How bad is level 3 cancer?

How bad is Stage 3 cancer? Ugh, just hearing “Stage 3” with anything cancer-related… it just hits you in the gut. It’s seriously scary. I mean, it’s not Stage 1 anymore, clearly. It’s not like they caught it super early. It’s definitely spread, right? Moved beyond where it started. The idea that it might have invaded nearby tissues, maybe even lymph nodes… it feels like it’s gaining ground. Like, it’s getting a foothold. You know?

And then they throw in those letters! Stage 3A, 3B, 3C… like, seriously?! More details I didn’t even want to know existed, let alone have to worry about! My aunt had Stage 3 breast cancer – she was 3C – and I remember how freaked out everyone was. It felt so serious, so… big. She went through chemo, radiation, surgery… the whole nine yards. But you know what? She’s been cancer-free for five years now! So, while Stage 3 is definitely a big deal, it’s not necessarily a death sentence. It’s just… so overwhelming trying to process it all. Where do you even begin to understand what it all means? It’s so much to take in.