Wednesday, October 07, 2009 RHD asks

Q: I have G3 T2 no mo metaplastic carcinoma ER PR HER2 neg what does al this mean and will i survive

I had a mastectomy and all lymph nodes removed now having chemo FEC (aptly named) as a belts and braces follow up as it was grade 3

- A
- A
- A

Answers (2)

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

10/ 7/09 5:38pm

Hi - Please read our Guide to Understanding your Pathology Report; it'll really help you interpret this "medicalese." T2 is a tumor between 2 and 5cm; NO and MO mean no nodes are involved, and it hasn't spread outside the breast. G3 is grade 3. ER/PR negative means you won't be taking long-term hormone therapy, as your cancer isn't responsive to hormones. HER2 negative means your cancer is a less aggressive sort. This is all actually pretty good; and I'd assume your 5-year survival rate would fall around the 98% area... I had FEC, too - good luck. I didn't find it too bad... Stay in touch here, we can help. PJH

RHD

10/ 8/09 3:32am

thank you so much I now feel I have hope for a future

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

10/ 8/09 5:15am

Glad we could help - stay in touch. PJH

zeenat bindra

7/26/11 3:50am

hi, my mother is 68 years old and she has been operated for carcinoma left breast. stage T1N0M0. the surgeon has performed breast conserving surgery. i wanted to know how dangerous the same is and should she undergo chemotheraphy as we have been told it would not make only 10% differnce and will have side effects which would be life stye changes.

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

7/26/11 5:38am

Hi - From the information you've given us, it sounds like your mom had a small cancer that was caught early. With breast conservation surgery, I asume she'll have radiation. That should be sufficient to put her back on the road to good health.

Since chemo might improve her relative survival rate by just 10%, this means, with a survival rate that's probably already about 90%, it would make less than a 1% difference. And since it can indeed alter a woman's life – leaving side effects that last forever – I'd avoid it, if I were her. For more information, please read our post on deciding whether to have chemo. Best of luck to both of you as she continues her treatment- PJH

4/ 8/10 12:40pm

Hi I am in the same boat as you with T2 G3 NO ER/PR/HER 2 neg breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy and nodes and am now half way through FEC. I am having radiotherapy to follow.

All very scary as I am 40 and have a now 5 month old baby plus an older daughter.

Nice to read there is hope for the future!

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

4/ 8/10 3:37pm

ALWAYS hope, SG. I hope you're doing OK on the FEC; I did that same treatment, and it worked very well for me, as I'm now 9 years out. I think you'll find the radiation is much "easier" than the chemo. Best of luck, and stay in touch here, OK? We can help. PJH

4/13/10 4:22pm

Have had a bad day today as have found out that a friend who has been dealing with her breast cancer for more than 5 yrs has been told she has a maximum of 3 months left! As I am halfway through my FECtreatment it has suddenly brought it all home to me. Have been very tearful - for her, for me, for my family!

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

4/13/10 4:36pm

Oh, I'm so sorry.... for everyone. Cancer is just awful, and all we can do is make our way through it the best we can. Some of us don't make it. But take heart - the vast majority of us DO survive cancer, and go on to live long lives. Hold onto that hope - PJH

Q: I have G3 T2 no mo metaplastic carcinoma ER PR HER2 neg what does al this mean and will i survive

Related Questions

Ask a Question