Just wonder if lymph node is negative, could the cancer still be spread to some where elses?
thanks
Hi Avonlea,
I’m not as ‘clued’ up as many on here, but as someone about to start six cycles of chemo with negative nodes, I would assume the answer is yes.
Tracey x
I had no lymph node involvement at my primary diagnosis but unfortunately was diagnosed with secondary cancer 2 years later in my liver and lungs. I have no idea how common this is, I may just have been very unlucky as I had a very good prognosis initially.
Hi there
I had no lymph node involvement but when I asked if the cancer could come back/spread, the answer was yes 
Not having chemo but start rads next week and am on Tamoxifen. Hope this helps.
Netty x
cancer in the lymph nodes is seen as a marker for possible spread elsewhere. However, according to Susan Love’s book on breast cancer about 2/3 of people with lymph node involvement go on to get seondary breast cancer, and 1/3 of people without lymph node involvement do as well. Breast cancer can spread through the blood stream and through the lymphatic system and it isn’t really understood why some people’s immune systems seem to deal with stray cells and some don’t. Some factors involved are how aggressive the original tumour was, size of the tumour, and age at diagnosis - younger women have a bit of a poorer prognosis than women in their 50s.
Unfortunately there’s no certain way of knowing who will be lucky and who won’t. I seem to remember Jane Tomlinson didn’t have lymph node involvement, nor did Caron Keating. Sorry to be gloomy. I don’t think we should all curl up and die now, but we do have to cope with uncertainty. Of course everyone does, but a cancer diagnosis brings it very close to home.
Mole
My daughter had negative lymph involvement but she went on to developed brain tumours so yes it can still spread through blood steam and I believe skin … but not sure about that. We didn’t realise that at the time. Sorry not to give you a good answer but best to know the truth and then you are more vigilant in asking for help if you think there is something wrong.
Sue x
Well if I have to rely on my immune system I might as well shoot myself now as it cant even ward off colds!I suppose being over 60 with no vascular invasion are plus points.I am so very tired of being so afraid all the time.
Vx
Avonlea, that’s a very good question as I like a lot of people assume that no lymph involvement meant a localised cancer that can be removed
That shows how naive I am. I had IDC, no lymph involvement. I though that was it, Tamoxafin for a few years and I would be OK.
I did think it was strange when I saw my ONC, he said my chances of getting cancer again were the same as the normal average person. But on my next visit he said my chance of being alive in five years was 85%. It didn’t occur to me until later that these figures don’t add up.
I don’t understand about the immune system, if our immune systems couldn’t deal with the cancer in the first place, does it mean its less likely to deal with stray cells. I always though my immune system was excellent, never had a cold, mumps, measles or chicken pox,
Deb
There’s a lot of nonsense written about the immune system and cancer, much of it on dodgy alternative medicine websites.
Cancer isn’t caused by a dodgy immune sytem…nor is there a link between getting colds and getting cancer.
The myths are all part of the blame the patient syndrome
I am proud to say that I have a very robust immune system which has kept me fit and well and out of hopsital through 30 plus cycles of immune system seige by chemotherapy…and never a cold in sight. Shame about the cancer.
Jane
oh JaneRa - you so make me laugh!!!
I had 2 hospital stays and I only had 6 cycles of chemo (I continually asked for more but they kept on declining). as I type this I actually I have another cold!
Gulp, having just read this I realise how much of an ostrich I am!!
They took 9 lymph nodes from me and 1 had a couple of micro metasteses which the BCN said in so many words were negligible. My OH has relayed to everyone that they were virtually insignificant and the chemo is just a belt and braces approach. Everyone (including me until reading this) has taken a sigh of relief and decided I’m over it. Cancer is gone and I just have to get over the surgery and chemo and will live to be a very old lady. I know I haven’t yet seen my oncologist re chances/odds and all that statistical stuff and am still awaiting a copy of my path report but I realise now how naieve I am to think that this may not return to bite me. Even harder I think will be persuading my OH that we cannot write cancer out of our dictionaires for good.
Hi - just wanted to say that you should carry on with the positive outlook and not get bogged down with thinking the cancer might come back. I had a similar diagnosis to you, 10 nodes taken, 2 positive and another with micro metasteses ( I am 49). Will be starting chemo on 13th Oct and my Onc told me that as I stand now I have 55% chance of surviving 10+ years without a life threatening cancer returning, having chemo brings that up to 75%, then add Tamoxifem brings it up to 85% so pretty good odds. We are all at risk of developing many different conditions that could affect our lifespan but are not aware of them. It’s just that we have had to come face to face with our risks and deal with them head on but I have come to the conclusion (after many tears) that it’s not worth worrying about what might happen in the future, just get through this bloody bc and then enjoy life!
Take care, Sandra x
Hello Ostrich,
There is a thread about micrometastases (or micromets) in ‘Undergoing Treatment for Breast Cancer’ called ‘When is a Lymph Node Really Involved’ (page 2) which you may find interesting. Love xxxx
Thanks, will have a look at that, x
Hi Ostrich
After reading your post I wondered if either the helpline or the Ask the Nurse email service may help you. The staff on the helpline will be able to talk to you about your concerns and offer you support. Lines are open from 9am today until 5pm weekdays and 9am - 2pm on Saturdays, calls are free, 0808 800 6000.
The link to the Ask the Nurse email service is: breastcancercare.org.uk/content.php?page_id=119
Hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Jo, Facilitator
Thanks Jo, having just posted a whole heap of questions under another thread on micro metastases under this topic I think I will email the nurse.