I was only diagnosed 6 weeks ago so very new to this journey and still getting my head around it.
At my first ultrasound they took biopsies from ‘suspicious’ lymph nodes (thickening?) They came back normal.
However they showed up again at the MRI and second biopsies were taken. They came back clear of breast cancer cells (I think) but still suspicious, and have been sent for further tests.
What else might it be?
Hi @mumsy
Sorry to here your diagnosis sometimes lymph nodes are swollen due to infection , I’m not medical trained but had similar with a infection , you can always call the nurses on help line they always helpful
Wish you well x
In surgery I had 21 lymph nodes removed - 1 stopped the breast cancer but the other 20 had lowest level of chronic lymphatic leukaemia.
Just get tests from the drs - fingers crossed x
Hi mumsy
Thank you for your post.
It’s understandable you’re still getting your head around your recent breast cancer diagnosis and have questions.
As you said, it’s usual to have an ultrasound of the underarm area to assess the lymph nodes and then to have a biopsy if there are any suspicious looking nodes found.
It’s good to read that your initial biopsies came back clear of any breast cancer cells. However, as they have shown up on the MRI as well, it’s not uncommon to have repeat biopsies taken for further testing.
As @charlottebee says, lymph nodes can become swollen for several reasons, including infection, which the information in the previous link explains. It’s not possible for us to say what else it could be. Your treatment team will be able to explain your pathology results in detail.
Waiting for results can be a difficult time. Many people contact us saying waiting for results is the most worrying part of the whole process. But it’s important your team have all these results so they can plan treatment based on your individual situation. If you want to clarify the information you’ve been given so far, do speak with your treatment team or breast care nurse who can help to support you while you’re waiting.
Talking to someone who has had a similar experience can often be helpful. Our Someone Like Me service can match you with a trained volunteer who’s had a similar experience to you. You can be in touch with your volunteer by phone or email and they can share their personal experiences to answer your questions, offer support or simply listen to how you are feeling.
We also offer a range of other free supportive services for anyone who has had a diagnosis of breast cancer which you may be interested in. They include face to face and online courses and events.
For more details about all of these services, please see the information on the link, or call our free helpline.
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