I Am Very Confused

I realize this must be part of the vast conspiracy to keep breast cancer patients confused. Nancy, over atNancy ' s Point, blogged about theAJCC ’s Updates to the Breast Cancer Staging System, asking if we are confused about it. Well, since I didn ' t know about the updates (or even who the AJCC is) I was and still am very confused.Let ' s start with theAJCC or the American Joint Committee on Cancer. Apparently they are the people who set up cancer staging criteria. They set the original TNM staging system in 1959. TNM means Tumor size, Nodes positive, and Metastases. " The panel recognized the need to incorporate biologic factors, such as tumor grade, proliferation rate, estrogen and progesterone receptor expression, human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) expression, and gene expression prognostic panels into the staging system. AJCC levels of evidence and guidelines for all tumor types were followed as much as possible. The panel felt that, to maintain worldwide value, the tumor staging system should remain based on TNM anatomic factors. However, the recognition of the prognostic influence of grade, hormone receptor expression, and HER2 amplification mandated their inclusion into the staging system. "I used to know what stage I am - IIA. Now I can ' t figure it out. With all this other stuff included. I am very confused. I looked at theAmerican Cancer Society ' s website for help. And I am even more confused. There is no more little chart that shows what you stage yo...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: breast cancer breast cancer treatment confusion staging Source Type: blogs