Hi all I’m hoping to get some perspective and hope from some of you who may understand how I’m feeling. 12 days post WLE, pathology report shows 2 out of 3 lymph nodes have traces of cancer cells so I now have to go back in on Tuesday to take them all out (on one side). I wasn’t expecting this as the original biopsy was clear. So now after more unexpected bad news I’m terrified. I’m literally feeling like this could be the end and I could find out all lymph nodes involved and its spread further and that’s it. That sounds dramatic and irrational but because I wasn’t expecting cancer diagnosis and I wasn’t expecting lymph node involvement I feel next step is not expecting but being told that it’s much worse than previously thought. I cannot get a grip of myself and tonight my husband is also very upset whereas up til now he’s been very strong and so I’m panicking even more. I feel like I’m going to be the tiny minority that doesn’t make it and I’ve no idea how to get through this next waiting stage for the op and waiting for results. Does anyone have any ideas or been through similar? Thanks, Sarah X
Sarah
I am so sorry to hear that you have had more bad news, I am afraid I am not wise enough to know what to say to make it seem any better. I am sure that everything sounds so glib when people say not to worry but my only feeling is that a positive outlook will always help. It is hard when your husband lets the fear show but I am sure that you will both find the strength to fight this once the shock subsides.
I know that everyone on this forum says the samething but it is a roller coaster ride and I hope that you will soon be able to get back up from this latest blow.
Hugs Mary xxx
Hi Sarahkears, had a disscussion about lymph nodes with my breast sergoen today, I go for my Double MX 27th Feb. No lymph node involvement expected as per ultrasound, YEH RIGHT!!!, I will wait for lab before I do a jig. Like you terrified of a positive lymph node result, BUT my breast sugeon says, we have hundreds of lymph nodes going into our collar bone, and up to our neck, they can’t get em, they can only remove up to a point, of some big vein, name escapes me!!!, She says the lymph nodes are our filter system (like a pond filter!!!) and she WOULD expect to find some in lymph nodes because it means theve done their job and filtered out the cancer cells, hence chemo. But it dosnt mean you have a second site. So dont think too badly of our amazing filter system, YES we all want lymph nodes to be clear, 100%, but if their not its cos theve filtered out the baddie C, so hang on in there. Ive been diagnosed 3 months !!! Don’t even go there, had CT scan two weeks ago, lucky for me OK, So don’t go thinking lymph nodes positive is the end, even though we all would!!! cos we are all in this *oxy Cancer together.Just think of it that theve done their job. Hope I tell myself that at mine, but thats truly what she said. The wait is horrendous, but its unavioidable, Please don’t think this is the end, its a normal reaction that everybody on here goes through, followed by I wont let it win, and it dosnt. This site is the best thing that has come out of my breast cancer diagnosis, total strangers who support each other us all with a common bond.
Take Care
BlossonHill
Totally understand how you feel Sarah. I am waiting biopsy results on my lymph nodes and feel exactly the same. It is a bit sureal everyone is getting on with their life’s and your expected to deal with a diagnosis wait for tests results and be strong. I had a major wobble yesterday and felt really low don’t think the tiredness helped. I went to work yesterday so that was emotional. I think it will be a roller coaster ride and we are bound to have some off days. Take care x
Sarah I know it’s not the news any of us want but my surgeon told me we get too hung up on lymph nodes and they are there to do a job and if there is some cancer in them then that’s exactly what they have done, they were very clear with me from the beginning about the Ultra sound only being 75% accurate and until they were tested then I shouldn’t assume mine were clear, they were but I spent the two week wait after surgery thinking they wouldn’t be, you will come across ladies on here who had 29 /30 affected and they are still going strong years later! It’s crap and we all wish this wasn’t happening to us but we can only go with it and get through the best we can, lots of love to you Xx Jo
That’s very positive Jo.x
Hi Sarah im coming up 2 years from digonse in April I had stage 3 triple negative and I had 9 positive nodes and I’ve got a friend who I met on here she had 34 positive and still doing well 3 years later and yes it scarey as hell but like the ladies say it’s like a fishing net catching them keep strong you can do this xx
Thank you everyone, I just seem to have had my faith shaken and now I feel panicky that it’s spread further. I’m not ill, but I just cannot get myself back to the positive way I was thinking. Doesn’t it all feel like a nightmare. Most people seem to have clear lymph nodes which is fab, but that makes me feel like this is a massive step in the wrong direction. I’m going to ring the cancer nurses this morning to see if I can clarify a few things and hopefully feel better. I really appreciate the support from everyone xx