldn't find many with tumors as large as hers and I searched the web extensively every night post diagnsis. Multiple doctors kept saying it was "just density" and then one the major hospitals realized that what they were looking at on the mammogram as density was the size of the tumor. The whole "snowball in a snowstorm" effect. A breast MRI lit it up and was the only thing that helped get to diagnosis. It's been a wild road but she's still here and truly thriving and is my inspiration on a daily basis. I post this to say "there is hope" and never stop believing that you are more than a statistic. My hope is adding some pieces of her story gives you encouragement today.
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@dadof3ohio - Thank you so much for coming back to share this update. Stories like yours bring hope to so many here 💝
We’ll be keeping you both in our thoughts and wishing for the best scan results. Please keep us posted!
Gentle hugs,
The Mods0 -
I am still here after a similar diagnosis 5 years ago, but have to admit that it weighs on me everyday. I would strongly recommend seeking out counseling.
I am less focused on it these days than I was in the beginning, so it does get easier.
If your Oncologist hasn't already mentioned it, make sure that you discuss taking Verzenio for 2 years after you complete radiation. It is supposed to reduce the risk of recurrance in cases like ours. Hugs to you.. I 100% know how it feels.
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Positive update from my wife - scans were clear! We were tracking on a few new nodules that showed up in one lung 6 months ago. The verdict was they were either from infection or metastastisis. Looks like it was infection as they went away so we're really happy! It will be 7 years in March of 2026 so we're doing better than expected considering where she started from. I think the treatment matters and also keeping a healthy lifestyle via exercise. Excercise seems to be a huge boost to keeping cancer away based on all the studies we've seen. She opted for hormonal supression plus anastrazole versus tamoxifen based on the data showing a small benefit for anastrazole. Going to stay on at least 10 years. A few years ago her oncologist also suggested she go on Ibrance as she had difficulty with Verzenio. Even though the data was mixed in terms of benefit for pre-stage 4 but advanced cancer in 3, her doctor was a believer and I'm beginning to be one too. Good luck everyone - we're elated with today's news!
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That’s such wonderful news! Thanks so much for sharing. Stories like this bring a lot of hope to others here.
Best,
The Mods
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@starbridge , was your primary ILC? My primary is, but one in my lymph nodes is IDC. Still don't get how that happens.
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I had IDC @justjustforher.
The lady I mentioned who had 30+ nodes had mixed type. Also if you follow Dr Liz O'Riordan, I believe she had two types. Plus our beloved Weesa who started some of the threads here - I remember her saying she had a layer of LCIS under her IDC. It seems to be 'a thing'. How are you doing anyway? Hanging in there?
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Oh wow, our bodies are wild.
Are we similar in our stages and types? It seems so. I have two lymph nodes that were visible, but because they’re large (2.5 and 3 cm), I’m doing chemo first to hopefully shrink them. I’m still trying to make sense of it all, and as you said, just trying to hang in there.
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I think we are quite similar @justforher though lobular can behave quite differently from IDC I think.
How are you getting on with your treatment?
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Hi,
This is actually the first time I've been back for years, and I felt compelled to respond to this because I was stage 3A, also.
I had bilateral breast cancer, 2.5 cm tumor in the right breast, 6.5 cm tumor in the left breast with 9 positive lymph nodes. I was on the dose dense regimen for AC and Taxol. I did 6 1/2 weeks of radiation. I'm still alive 14 years later.
I started knitting when I started chemotherapy, because I needed something to distract me and stop me from obsessing about everything. For me, it was the perfect thing. I could do it for hours if need be. And, I made friends with a woman I saw every time I was in for chemotherapy, and we'd always sit and talk while knitting. Think of something you love doing and do more of it right now. It helps.
All the best,
Elizabeth
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Wow, congratulations, that is a great survivor story! Thanks for sharing it.
Do you remember any other details of your cancer type/pathology? Were you hormone positive?
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Dear Starbridge,
I was diagnosed with ER Positive, HER 2 Negative, bilateral Breast Cancer on February 1, 2012. I was 55 years-old. At time of diagnosis, I had a 2.5 cm tumor in the right breast, Nottingham Grade II, and a 6.5 cm tumor in the left breast, Nottingham Grade 1. When I had my bilateral mastectomy, it was discovered that I had 9 positive lymph nodes on the left side as well. Final tumor stage was II A in the right breast and III A in the left breast. There was concern when I had my breast MRI that the right breast tumor may have already attached itself to one of my ribs, but the view in the mastectomy surgery showed a slim, but critical gap between them. Otherwise I would have been Stage IV.
I was treated with the dose dense regimen of AC for four rounds, then Taxol for four rounds. Both were full strength. I struggled mightily through all that. The AC made me sicker than I could have possibly imagined, and I was one of 1-2% of people who experienced extreme pain with Taxol. The fallout after Taxol was peripheral neuropathy, which caused me to lose feeling in my legs from my toes to just below my knees, and from my fingers to just below my elbows. And, the peripheral neuropathy attacks, which have continued steadily all this time, are insanely painful.
I did 6.5 weeks of radiation on the left side, three times a week. They gave me a "diploma" when I finished on 12/12/12. I decided all those 12's were lucky.
My reconstructive surgery was a DIEP procedure in 2013 (if you don't know about DIEP, I'm happy to send more info). I was unable to tolerate any of the aromatase inhibitors on follow-up (I have a crazy sensitive system) but did discover a couple of years later that Metformin, a Type II diabetes drug, had been found to have an anti-tumor effect on breast cancer. I took it for as long as I could tolerate it, which was about 2 1/2 years. I have a research abstract on the Metformin effect which I'm also happy to send if you're interested.
And, here I am, 14 years later, living the life I wasn't sure I would see. It's all a little miracle.
Sorry this got lengthy. I haven't talked about this for a long time, and it all came tumbling out.
All the best to you,
Elizabeth
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Wow, thank you for all this detail! You have done amazingly well. Am sure that was a very alarming diagnosis at the time. I am delighted you have had this miracle happen to you and pray for the same for all of us.
One last question if you remember - was it ductal or lobular cancer you had?
Thanks again for sharing, a survival story like yours appearing every so often means an awful lot.
'Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul'.
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