Breast Cancer/Breast cancer

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Expert: - 10/22/2010


Question
I have invasive ductal carcinoma grade 3/3
what does the 3/3 stand for?
What are options in terms of treatment?
Is this a death sentence?
would waiting 2 weeks for surgery be detrimental, or should I have surgery ASAP?

Answer
The grade of a cancer is an evaluation of how malignant it is based on its microscopic appearance. Here you have 3 grades of malignancy, 1, 2 & 3 where 3 is the worst, the most malignant. This is a grade 3 tumor (of the 3 possibilities).
To answer the rest of your question I really need to know the size of your tumor and its stage. So if you can tell me that you will get a more accurate answer. I'll try to answer right away now anyway. As always you have several treatment methods. Surgery probably combined with radiation therapy and maybe chemotherapy and perhaps also hormonal therapy. But for such decision much more must be known. No this is not necessarily a death sentence. Well to decide how urgent this is I would need to know much more. So I have to play it safe and tell you to have it done ASAP! Good luck!




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Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.

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I`m a doctor of medicine and a specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have long experience in diagnostics and treatment of breast tumours.

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I'm a Doctor of Medicine and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy educated & trained in Sweden. Now retired. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps.You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 I have no restrictions on the number of questions there.

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