What Causes Discrepancy In Grading Breast Cancer?

Posted on Mon, 29 Sep 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 Answered on

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I has a mammogram biopsy and scan last week.I was called back for another biopsy and my doctor told me she graded me 3 and the pathologist graded me 4, what does this mean?

Answered by Dr. Richa Agarwal (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
See the discription.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for trusting us for your trouble.

I feel really sorry about your problem.

Staging of cancer defined the extent of cancer in the body.

Staging plays a very significant role in treatment and prognosis of patients.

In your instance if your breast cancer staging is 3 that means the tumor is situated in breast tissue as well as lymph node in axilla and breastbone and affecting the chest wall also.

In stage 3 there is sub staging like 3A, 3B, 3C depend upon how many axillary lymph nodes involved and depend on the tumor size.

If it is stage 4 that means the tumor has distant metastasis means it spread in your other body organ like lungs, bones, liver and other organ etc.

Thus if you are in stage 4 the tumor is inoperable (Surgery is not possible) and the prognosis is not very good, but if it is in stage 3 then there is some chance of removal of tumor with surgery and the prognosis is much better than stage 4.

Hope I have answered your query if you have further questions I will be happy to assist you.

Good luck.
God bless You.
Regards
Dr.Richa

Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj