Hi Everyone!!! Im new to this site I was diagnosed with BC in sept I am 30 years old. When I was first diagnosed I was told had two small tumors (2.3cm and 2.5cm) and no lymph node involvement as scans showed nothing on lymph nodes however after lumpectomy surgey 1st nov (also had reduction and lift) and lymph node biopsy they came bAck with pathology saying I had 2 out of four lymph nodes positive consultant advised auxillary clearence which I had on 1 dec just got results yesterday and im devestated as out of the 13 lymph nodes I have 7 have tested positive !! My consultant said there was nothing in the higher lymph nodes which is a good sign and she doesn’t think anything has spread but its the protocol after three positive nodes to do a ct scan im juat so scared incAse its spread even Tho she doesn’t tbink so i didnt expect this . Have app TOM with oncologist for starting chemo has anyone been theoibn similar story ?! Just looking for some advice ECt … Xxxx
hi jennifer,
So sorry you find yourself here, I dont have a similar diagnosis, but there are other ladies here who can offer support & share experiences. There are boards on this forum for those going through chemo & younger women as well - so you are not alone.
hugs
ann x
Hi Jennifer 86, sorry to hear your news. I wonder if you might be better posting on the Surgery Thread (under Going Through Treatment), as this is for people who have had their operation, and you may find others on there with similar experience to you. I will be joining that Thread soon, as I am expecting to have my operation in January, having had my chemotherapy first to shrink the tumour. I don’t know the situation re: my lymph nodes. Nothing has shown up on scans so far, but I don’t take it for granted there is no lymph node involvement, because nobody knows for sure until they operate and get the biopsy results back. However, I hope that having the chemo first has reduced the risk for me. As you are about to start your chemo, it’s a good idea to join the appropriate Chemotherapy Monthly Thread (also on Going Through Treatment, January 2017 one not yet set up but will probably be up and running very soon). There you will be able to share experiences (highs, lows, rants, practical tips and advice etc.) with others going through it at the same time as you, and you can support each other. The Chemotherapy Tips and Tricks Thread is also a mine of useful information (on Chemotherapy Monthly Threads). You will find this invaluable, because however supportive your friends and family are, unless they’ve been through it themselves, they won’t fully understand what you are going through. Only those of us who have been there can. I am nearly at the end of my chemotherapy, so I know how tough it can be, but it is doable - most people are able to cope with the support of their oncology team, who can help you deal with the side effects. Don’t be afraid to ask ‘silly’ questions tomorrow, or later on if something important that occurs to you subsequently wasn’t covered, and never be afraid to ask for help if you are suffering from side effects. Once you have your treatment plan tomorrow, it will hopefully give you more confidence that everything possible is being done to get rid of the BC and stop it spreading. Once you know the chemo regime you will be on, it’s also helpful to find out as much as you can about it before you start, from reliable sources such as this site and those of Macmillan and Cancer Research UK - knowledge is power and forewarned is forearmed. Hope this is helpful and good luck for tomorrow (or should that be today?). XXX
Hiyer, I know of another user (there are loads with lymph node involvement, but one I know well enough to ask to join the thread) who had lymph node involvement, of all 13 I think. I believe it was over 10 years ago that she had this diagnosis. I’ll contact her and ask her to come along here and see if she can add anything.
Welcome to the forum, you have already reached out for some support from us, and that’s a smart move as there is so much information and understanding on here. You must be feeling dreadfully upset right now, and that is understandable, especially when in the real world there are no other examples of exactly the situation you are in. There will be people here though who have experienced your diagnosis, you could try a forum search and see what it throws up?
Charysx
Hello Jennifer,
Sorry for not chipping in a bit sooner! Have been tied up with alot of other stuff.
It feels very scary, doesnt it to be told you have lymph node involvementxx
In 2001, I had a mastectomy. Afterwards they told me I had 12/13 lymph nodes affected. Im afraid I just panicked and retired early…all that sort of stuff…also got onto web sites searchng for other ladies who had had such bad news, but were still alive!
I discovered there were some - with even worse than I and they had been living quite a long time. Anyway, I also had some l/n where the cancer had spread outside them, into my armpit tissue and they told me that the cancer was likely to be back within 2 years.
i was offered additional chemo…Taxotere and I chose to have rads to my armpit ((as it had spread … Dont think they do that now often and they were reluctant then) well, Jennifer, the cancer didnt return for about 10/12 years…and here I am 15 years after initial diagnosis( which was missed the year before…so it had been around before diagnosis…for at least a year!)
i hope that my story encourages you a little.
Even though I now have it back again, and am on chemo, im able to live a fairly normal life and am pretty fit. The chemo seems to be working very well too, at present.
love and hugs,
Moijanxx???
Charys, thank you for contacting me…am very happy to share this experience,Xxx
Moijan???