Breast Cancer in Lymph Nodes

Thanks GG,  did you have any issues with lymphoedema after having your nodes removed?  The consensus at the moment is that they remove all the lymph nodes but my surgeon thinks we don't need to take them all. I don't know what to think, I'm just so scared that it's in my lymph nodes.  Like you, i've read too much on google which only adds to my anxiety so trying not to do that anymore x

I had a mastectomy in early 2017. Margins and sentinel lymph node were clear.

I was advised to do chemotherapy and radio, but decided against, as I had also my lower left lung removed, in which a tiny lung cancer was detected. I felt my body had recovered well and didn't need chemo on top of it at the time.

But early last year a CT scan detected something new. Turned out to be a cluster of three lymph nodes with breast  cancer.

So I had these and six others (which were clear) removed, and spent the rest of the year with chemo and radio therapy this time.

Now I'm still on Herceptin injections until June.

Feel very good, and a CT scan last November didn't show anything. 

Hello Westie15

I’m sorry to hear you are struggling right now, but completely understandable. I’ve certainly felt like that at times, also felt sick and frightened. also you’ve only had surgery three weeks ago so no wonder you’re feeling a bit fragile,

I had a lumpectomy and had cancer in my lymph nodes so they took all of them out, I had 9 in total and two had cancer. I’ve not suffered from Lymphodema but was, and continue to be, religious about doing the exercises. I also do yoga and that’s helped too.

I had Grade II IDC 34mm, which shrunk by taking Letrozole to 23mm. Im now all finished with chemo and radio and now back on Letrozole for 5 or 10 years.

if you have any other questions please ask or message me? 

Good luck with Eeverything,

Sarah x

Thanks Dreierlei, I'm glad your last scan was clear and hope you continue feeling good x

Thanks Sunshine, I've been awake since 3.15 with all sorts of horrible thoughts going round my head.  It frightens me that it's in the lymph nodes.  How long ago did your treatment finish?

Hi

Sounds like you're getting lots of support here and are hopefully realising that a) you're not alone and b) there's lots of success stories out there.

I had an mx Feb with SNB and found that 3 of 3 nodes tested during that came out as positive and had capsular rupture (that cancer was trying to break free!), following ANC 4 of further 8 (or 9, I forget) were found to be cancerous and a subsequent CT scan showed that despite the cancer was adamant it was going to avoid social distancing of elsewhere in my body had not spread elsewhere.

So if you want some satisfaction that all is well elsewhere ask for a CT scan...it will hopefully put your mind at risk.

Good luck, Sam

Thanks Sam, it’s good to know your cancer hadn’t spread. Do you need any more treatment? It is nice to read some positive stories, especially when you’re so worried about everything. Liz x

Hi

Sorry that you find yourself here with all of us (in the nicest way possible!) I am just adding my voice to all the support you will find from this online community.  I have also had a node clearance. I was diagnosed in July 19 with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. From the scans it didn't look to be in the nodes but after mastectomy I was told they found it in three nodes so I then had the whole lot removed. I know some people may be given a choice of radio or node clearance but I wasn't given a choice and it all happened very quickly after I received the pathology results from the mastectomy. I have since had chemotherapy, radiotherapy and have recently started taking Letrozole. I had a similar reaction to you on hearing about the lymph nodes. I had read lots of positive breast cancer stories but most of them seemed to me to be from ladies without cancer in the nodes so I was struggling to keep my chin up, to put it mildly. Since then, I have found much encouragement and support on this site, and realised that many women (and men) have positive nodes but then do go on to make a full recovery. At the end of the day, statistics are really just statistics, everyone is individual and anyone can defeat the odds! I wish you lots of luck with whatever comes first in your treatment plan. As Yorkshire_defector says, having cancer in the lymph nodes does not necessarily mean it has gone further than that, the lymph nodes are there to do a job and hold onto the cancer as long as possible. A CT scan should hopefully reassure you. You can do this. x 

Hi Westie - can I ask if you were offered chemo as I am in a similar position to you with two positive nodes and been told there is not enough benefit for me to have chemo. I worry about that.

Hi Sarah,  So far they have only mentioned having Radiotherapy - I'm not sure if anything will change after my 2nd surgery - it may depend on how many more nodes are positive.  I honestly don't know. It is really worrying and I know exactly how you are feeling x