Ovarian stages

[Rjoneill1302]

Hi does anyone know if a diagnosis can go from stage 4 to stage 3 after treatment

[HogwartsDK]

Hey RJ,

I am sure someone on the forum can be more definitive about this but as far as I know once you have been staged initially (after tests and possibly surgery) that is the stage you remain regardless of what the outcome of treatment is.

Again, I am sure someone with more knowledge will be able to help too.

D

[Katmal-UK]

Hi. Not as far as I am aware. My understanding is that the staging is based on spread of the cancer, i.e. whether in one ovary, both, or maybe also in fallopian tubes, omentum etc when first diagnosed. I am currently 'no evidence of disease' but still classed as stage 3. Hope you are ok. Kathy xxx

[TinaB1]

Hi there .. So far as I'm aware, the staging process allows doctors to tailor treatment and for data to be collected and encoded so that patterns can be seen. The grade is noted at the same time.

So, for example, if a person has been staged at 4, for statistical purposes, they remain at 4. At the time of diagnosis, I was 3c, but half way through my treatment, the large 'scar' on my lung, thought to be damage from Swine flu, had reduced by half so my consultant said I was Stage 4 in reality.

I think what you might be getting at is, can a Stage 4 person be like a 1b patient? I don't think that's possible because a higher stage means the cancer has spread wider in the first place.

Statistically, a Stage 4 patient is more vulnerable than, say, an Ovarian 1b patient, but it's not so simplistic because there are many Stage 4 patients out there living well and some Stage 1 currently having a very rough ride.

Similarly, with grade. Some low grade tumours actually behave aggressively as the disease progresses, whereas some women have an indolent form of high grade.

So, to answer your question, I think, in effect, a Stage 4 patient can be in the same position as a Stage 1 after treatment. Or, it can disappear completely. It's just that there has to be a starting point for data collection.

I was only talking about this with my friend last evening, We're all different, and so is this disease in every one of us. So I think it's best to have the treatment or treatments and try to forget the stage. That's one of the ways I try to cope with It.

Sending love and hugs. Xxx

[Dollysmum in reply to TinaB1]

Brilliant post xx

[Naimish]

Tina, that was very informative. But, I dont understand why do they have to stage it as per the first prognosis. What if, diagnosed as stage 4, and one is NED for say six years and then it shows up again as stage 1A? Would they still stage it as stage 4, although the latest diagnosis is 1A?

Naimish

[Katmal-UK in reply to Naimish]

Hi Naimish If it shows up again as far as my understanding goes its still at the stage of initial diagnosis. I was stage 3 at diagnosis but then was NED for 4.5 years before my first recurrence which was small. Im still classed as stage 3 advanced OC even though Im in my third remission (NED) . Its related to the initial diagnosis and if its spread to lymph nodes or other organs. My understanding may of course be wrong lol Kathy xx

[TinaB1 in reply to Katmal-UK]

Hi Kathy,

I think that too. Xxx

[Naimish]

Thank you Kathy. You, having been there and done it all, its gospel; although I dont want to agree with their set algorhythmic like fundas, which only serves as a dampner. If one can argue that the staging has no bearing after the first prognosis, then why mention it at all?

Naimish

[TinaB1 in reply to Naimish]

It's basically that statisticians can work out how many women have one, five or ten year survival times and then monitor that over time in the hope of seeing improved survival rates given new technologies and improved detection methods. Xx

[Katmal-UK in reply to Naimish]

Not sure its gospel just my understanding, as I said I could be wrong lol

[Naimish]

Once again Tina, thank you for the info.

Naimish

[TinaB1 in reply to Naimish]

I was going to say too that if there is a six year gap, for treatment purposes, the new episode would be counted as second line, which is another reason things don't start from scratch. Being second line and not first line has treatment and funding implications too. Xxx

[ScardyCat40]

I would like to meet this person who is stage 4 but was in remission for 6 yrs. Sadly being in remission doesn't mean the cancer has gone