Lymph nodes need to be removed

Hello Eccky,  the same happened to me. Nothing showed up in my lymph nodes during the mammogram and ultrasound but when the sentinel lymph nodes were biopsied afterwards cancer cells were found in one lymph node. I was told that it can be quite common for lymph nodes to appear ok prior to biopsy and it's not an indication that the cancer has spread in the few weeks between the scans and surgery as tiny cancer cells can only be seen under a microscope.

It's good news that there is no cancer left in your breast. It's understandable to think that every ache and pain means that it has spread - I felt the same, but it hadn't. It's just that your mind goes into overdrive and you keep thinking the worse. Hopefully a chat with your breast care nurse will be able to put your mind at rest about that. A 4-6 week break between surgery is nstandard, to allow your body to heal, but if your medical team felt that you needed surgery urgently then they would have planned it. It's a worrying time when you're waiting for surgery but i found that it is best to just take one day at a time. Do you know what type, grade of cancer you have, and do you have a care plan yet? Hope your surgery goes well and keep posting as there is a lot of support here from others who have been through the same x

Hi Eccky. Sorry you find yourself here especially with the worry if it spreading.  LalaLou gives advice I feel. My positive nodes weren't visible at mammogram and ultrasound. I had double reduction with lumpectomy and they found 2 + nodes. Due to the size of the op I had to wait 8 weeks before axillary clearance which showed 2 more. I had bone and CT scans last Friday.

I think the roller coaster of emotions plus the endless round of appointments,  treatment plans and results is the worst part. I was told they would investigate further if they found 4 or more + nodes. I'm trying not to panic and have come round to thinking that although they are investigating further at least every bit of me will of been scanned. Then I will know exactly the extent of it and have a reasonably clear plan of more treatment. 

It's so easy to imagine the cells reproducing all the time. However we are in good hands and I totally trust the Breast care teams to do their best to treat us as soon as possible.  Hang in there. Always here if you need a chat. X

Thank you LalaLou you have given me a little more hope, I will call my BC nurse and have another chat with her but I think this site is wonderful as you actually get to communicate with people who are going through the same s##t. 

hope you have a lovely Christmas 

XXX

Hi Elephant Lady again thank you for putting my mind at ease, it’s at this time of night your mind starts to work overtime and it’s good to see people care enough to respond and share their experiences. I have not been told that I have to have scans yet but I am sure that will come.

have a lovely Christmas and hope to chat again soon.

this site is wonderful I didn’t think such a thing was available but I am so glad it does,  helps me at my darkest hours.

love to all xxxxx

When they look at the removed lymph nodes, they look at cellular level, so just one cancer cell in the lymph node means it comes back positive. My cancer didn't show up on mammogram and is was almost 4cm so I don't think it's an indication that it's spread, just that they have more info now they've been able to do a proper examination.

It is very common to have  slightly different information after surgery - before that al they have is what they can see on scans, which are never going to be as accurate as looking at the real thing close up under a microscope.

It is a really worrying time, you are not alone with that.

Thank you for your response, that’s really helpful. It’s just such a stressful time you always thin the worst.

have a lovely Christmas 

xxxx