I have recently been diagnosed and at 31 years old with a 7 year old daughter, I am terrified. I have been diagnosed with locally advanced breast cancer, with the cancer having spread to the lymphnodes in the armpit and above the collarbone. CT scans have shown there is no spread elsewhere. I know I have grade 3 cancer, but I have no idea about staging.
I am struggling to find other people with a similar diagnosis - i.e. spread to the collarbone. I know that locally advanced breast cancer is quite rare for a first diagnosis. Has anyone else had a diagnosis like this and can share some positive outcomes? I am due to start chemo in a few weeks but I am terrified of my survival rates being much lower, the recurrance rate being higher and the cancer spreading before treatment can be effective.
Any shared experiences or insight would be much appreciated. I am trying to get myself ready for the fight ahead. Thank you.
Hi. I am 68 years old so much older than you. I have triple negative breast cancer which had advanced locally into my lymph nodes in my armpit. There was nothing in my Breast. I had chemo and immunotherapy which reduced and stabilized the cancer in the lymph nodes. I am now going to have surgery to remove all the lymph nodes and to remove the breast, to hopefully prevent recurrence. I a wondering if you will be the same, but will also need lymph nodes in your neck removing. I would advise you to either ask the nurses from breast cancer now or your oncologist a bit more about what the plan is for you.
Hi
I was diagnosed straight to Stage 4 six years ago when I was 61
It was found in my Lung and lymph nodes in armpit
I had surgery to remove the affected area in my lung 4monthlu scans have remained stable since
A couple of years ago I found a lump in my clavical (collarbone) too
I had radiotherapy to the area which has shrunk the Tumour
I have been taking Palbociclib and Letrozole only for 6 years but recently cells have been found in my skin which I have just had electro chemotherapy to that area
Please try stay positive as thereâs lots of treatments out there xxx
Sorry you find yourself here! I didnât have quite the same diagnosis - had positive nodes under my armpit - but I am sure there will be others with a similar diagnosis to you I wanted to suggest Breast Cancer Nowâs âSomeone Like Meâ scheme, whereby you can be put in touch with someone who has a similar diagnosis. I think you can either apply through the website or call the main number. Sending you lots of hugs x
Hi I was 35 when I was diagnosed with triple negative witch is rare aswell. I have 7 children i had just had a baby he was 3 weeks old I also had it in my lymph nods under my arm nothing in coller bone though. I started with chemo then radiotherapy then surgery the surgery wasnât to bad tbh but Iâm not going to lie the lymph nodes under the arm removal is painful. And the wait and things is scary but you have got this stay positive. Good luck take care x
Hi, itâs so worrying at the beginning, honestly itâs the worst bit of it all!! Youâll know more soon and learn lots as you go through this rubbish stage in your life. Youâll find that there are so many new treatments out there! I wonât say âdonât worryâ but try to keep positive xxx
I am very sorry to hear about your diagnosis and I do hope your children can get support from organisations that help young people who often become carers to their mums and dads when serious illness strikes. Please get all the help you and your family can.
Sorry to hear your diagnosis. Iâm waiting to hear about the amount of lymph nodes involved as Iâve just had them all removed. I have 3 young children. Itâs a scary time but as others have said, there is s lot that can be done and the drs will sort you out! How did they find it in collar bone? I have a swelling there but they havent checked it. No scans. Have you got family and friends who can help you and the kids through this tricky time? There is lots of support on here and Breast Cancer Now maybe able to find you someone to talk to in a similar situation. X
Hi I didnât even notice untill I had my last appointment with oncology that one was removed from my
Chest bone I only knew about lymph nods under arm. And my husband has been great threw it all bless him xx
Hi,
Itâs been six month since this post.
How is treatment going for you? Can you provide us with updates?
I have a similar diagnosis & been very scared. However, my doctors are very adamant that the cancer is still curable. I wonder if that has been the case for you?
I am sorry you find yourself here, but the forum is a great source of support.
I was told the aim was to cure, but that nothing was garaunteed and it wouldnât be easy. So far, treatment is going well. I had 5 months of chemotherapy and had a good response to treatment. My tumour shrank significantly and the lymphnodes (including those above my collar bone) appeared on scans to have improved. I have just had a single mastectomy and axillary node clearance. Recovery is slow and unfortunately I have developed cording under my arm. I am waiting for a physiotherapy appointment.
I get my pathology results from surgery this week, so I will find out more about my response to treatment and whether they managed to get clear margins. The next stage is radiotherapy and further hormone treatment. I have not been declared as NED (No Evidence of Disease) yet, but I am praying I get there. I have heard from other women with a stage 3c diagnosis who have been NED dor several years and doing really well.
If you havenât already, I definitely recommend joining the UK breast cancer support group. There are women from all ovdr the country in that group and it is a safe and inclusive space to ask questions, share experiences and just support each other.
It is incredibly scary, but I try and remember to take each day as it comes and to focus on what I know right now. It isnât easy! Sending you lots of love and strength.
Hi. I came across this post whilst searching for something else but wanted to reply as I know how reassuring it is to hear positive experiences when youâve been diagnosed. I had tnbc and had one node in collar bone involved as well as under the arm. I was terrified as everything I read wasnât great and they said they werenât able to remove the collar bone node. I had chemo, surgery and then had radiotherapy, targeted to the collar bone node. Result showed after that the cancer had gone. Iâm now nearly 4 years since diagnosis with no recurrence. I wonât lie, I still worry about the fact that they werenât able to remove that node but it does get easier as time goes on xx
Welcome to you SammyB and glad to know you are well despite a postive lymph node under the collarbone that canât be taken out.
I think thereâs a lot of luck in breast cancer and every other kind of cancer. I remember reading a book about cancer by Susan Sontag I think it was who survived a cancer that is normally fatal. I think she said even if there is only a 20% chance of being well after cancer, there are going to be 20 people out of a 100 who survive. She was one of them!
So letâs take comfort in having the best life we can and laugh in the face of certainty that 100% of us will die even if we rise to the celestial city.
