My care team was exactly that—a team of caring people—and I made lifelong friends with patients and employees. After a mastectomy, a person may find the change in their body emotionally challenging. VIEW CTCA TREATMENT RESULTS FOR PREVALENT CANCERS WE TREAT. Stage 3 is further classified by three scenarios—3A, 3B, and 3C—each of which describes, among other things, the number of axillary lymph nodes affected an… The removal of one or both breasts can affect a person’s sense of identity, sexuality, and their sexual relationships. True beauty lies in who you are, not what you look like. The earliest stage breast cancers are stage 0 (carcinoma in situ). A person may need to manage cycles of remission and recurrence for many years. Your breast cancer story is part of someone else's survivor guide. Despite significant improvements in detection and treatment, many people experience fear or trauma after a cancer diagnosis. Use your talents and gifts to help others, train your mind to focus on what is important, and love each other with all your heart. The third time I saw my gynecologist after the first lump appeared, I had more symptoms to report. Only a year and a half later in 2015, I was diagnosed with HER2+ ... Read more. As I lay in the MRI machine, I felt oddly calm. "I was getting out of the shower and noticed discharge and called my doctor. I had sharp, shooting pains in my chest. Chemotherapy Bob’s Story: Accepting things as they come. If you have hit that 10 year mark, please share your story with all of us. They donated the maximum—60 days of paid leave—which was a gift that I can never repay them for. Chemotherapy involves destroying cancer cells with anticancer drugs. A therapist can also help a person manage stress and anxiety during treatment and recovery. 7 Breast Cancer Stories of Diagnosis 1. I’d only lived in Houston for about a year at that point, and I always kind of wondered why I ended up there. At Cancer Treatment Centers of America ® (CTCA), we use a variety of sophisticated tests and procedures to confirm the stage of your disease and develop a comprehensive treatment plan designed just for you.. Never again will I be a victim of circumstance. My Care Team was exactly that—a team of caring people—and I made lifelong friends with patients and employees. This is my story with stage 3 triple negative breast cancer to date. I was 29 years old when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2014. I would finally have a solid diagnosis. Had I walked into a hospital or a resort? I received expert treatment at every step of the way, and continue to do so now as I return for follow-up visits. It also showed me what true health care really is, or can be. I asked to be tested with something other than an ultrasound, and she ordered an MRI, a test that was more likely than a mammogram to be covered by my insurance and reveal any cancer present in my breasts. Stage 3 Breast Cancer Survivors – Diana A. Diana A. Gateway for Cancer Research is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. I was part of the decision-making process at every step of the way. Stage 3 is divided into stages 3A, 3B and 3C, which are all considered locally advanced breast cancer. By comparison, the survival rate for women with stage 0 or stage 1 breast cancer is almost 100 percent. The stage of a cancer describes how much cancer is in the body. Home > Cancer Stories > Breast Cancer. We all need to be proactive about our health. For stage 2 breast cancer, the survival rate is about 93 percent, and for stage 4 it is about 22 percent. I wanted to reduce my chances of getting breast cancer in my left breast, and I wanted the cancerous breast tissue out. My husband and I were still newlyweds, filled with plans for our long life together. In stage III, the cancer has spread beyond the breast and into nearby lymph nodes. Other online communities also provide a safe place for discussion and support groups may exist within a person’s community or town. At CTCA, I received not only hope and encouragement, but also sophisticated medical care that brought me back to life. This means that 72 out of 100 women are expected to be alive 5 years after their diagnosis. T3 N2 M0 Stage 3B is the same as: 1. Many women also get some kind of drug therapy. There are many side effects of chemotherapy, but they usually subside, once a person has finished treatment. Stefanie Hauser, IDC, Triple Positive, Stage 3 Cancer details: IDC is most common kind of breast cancer. Craig Brewer. This testimonial includes a description of this patient’s actual medical results. In short, CTCA helped me transition from feeling like a victim to becoming a fighter, a survivor and a health care advocate. After undergoing a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, CT Scan, PET Scan and a biopsy, I was told that I had a very aggressive kind of cancer that would need to be treated aggressively. My story begins like this: World Masters October, 2009 Sydney I competed in the 50-54 age group events in both swimming & athletics where I obtained top ten finishes in every event, my best result being 4 th in the