- Resources
Q: with stage III breast cancer, what are a persons options?
Same options as stage I or II, Gloria. It just means your cancer is more advanced, and may need a more aggressive approach: stronger drugs, more surgery, or a longer timeframe for treatment. What your oncologist recommends will depend on a lot of factors other than stage: hormone receptivity, HER2 status, etc. Our treatment guide will provide you with lots of good links to posts dealing with treatment for all types and stages of breast cancer. Best of luck to you - PJH
Gloria, I'm a Stage IIIB breast cancer survivor diagnosed in 1998. As PJ says, your options depend on whether your cancer is ER positive or negative and on your Her2neu status. One treatment variation for Stage III patients is that chemo is often given before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor and to kill any cancer cells that may have already wandered off to other parts of your body. Most Stage III patients will have chemo, surgery, and radiation, but the details vary from patient to patient. Getting well after a Stage III diagnosis is very possible, so hope for the best. Let us know more specific questions as they arise.
Important:
We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Remedy Health Media. Remedy Health Media does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
