I was told that the tissue around the lymph nodes that were taken out also had cancer in. Does this mean it broke out from the nodes or that it traveled up from my breast tissue? Didn’t think to ask Dr at the time …
Are you talking about extranodal spread/extranodal extension. This is when the cancer in the lymph nodes escapes from the node capsule. It is fairly common.
Whether or not it has any prognostic significance seems uncertain - different studies give different results - see for example: jco.ascopubs.org/content/23/28/7089.full.
I wouldn’t worry about it.