surgeon / oncologist disagree on staging

[CLD]

Hell everyone, I'm a new member who posted a question once about satellite tumors. Well my husband had oncology apt and chemo today. We never officially asked the onc the stage because the surgeon had told us many times (because I asked her many times!!!) that it was stage iiic. Well at last oncology visit, right at the end, she said "advanced cancer." Well that conversation has replayed in my mind everyday for a month so I asked her today thinking she would say stage iii, I'm just a worry wart, BUT SHE SAID STAGE IV (!!!) because the satellite tumor was in the mesentery. So I'm no doctor, but to me, you look at path report, look at staging and VOILA you have one possible answer!!! I feel like I was hit my a truck! Now she also said all cancer was removed, PET was clear, this wont change treatment plan, 60 % cure rate. But online statistics do not show such positive outcomes for stage iv. Have any of you been given different stages? Not sure what to think, just trying not to cry in front of my kids.

[Cb75]

Try not to worry about the 'stage'. You can have stage II or stage IV and still end up in the same place. I was a resectable stage iv (a). Now i'm 'unresectable' stage iv. Either way, it sucks. Either way, it doesn't make much of a difference. Please don't take this wrong, I've been at this three years and have seen all come to pass regardless of stage. Stay strong, push for the most appropriate treatment that makes sense to you and your husband and move forward.

cb <3

[NZJay]

I was told Stage 3c with a T4b tumour is effectively Stage 4 "lite" which I found a little flippant and mildly offensive haha.

Hey don't stress. 60% cure rate is solid in my view. More likely than not, your husband will be fine .

Best wishes.

[Annb]

I was originally IIb, because I had a spread to the ovary on the same side. At least, that's what the dr said at the first appointment. Then, later on, he said, off-handedly, that it was stage IV. I had the same reaction you are having. WHAT???? Freaked me out. So, then he said, well, there is stage IV and then there is stage IV...or maybe it was stage IIb because we don't know how it got to the ovary exactly. Totally confusing. BUT, I'm 6-1/2 years out. NED. The dr retired so I don't see him anymore.

They got it all. That's great!

[Redtexa5]

Jay and I have that whole Stage IV light thing in common, like he said it won't change the treatment any they are still going to throw everything and the kitchen sink at him so worry about getting through that. Surgeons need to shut the hell up they don't need to be making calls that frankly are the Oncologist's I had the exact opposite happen, my Onc said IIIC and the surgeon comes wandering in one day and says Stage IV freaked me out too. I know it is no comfort but you really just have to play the hand you are dealt, and I say this from the perspective of six years post diagnoses and five years NED.