Diagnosis

Hi Stella,

This definitely doesn't fit the description of metastatic cancer. I would say this is a local recurrence, as it's in your armpit lymph nodes, where it was before. 

Metastatic would be if it had found it's way elsewhere in your body, such as lungs, bone, liver etc.

Have a look at the information here: https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/facing-breast-cancer/diagnosed-breast-cancer/your-primary-cancer-has-come-back-recurrence

 Hope this helps.

Thank you BoobyCancer you have put my mind at rest but I will be having targeted treatment  for the rest of my life which fits with metastasis doesn’t it

Hi Stella,

What treatment have they suggested? Have you had a PET-CT or MRI scan?

If the only recurrent cancer is in the lymph nodes in your armpit, I would have thought they'd want to remove all of the lymph nodes in that chain (clearance), This could remove all the cancer, and prevent it from spreading.

I say "could" as it's impossible to say whether cancer cells have made it into the blood stream and might be trying to set up shop elsewhere.

This would likely be accompanied by some form of hormone or chemo treatment to stop the latter from happening.

Hi BoobyCancer
It was found in the one lymph node by CT scan which I had because I suddenly  developed lymphoedema. The original tumour was HER2 so after biopsies it was decided that targeted therapy was the way forward.

Hi Stella,

The targeted therapy sounds right for HER2+

I would suggest asking about surgery though. This isn't metastatic, so surgery should at least be considered.

Thank you BoobyCancer I will ask at my next appointment