Diagnosed breast cancer stage 2 ER+ HER2 negative

I'm 47, and have lymph nodes involved and it hadn't spread any further.

It may not be helpful to say, but try not to worry about what ifs. You'll have the scan, and the team around you will deal with whatever it shows. Spread doesn't mean incurable!

Just give yourself some grace, push the maybes and what ifs out of your head, and only deal with the definites.

I’m really sorry to hear that you also had this but so happy it hadn’t spread anywhere else for you. I’ve had a bit of a meltdown with it all and now constantly fear the worst! I’ve read that if it’s spread it’s incurable and stage 4 which is completely stressing me out

Hello. Your feelings are completely understandable. I was diagnosed in March this year with grade 2 ER pos Her2 Neg tumours in both breasts which was a huge shock. I had a double masectomy and recovered very well. Unfortunately cancer cells were found in the sentinel node on my right side so I needed a full auxiliary node clearance op. My CT scan and MRI scan was clear. The great news was that in the 16 nodes they removed none had cancer. I then had an oncotype test and my chance of recurrence was low so I didn’t need chemo. I am now on letrozole for 5 years but all other treatment is done.

It is awful going through the process but try and not ‘what if’. Your tumour was small and grade 2 and the role of the sentinel node is to act as the gate for the other nodes so often cancer is not found in other nodes. Wishing you all the very best 

Hi Karen, 

thanks so much - that is a really reassuring reply! I’m so pleased for you it wasn’t found in the other nodes and you were able to skip chemo! What an awf shock for you to have it in both as well Can I ask how big your tumors were please? 
I really need to push for this oncotype test as I’ve been told it might not even be mentioned in their disciplinary meeting about me as I’ve had two nodes that were positive! Did you have radiotherapy? My world has turned upside down since being told it’s in the nodes and I now potentially need a totally different treatment plan! Can I also ask - did you have the CT scan after the full lymph node clearance? Or before? The CT scan is my worst fear at the moment as I’ve convinced myself they are going to find it’s spread elsewhere in my body! 

My uncle was diagnosed stage 4 esophagus cancer. They threw everything at it, and he's currently cancer free. (Not 'officially' called remission until a year).

The stages can be updated, and there's so many other factors that affect outcomes. Honestly, really try not to get fixated on terms. Like, my diagnosis still doesn't make much sense to me, so I've just scaled it back in my head to "have cancer", and my only focus is "do what they tell me to do so we get rid!". The stage, grade, receptors, and all that don't change what I need to do ... that's info for the hospital! That's how they decided what treatment combo is gonna be best for me.

Same goes for you. The treatment plan is the key ... the terms are for the team around you to determine the best treatment plan for you.

Hi kay1

I had same as you in January 2023 my MRI and scan showed my lymph nodes all clear, but when I had my appointment after my 1st lumpectomy the oncologist said my 2 lymph nodes were filled with cancer also my margin wasn't clear. I then had 2nd lumpectomy and all lymph nodes removed but thanks to God they were all clear. Because of 2 lymph nodes with cancer i had to have 6 months  chemotherapy otherwise my plan was lumpectomy, radiotherapy and tamoxfine.

Chemotherapy is the toughest part in this fight of yours, I pray you and everyone with this get through. Just don't give up because you are strong. ️

Hello. In answer to your questions I had the CT scan before surgery. My largest tumour was 4cm (1cm in other breast). 
the oncotype test is only suitable I believe for Oestrogen positive cancers and only when less than 3 nodes are affected. I hope you are doing ok and you have a clearer treatment plan soon. Wishing you all the very best  

I’m so sorry you also went through this it’s so bloody hard isn’t it! Did you have to have a CT scan after surgery? I had my full body CT scan the other day to ‘rule out spread’ still waiting for the results and still terrified every single day of this phone call. I’m hoping what I’ve read online happens in my case and it hasn’t spread anywhere else! 
How big was your lump you had removed? And how did you cope with the lymph node clearance? I’ve just had the two sentinel nodes out and I’m still struggling with the pain a few weeks later so no idea how much pain I’ll be in soon when they go back in and remove them all! Fantastic that you had no more nodes that had cancer in though!! Very reassuring to hear how are you doing now after everything? 
Chemo is my second huge worry and the side effects sound really hard. Did you manage to keep your hair? I’m thinking of cold capping (if I can cope with the brain freeze effects!) 

Ah ok and was that a full body CT scan? I had my full body one the other day. Yeah I’ve heard the oncotype test is for er & pr positive with 1-3 nodes involved. Tbh the fact I’ve got node involvement I think I’m just going to have to be strong and realise the chemo will help the reoccurrence risk! 
thank you - I’m getting a bit better day by day, just want the ct results to hurry up now! I really hope your doing ok after also going through this horrible illness ️

Oh no I’m really sorry to hear that about your uncle I’m so glad he’s beat it!! ️

yeah what your saying makes complete sense, I think it’s probably because I’ve recently found out, been chucked into a load of very uncomfortable biopsies, scans and surgery etc all within a month so I’m still at the very emotional over worrying about every single thing stage! Your right though the stage, receptors etc and everything else is what the hospital team use to work out the best treatment plan. I’m so bad on chat gpt, google and Tik tok and completely panicked myself seeing about all the different grades and stories so I should definitely stay off of them as it’s not helping me