OVCA Tumor Grade- what does it mean?

[Borgs]

I understand staging, but what does Tumor grade mean?  A soccer-ball-sized malignant tumor was removed from my mom last week, we will learn the stage of the cancer Thursday, hopefully.  According to doctor, no visible cancer elsewhere in the abdomen, but over 4 liters of ascites removed.  Doctor said all other tissues looked fine, other ovary looked fine as well.  7 areas were biopsied.  This was an extremely large tumor and it seemed as if it really grew agressively over a month's time, ascites seemed to set in just around Thanksgiving.  I understand microscopic cancer cells could be in ascites, lymph nodes, and could show up on other organs which will determine staging, but what about the actual tumor itself?  I hear that the larger, more agressive growing the tumor, the more dangerous, regardless of stage of where cancer spread.  So I guess my question is, is it possible to have stage I or II OVCA, but the actual tumor itself was a grade 3?  Does that make sense?  If so, how does that effect prognosis and treatement regimen?  Or am I looking at this wrong?  Many thanks to all you great ladies out there.  During this time of sadness and confusion, the education and well-wishes you have provided from this site has really given me a sense of comfort and hope.      

[Borgs]

Thanks Mickey-  My mom has her appointment tomorrow where she will review the path reports.  Hoping for the best.

Best to you.

[MickeyVickiNumber1]

Judging from the content of your post, I think that you already understand the process.

Staging a cancer (any cancer)  is simply a matter of exploring, then explaining, the spread of the cancer.  Staging is denoted as I, II, III, IV.  The higher the number, the further the spread of the disease.

Grading a cancer is  simply a matter of determining the aggressiveness of that particular cancer type.  Grading is denoted  in ovca as 1, 2, or 3.    Again, the higher the number, the more aggressive the cancer.

So, yes, it is possible to have combinations, such as an aggressive cancer caught early and labeled a Stage I, Grade 3.    Or the opposite, such as my neighbor who had cancer: this cancer was a "Stage IV, Grade 1."    (This person ignored the symptoms for years!)

[vegas2cr]

Try this article for understanding..........http://www.oncologychannel.com/ovariancancer/staging.shtml
Sorry you are going through this right now...