Shouldn’t have read it. Multifocal ductal carcinoma, her2-, 3 out of 20 lymph nodes positive, one with macro mets, vascular invasion and extra capsular extension. It all sounds rather bleak to me. I’m 38 and can’t see myself watching my little boy grow up. Feel like everything just feels utterly pointless and I’ve got a death sentence. Does anyone have any positive stories of their cancer not coming back with a similar diagnosis?
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Clairebear1985 
please use the someone like me option and also ring the nurses if you can please try and hold onto the fact your team have seen it all before and your treatments are tailored specifically to you everyone responds differently to treatments it’s not a one size fits all and do remember there are break throughs and trial’s happening all the time, just this week there’s been a breakthrough with AI which will hopefully lead to more options and treatments do discuss with your team any trials too that you might be eligible for take it one day at a time I’m sure many of us when we saw what was there in black and white in our faces went 
but your team have seen it all before and know what to do, your treatment plan can change during course of treatments lots of ours have as your team get you through do keep reaching out on here BCN is here for you 
Shi xx
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Things always look much more scary on paper than when someone explains them in person and you can ask questions about what they mean . Lots of people have lymph node involvement and with the right treatment go on to lead long healthy lives .Trust your team as Shi says , they will throw everything at it . Breast cancer treatment options have evolved amazingly over the last 8 years since I was first diagnosed , I’ve lost count of the new treatments now available .Once you are in active treatment to get rid of the horrible invader you will feel calmer and more in control .x
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I just want to give you a big hug. It may sound bleak, but has anyone explained what it all means and what is going to be done? My single mastectomy is on Monday and I’m stressing about bras and what my partner will bring home from the weekly shop on his own next week. I just tell myself we will get through the next week. I can make do with bras and pj’s I have bought and we won’t starve. We will be just fine with all the support from family and friends.
Having said all that I may feel the same as you in a couple of weeks x
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Thank you for your reply, yes that’s true, everything has come on so much and I guess if they were really super concerned they’d be giving me the 3rd gen chemo?! That’s what I keep telling mtself anyway…! x
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Thank you for your reply 
no one has explained it, it wasn’t mentioned to me by my oncologist, she was just really positive it was in three lymph nodes, so it was left for me to read!
Good lucky with your mastectomy, I had mine a couple of months ago and almost over prepared. Bought a load of button up tops etc but didn’t need them, found I had more mobility than I thought and honestly it wasn’t bad at all. Drains were a nuisance but you get used to them, just have a little bag to pop them in x
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Thank you for your reply, it really did help when I was having an episode, this is all such a rollercoaster! xx
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I found primark soft non wired bras excellent as the have little pockets in them for your boob already! Check out knitted knockers on line, there will be one not far away, they send you beautiful knitted boobs which I have found to be very comfy, I even forget about it at times.
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Thank you Babiecat. I got one in Sainsburys. A soft stretchy front zippy one with removable pads. I figured if the pads can come out of the pocket a softie will go in. I’ve also ordered a post surgery bra from Amoena which should arrive in the next day or so. I’m just concerned about the sizing, with swelling and so on I don’t really know what size I should get. I’m not going to worry about bras now.
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Wise words and totally agree.
I’m shocked that no ones taken the time to explain in detail, what it means
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that’s what BCN is here for we’re all here for you, step by step, day at a time, be kind to yourself your still amazing you don’t let it take your joy it’ll try but don’t let it do everything your own way in your own time use the forum as your safe space to offload everything that’s buzzing round your head whenever you need sharing can help and everyone will reach out on here we’ve all got each other and BCN and all it’s support services and all the research it does has got us Shi xx
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Hi
Please ask your team to explain. Multifocal simply means that there is more than one tumour in your breast - see if you can find size & grade.
Impacted nodes is a pain, but again is treatable. I had 3 out of my axilla. One responded to neoadjuvant chemo. 2 didn’t so I’ve had axillary clearance.
My cancer was invasive lobular, not metastasised, & prognosis was “cure”, namely treatable & 10yrs+ survival.
Surgical & oncology team very positive & supportive. Please ask them to explain everything. They do - they prefer that to Google.
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Thank you for your reply. I’ll ask tomorrow when having chemo… you’re right, I shouldn’t be Googling. It’s grade two, unsure if it’s stage two or three. I just feel if there is extra capsular extension it surely must have spread 
have totally convinced myself it is just a waiting game now for mets symptoms, wish I felt more positive!
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Hi Clarebear1985
So pleased to hear, take courage.
I could talk about my very specific, personal & unique diagnosis, but doesn’t really mean much for anyone else (other than medical professionals & statisticians).
I simply asked them to explain what everything meant, cos I didn’t know enough & therefore didn’t really know what to ask.
Good luck 
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