Javelin throw. The Breast Cancer Healthline app provides people with access to an online breast cancer community, where users can connect with others and gain advice and support through group discussions. Because the cancer had spread throughout my right breast, I decided to have a double mastectomy. According to the American Cancer Society, cancer treatment and outlook are improving all the time. According to the National Cancer Institute in the United States, the survival rate for women with stage 3 breast cancer over a 5-year period is approximately 72 percent. However, many factors influence a person’s life expectancy after a breast cancer diagnosis. The side effects of chemotherapy, for example, can significantly reduce a person’s quality of life. After surgery, a person may receive radiotherapy and possibly more chemotherapy. Later that day, we told our families. This is how I feel about my journey with cancer. If a large tumor does not shrink enough, the doctor may recommend removing the whole breast. I was part of the decision-making process at every step of the way. This article looks at the survival rates for stage 3 breast cancer, as well as treatment options, remission, and ways of coping with the diagnosis. Here, learn about types, treatment, and…, Breast cancer survival rates are rising as screening and treatment improve. I was raised to know that love is unconditional. After several sleepless nights, I had a biopsy. 1. During the procedure, the surgeon found cancer in my sentinel lymph nodes, and he performed a second surgery to remove lymph nodes from my right armpit. Your pathology report will include information that is used to calculate the stage of the breast cancer — that is, whether it is limited to one area in the breast, or it has spread to healthy tissues inside the breast or to other parts of the body. Diana’s journey was featured in the February chapter. Last medically reviewed on September 26, 2018, A phyllodes tumor forms in the breast and tends to grow quickly. The TNM staging system stands for Tumour, Node, Metastasis. 99% of your donation directly funds lifesaving clinical trials. The current 5-year survival rates for stage 3 breast cancer are 72 percent for women and 75 percent for men. This is called a mastectomy. Tax-ID: 73-1386920. In around five per cent of women, breast cancer has already advanced by the time it is diagnosed, according to Breast Cancer Now. Cancer may never return. (National Cancer Institute) Breast cancer survivors share their treatment experience below. It can help to speak with a doctor about support groups. That … That is what I’m trying to do. https://www.sharecancersupport.org. I knew that what I’d been suspecting for months was about to become a reality. This helps reduce the chance of cancer returning. This means that cancer survival rates may be better than the statistics indicate. Remission does not necessarily mean that there is no cancer in a person’s body, only that the doctor cannot detect any. A stage 3 breast tumor can range in size from less than 2 centimeters to over 5 centimeters, but there are cases in which no tumor is found in breast tissue.1 This stage of cancer is not strictly defined by the presence of a tumor but rather the degree of its invasiveness. The results revealed that I had HER2-positive breast cancer, as well as Paget’s disease of the breast. I will continue to build my relationship with God, and also with my loved ones. … Thankfully, a PET scan showed that the malignancy had not spread to other areas of my body. Living with metastatic breast cancer is a challenge, and these stories give us hope. Mammograms can detect breast cancer early, possibly before it has spread. My naturopathic provider and my dietitian helped me manage and prevent side effects, taught me how to shop for and cook healthier foods, and recommended supplements to take during and after treatment to help my recovery. I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at age 32, five weeks after I had my first child. But after being diagnosed with breast cancer, I think I found my reason: to be close to the No. The stage reflects tumor size, lymph node involvement, and how far cancer may have spread. However, an individual’s life expectancy depends upon a variety of factors. My coworkers and students knew about my diagnosis—I was completely open about it—and they saw me at my most vulnerable state, too. And now the plea. On Sept 28th I had an ultrasound that ended up including 3 mammograms and the prognosis that I had breast cancer!! My father-in-law, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, suggested that I call Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA), which I did. For men with stage 3 breast cancer, the 5-year survival rate is slightly higher, at 75 percent. Ananda Lewis took to Instagram to announce she has stage three breast cancer. A person may also wish to avoid overexertion and take time for themselves. Cancer doesn’t discriminate. Breast cancer is staged from 0 to 4. My heart raced, and the tears streamed down my face. 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