Hi all, I was pretty much told I had BC a week ago when I had a scan, mammogram and biopsy in hospital. I’m only 30 so they were surprised, as was I. I went back yesterday to be told it is BC in my left axilla (not sure of spelling) and in my lymph nodes. I’ve been booked in for a lumpectomy and lymph node clearance next Thursday. I’ve got a CT on Tuesday and following it all chemotherapy, radiotherapy and potentially hormone treatment. I’m gobsmacked as I feel fine! I’m trying to stay positive but obviously I have my moments. What I’m after really is some honest advice/comments about having cancer in your lymph nodes. It’s that which is bothering me the most as I really don’t understand what it means. Does it mean it could/would have spread elsewhere? Is it symptomatic of an aggressive type of cancer? I’m really confused and my BCN has only said they won’t know properly until after surgery and CT. however, I think it must be a normal reaction to want to know everything and I’m scared they’re keeping something from me. 
I have a 17mth old and I’m more scared of losing him than any treatments I’ll be having. X
They are NOT keeping anything from you, but it’s quite normal to be paranoid in this way. BCN is right in telling you they will know much more about the type of cancer and what type of treatment you might need once the pathologists have studied the cancer tissue. You will meet many people on here who have had node involvement, including me. I too freaked out. It was worse than the initial lump result. Anyhow, I was told the node involvement still put me in the early diagnosis camp and it didn’t change where I sat prognosis/statistic wise but it did influence treatment decisions. I had a clearance and am in the middle of chemo. If there hadn’t been node involvement, I think the treatment would have gone on to hormone after chemo but I now have radiation to look forward to. All of it so far has been very doable. You will get through this.
Hi Roosmama - What a scary time for you, it does get easier when you know exactly what you’re dealing with and once treatment is underway. As previously said, its normal to feel a bit paranoid, its because your’re fearing the worst but not becuase anything is being kept from you. Keep posting and more folks will come along that can relate to you and your stage and type of treatment Hang on in there…x
Hello, Roosmama12 . I am sorry you are going through such an anxious time.
I was diagnosed with PBC in August 2011. I had a lumpectomy for a half a centimetre sized DCIS, which the biopsy discovered contained a teeny patch of Invasive cancer. Imagine my disbelief when they found that such a teeny tumour had already spread to 3 out of 10 lymph nodes tested, so I went on to have a full lymph node clearance. Like you, I felt fit and well, full of energy, which made my diagnosis even more of a shock!
Because the lymph nodes were effected, like you I also had to have an MRI scan, and also a bone scan. I have to say that the waiting for results of the scans, to see if it had spread, was by far the worst thing I went through- even though I subsequently also needed chemo and radio.
The surgery was quite straight forward, but it was the waiting for results [which thank god were all clear]- which were, for me, a modern form of torture!! Family are kind and re assuring, but the angst while you wait cannot be understood unless you have gone through it yourself!! Nothing can be said to make you feel less apprehensive, can it?
I was very worried about developing lymphoedema in the arm, after the lymph node clearance- however, I was fine, and I think that religiously following the exercises on the wall chart I was given post surgery, really helped. Nearly two years on after the surgery, my arm, fingers crossed, continues to be fine, but to this day I use a pair of small size dumbells, given to me by my daughter, daily for five minutes, and I really think that they help keep the arm supple etc.
I found it helpful to get through treatment in small steps, rather than looking too far ahead. So the first step was the surgery and recovery, then came each round of chemo, etc. It is not easy, but you DO get through it, and there is light at the end of the tunnel, so I wish you well on your journey- you will soon be through it.
I had my Mastectomy 13 days ago and I am still in a great deal of pain but like everyone else the waiting for the body and bone scans are the worst. If only it could be fast forwarded it would be fantastic. I keep reading stories from others diagnosed with breast cancer and sometimes it helps and other times makes things worse. Just having the chance to talk to others going through the same as you means so much. It’s been found that one of my lymph nodes is also cancerous and I keep reminding myself that it’s only one and other times I fear that it may have spread further if it has already reached a lymph node. If anyone wants to talk further I’m here x