Breast Cancer in Lymph Nodes

Hey

Welcome to the club none of us wanted to join!!

Try not to worry too much, lymph nodes are there to catch things. I knew before surgery it was in the nodes, so had them all taken with mastectomy. It turned out only one of the 15 (we all have different amounts of them) was positive - a 10mm tumour even after chemo. I'm still here 3 years later, still all clear.

I'm sure some of the others will be along soon - quite a few had over 20 positive nodes and still here.

Sounds like you need a hug!!

xx

Thank you so much for replying - I'm sitting here alone and so worried. I'm so pleased everything turned out positively for you - and that you know of others who've got through it too.  I haven't been able to talk abut my diagnosis until today.  Thanks for the hug x

Please try not to worry too much . Hard, I know. But try to do things you enjoy to keep your mind off it. 

You've come to the right place for support, advice and chat. And if you feel up to a giggle, then try the AWAKE thread - usually near the top of the Discussions tab. Someone around most of the day and night on there.

Do you mind me asking the details of your diagnosis?

xx

Not sure what you mean by details, but it was found I had cancer following a routine mammogram.  They found 3 tumors in my left breast, 14mm, 10mm and 8mm.  Stage 1, grade 1.   Now that they've found cancer in the one lymph node they removed they have classed it as stage 2.   There wasn't a clear enough margin after removing the 3 tumors so they need to take out some more and talking about removing all the lymph nodes.  The doctor still seemed positive, but was worried about my anxiety.  I just feel sick with worry

It's hard to not worry.

On the plus side, Grade 1 means it is very slow growing. Do you know whether it's oestrogen sensitive or HER2? These affect what treatment plan you're going to have going forward.

Mine was stage 2b and grade 3, her2+. 

That said, it's one step at a time with this thing. Try not to look any further ahead than you need to.

Do you have support at home?

xx

Not sure, I'm on Letrozole - my mind's all over the place and can't remember if it's oestrogen sensitive or HER2.

My son is at home, but tends to be in his room if he's not working and doesn't talk much.  My sister is a good support, and my daughter - but she has a baby and because of the virus I can't see her just now x

Ok, letrozole means it was ER+ (oestrogen). That is actually good, inasmuch as cancer can be good, because it will pretty much stop oestrogen production. So kind of a whole body preventative treatment that you take for a few (up to 10) years.

Oh honey, not seeing your granddaughter has got to be tough.

more hugs?

Hi 

take a deep breath in, aaand let it out. You can do this!

i had a therapeutic mastectomy last May and snlb although my nodes were clear on the ultrasound it turned out that 3 of the 4 taken had cancer. One was visible to the eye so I don’t know if the ultrasound missed it or it had grown in the 10 days between the scan and surgery,( it was micropapillary which does like to travel quickly!) mine was grade 2, I was never given a stage.

I didn’t need further surgery but I was given a choice between node clearance and further radiotherapy. I chose radiotherapy as I was having it anyway and didn’t really feel the need for more surgery if I could help it. Stats show very little difference in effectiveness but a much greater risk of lymphodema with surgery.  I found radiotherapy a doddle.

if your on letrozole you’ll be er+ pr+, same here! was put on anastrozole which I started this feb, it’s like letrozole but cheaper, but I’m currently on a break cos of the side effects, the physical I can cope with but the depression and mood swings OMG! Anyway I feel a lot more in control now, I’m speaking to him tomorrow to see what happens next. 

the shock of it all is totally underestimated, it really is a sledgehammer to you, keep talking and asking questions, no matter how silly you might think they are, I can guarantee someone else had already asked! 

I met a lady on holiday who was 26 yrs on from breast cancer! Inspired me no end !

much love and a great big hug xxx

Hey....welcome to the place who probably didn’t know existed a month ago. I had a estrogen positive tumour and all my lymph nodes removed....cancer in all of them. Scared me senseless....2 years on...I’m through chemo, radiotherapy and am also on letrozole. To be honest I’m pleased that I had my nodes out....I felt like I had done everything I could to remove the cancer. I know it is incredibly frightening right now....I will never forget those feelings of sheer panic. Oh, and I read way too much google! But please ask any questions, share any fears....someone here will have been there....If not all of us.

Take care...

Thanks Ruthie, I haven't been given a choice and the second surgery will be in the next couple of weeks.  You're right about how it hits you, it's nice to have found this community and to hear from other people who understand.  It's reassuring that you met someone with such a positive outcome. Hope it all goes well tomorrow, keep me posted.  

Liz x