Hi I have just been diagnosed with grade 2 breast cancer had the biopsy back last night & have an appointment at the hospital on the 15th. Feel like I’m taking part in a play. Cry at the drop of a hat. What does grade 2 mean.
Dear magel
Welcome to the BCC forums, you may find our booklet called ‘treating breast cancer’ helpful to read as it contains an explanation about grading of breast cancer, you can read it via this link:
breastcancercare.org.uk/docs/bcc08_treating_final2_0.pdf
You may also find BCC’s resource pack helpful, it has been designed for those newly diagnosed. If you would like a copy just follow the link below to order a copy:
breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514
In addition to the support you will receive here, if you feel it would help to talk to someone in confidence about your upcoming surgery or any other concerns you may have, then please give the helpline a call, the staff here are all either breast care nurses or people who have personal experience of breast care issues. They can offer you a listening ear, support and information about other services we can offer you to help you through this difficult time. The number to call is 0808 800 6000 the lines open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm and Saturdays 9am - 2pm.
I hope this is of some help to you.
Best wishes
Lucy
Me to hun join the club, got the news last week. Grade two is how aggressive it is 0 being the least aggressive and 4 being the most. So me and you are somewhere in the middle.
Best Wishes Wendie
hi magel - sorry to hear your news and can’t help re the grading stuff but just wanted to say hello - I was diagnosed last weds and know what you mean…I’ve had a weepy morning and its only 08.55 - sometimes I just can’t stop crying but the worse bit was the awful acute anxiety I had from wed night till monday - I couldn’t watch the tv as I couldn’t concentrate, everything was about death n dying etc, couldn’t look at the paper and could only look at the newly diagnosed section of this brill website…but I had some lovely messages of support and it helped to know there were others going thru similar…I can’t get my head round all the grade stuff at the mo - going in on 28th for wle & node sampling and will take it from there…sending you a big gentle hug, take care, mary xx
sorry meant to say hi wendie too…xx
Hi magel!
There are two different things about BC - one is the Grade and the other is the Stage it’s at. The Stage goes from 1 to 4 (4 is when it has spread to other parts of the body). The Grades are 1 to 3 - 1 being very slow growing, 3 more agressive - so if your Grade 2 you are in the middle.
Thanks all for your support, I’m beginning to think I have just joined an exclusive club, shame about the qualifications needed. How do I know the stage it’s at, Do I have to wait until they operate or will I know what is going to happen beforehand. I am actually living in Spain at the moment & was wondering wether to go home to England to have treatment but the Spanish medical system is brilliant, the only trouble is the language as I am not fluent.
When you have your operation they will check for “clear margins” around the tumour - so they can see if it has spread within the breast. They will also check your lymph nodes underneath your arm and remove some to see again if it has spread. If no spread then you are Stage 1. Lots of hospitals now do Sentinal Node Biopsy when you have a radioactive dye injected which goes straight to the main lymph node (Sentinal one) and then they just remove that and a couple around it. If your hospital in Spain doesn’t do that then they will remove a lot more (sometimes all of them) and check them all. The less they remove the better, but if they only take out a few and then discover it has spread to the others you would have to have a 2nd op to remove them all.
Thanks Redders, I go to the hospital today at 6pm & will let you know what they have said. Bit scary all this, a few days ago I was a normal woman with a busy restaurant to run, now I’m begining to feel like I am swotting for a cancer exam!!!
I know exactly what you mean but it’s amazing how quickly people get their head around all the jargon. Hope you have someone who can help with the language problem - it’s bad enough trying to understand it all in English! My oncologist was really helpful and answered every question I had and gave me a print out of info on my particular diagnosis. Best wishes for this evening.
Magel, sorry you have to join the club. It really is a horrible shock to be told you have cancer! I just didn’t imagine it would happen to me!!! But over time, you will find you come to terms with it. I find taking each day, hour,or minute as it comes and push away all the negative thoughts, they are not useful and just keep you in a state of fear!
This site is great for support and some wonderful people here!!
Best wishes
Thanks again, went to the hospital for 6pm only to find out the doctors nurse had booked me in for a private appointment at the doctors private clinic on the other side of the city ( because I had paid to have a biopsy, to hurry things along) trouble is I would have to have entire treatment done privately & would cost a fortune, so I have to wait another 4 days until next Tuesday for Spanish national health. God the waiting is the worst!!! (I was going to say killing me!!!)
the waiting is def the worst I think, just too much time…so do you not know what will happen re biopsy etc now? I know you mentioned coming home for treatment - is that an easy/good option for you at all - I was only thinking along the lines of support, friends, family etc. You mention the restaurant so obviously you’re busy with work and all that brings too…thinking of you anyway x
Hi Magel
I also live in Spain. I was diagnosed in October 2007 and have been through the whole works. Mastectomy, 6 months chemo & 2 months radio so I now consider myself an expert on the Spanish heallthcare system!! Whatever you need to know please ask & I will try to help.
Hi The biopsy showed grade 2 tumour, from what I’ve heard it might mean masectomy but i won’t know until Tuesday now as they got my appointment day wrong. It’s the waiting!!!
Susana46
Where abouts in Spain are you? I would really like to talk with you as I don’t know the medical here as I have never really been sick before. do you know is it possible for us to be in touch personally.
Kittenkat
All my family moved here last year, kids & grandkids My neice & my brother are here as well.So at least I have a lot of friends & family here.
I think thats the main thing - were your support is…x
Hi Magel
I have sent you a message with my contact details on. We live near Malaga.
I have loads of information in both Spanish & English which I can pass on to you if you are near to Malaga. Hope all goes to plan tommorow. x
Hi Susanna
Yes I live in El Chorro, 45 mins from Malaga,Love to meet up & talk to someone English who has been through it here. I was at clinico in Malaga today. They told me what I already knew that I had a grade 2 tumour (I did read the biopsy!!!) I have to have it removed with a clear margin & the main lymph node. Not sure what happens after that. Blood tests etc next Wed.Does it usually take so long here, all I seem to do is wait, doing my head in!!!