Thought I was coping but - just told the sentinel node biopsy is positive 4mm so now having axillary clearance. Anyone know how many nodes they’ll take? Also having CT body scan. Terrified new member x
Hiya first can i welcome you to the community none of us wanted to be members of, but under the circumstances its the best place to be.
I can't really help with how many nodes they will take but i'm sure someone will be along soon to help you with that, if not you can always ring your breast care nurse they are really helpful and will help you put your mind at rest.
I think most people have a CT body scan, i know i did, more as a indication of what they are dealing with.
Try not to worry, i know its easier said than done, but you could spend time worrying about something you don't need to. The best advice i was given was to take each day at a time, worrying won't change anything.
Come and talk to us, it helps sometimes just to get something off your chest to people who get you.
scaey isn’t it ? CT sent me into a flat spin as I didn’t know it was routine ! Lymph nodes are like bunches of grapes , when I had mine out they took the one they neshad cancer and then all the ones that one led to .....I had 10 out , cancer found afterwards in 3 .
you will feel better when you have all the info !! I hope .......best wishes x
Hi...I had what they call a level 2 clearance (or similar) as they knew some of my nodes were affected. 10 came back positive - there were other nodes that weren’t tested ( no idea why but 10 was scary enough!) I had ct scan and bone scan - all clear. As my consultant said - having positive nodes means they were doing the job of trapping cancer cells that shouldn’t be there....I hold on to that thought!
It is a scary place to be isn't it? However, at least you know they are pulling out all the stops to get you sorted and you aren't alone.
I had a lumpectomy and axillary clearance of I think 15 lymph nodes and they found some affected. I think it varies and I know i certainly went blank when they told me what was going on. I think it's best practice that they do the CT to make sure that you get the appropriate treatment and check what's going on but do write down the questions you have for your team. They always seem to fly out of my head when I'm faced with the professionals!
I hope everything goes well for you and you'll know there's lots of people on this site who are at various stages on the journey. I'd just echo what's already been said.
I was where you are now almost the weeks ago then I was told I was node was 6mm and positive on one of the 2 sentinel nodes. I've since done a bone scan, ct chest scan and ct abdomen scan with contast. If they found anything I'd not have further treatment apart from tablets to lower oestrogen, as they'd save chemo 'for later'. The 'upside' of clear scans is the prospect of more surgery, chemo, possibly radiotherapy and tablets. Never have I wanted chemo as much as the last couple of weeks, when I convinced myself it had spread! My oncologist is very thorough, and the ct scan had a small cluster of veins in the liver (which is unrelated according to the report and quite common in women) and I now need a liver mri scan with contrast too..... then a heart scan before the possible chemo....
What I'm trying to say is that it seems like they suspect something bad, but it's just routine so that they know exactly what is going on and can treat you properly. It's so hard waiting on results when all you want is it out, but tests take time. Do you have dates for the scan and next follow up appointment yet? Hopefully it will be soon so that you don't have to wait too long. X
“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Stephen Hawking,
CT scan is to check it hasn’t spread. It probably hasn’t. (But I know how terrifying it is until you know.) I had node clearance to level 2. They take all of your level one and level 2 nodes. The number varies because everyone has a different number. It’s just how your body is made. Good luck. I hope the scan comes back clear for you. xx
