Scared, has this happened to anyone?
So here's my story. Back in July of 2024 I thought felt a lump in my breast. For about 2 years every month when I started my period I would feel a large lump but it would go away after my perky. When I went to the gynecologist he felt around but didn't feel anything, but he wanted to be sure so he sent me for a mammogram. At the mammogram it hurt so bad and the results was abnormal. And the test showed the lymph node under my arm was enlarged. So the doctor wanted me to go get a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound. Well in the mean time. My one breast looked damaged the nipple was inverted and there was a line in my breast. It was swollen and looked deformed. The results was good I was all cleared. And the lymph nodes looked fine. When I went back to the doctors for the results I mentioned that my breast looked deformed. He didn't take the time to look at them. He just said that was normal. I didn't like that answer so in August I made another appointment with a different gynecologist. When he seen them he was shocked. He couldn't feel any lump. He said there was nothing he could do but to send me to a surgeon. In October was able to get into see the surgeon. When he looked at the test results and my breast he said he would like to do a biopsy to rule out cancer. Even though I was all cleared by the tests that was ran. So I had the biopsy done and the results was I have cancer. Invasive ductal carcinoma with micropapillary features. So in 4 months I went from being all cleared to having cancer. I asked him to check this lump that I found on my collarbone. He said that it was a probably cancer. So the cancer has spread to the collarbone. He referred me to an oncologist. My appointment was the 7th of November. I was so scared. Originally I was a stage 2. At the oncologist he said I was a stage 3. And he could feel the cancer in my lymph nodes under my arm and I have a large cluster of swollen cancer lymph nodes in my neck. He has scheduled test to see if the cancer has spread from the lymph nodes. I do feel something in my neck kind of like I slept on it wrong. I'm scared I went from being cleared to maybe stage 4 in 4 months.
has anyone had a cluster of swollen lymph nodes in your neck?
Comments
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@nikkioh we are so sorry for all you've been and are going through. Swollen lymph nodes can indicate that the body is fighting an infection or abnormal cells, which could include cancer cells, but they will only know by doing additional scans and biopsy of the lymph nodes. Do you have anything scheduled? We understand how you must be reeling, but try to take lots of slow, deep breaths, and take it one minute at a time. We're here for you, and please keep us posted.
Sending you gentle hugs. You are not alone.
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so yes I have a bone scan, a ct scan and an MRI scan on Wednesday . He ordered at pet scan but the soonest they had was December 6th and my doctor doesn't want to wait that long. So Wednesday will be a big day for me. Just trying to stay hopeful and praying that it hasn't spread.
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Hi @nikkioh, I’m sorry that you are in the middle of a diagnosis which keeps developing twists and turns. Unfortunately figuring out breast cancer is like that since there are so many variations of it. Sometimes a scan or biopsy result leads to further scans and biopsies. Some people have their diagnosis changed again after surgery. The information comes in dribs and drabs; in a complicated case like yours the final diagnosis can take a while. Once you have a treatment plan in place things get better but getting to that point can take time.
As the mods said swollen lymph nodes can be caused by inflammation or cancer so scans and a biopsy are often needed. You’ll have more information after your tests on Wednesday but don’t be surprised if these don’t give a definitive answer or lead to more tests. The fact that you advocated for yourself and sought a second opinion when the first doctor gave you an unsatisfactory answer indicates that you will do well dealing with whatever it turns out to be.
Hang in there. Once you know what you are dealing with and have a treatment plan there will be others on this site in similar situations who can give you helpful information and support. I hope you get answers soon and things turn out as well as possible.
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thank you all for your comments. Like I said I had really no signs. Until after my first mammogram. And after the biopsy I've had nothing but pain in my breast and that was a month ago when I had that. So as of right now I'm stage 3 idc grade 2 er and prg positive her2 neg. I can't stop thinking about maybe it's spread past the lymph nodes. Has anyone had a doctor say there was some just by feeling and there wasn't any there? Or maybe not as many as they thought?
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Doctors can’t tell what is causing swollen lymph nodes just be feeling them. They can surmise the cause is inflammation if you have an infection but a biopsy is the only way to tell for sure. I had cancer in an axillary lymph node that wasn’t swollen and no cancer in one that was. It’s so hard to wait for the test results but that’s the only way to find out.
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Indeed, @maggie15 is correct, a doctor can surmise, but can never know without the additional testing. One day at a time. Wednesday will be a long day, and the days waiting even longer, but we're here to listen and wait with you.
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thank you everyone I really appreciate it.
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I’m terrified and feeling so down…I have cortical thickening in my açıkları lymph node 4mm..I can see a small swelling on my armpit like a small hill in the center of my armpit..I have biopsy schedule nov21 and dreading for the worst..they found a 2 cm suspicious mass on the same Right side breast and armpit…did anybody have same experince? I’m trying to Google and stage it tells me stage 3! Is it so bad?? I have no other signs on my breast.they are symmetrical..hoping somebody can shed some light for me.
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Hi @antsymee20 welcome to the community, we're so sorry to hear about what you are going through this can feel very scary and overwhelming. You aren't alone here. Once you receive your pathology report this article will help you understand what your options are: we are here for you to help support you ❤️
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antsymee20,
Googling is not a diagnostic tool! There is nothing google can tell you about your individual situation. Although it is useful for some general info, it cannot speak to your unique position. Please know that the only thing that determines staging is a biopsy and then any other info that is gleaned from a surgical sample (if you are having surgery). There is no way Dr. Google can determine your stage. Waiting is hard but don’t increase your stress by worrying about things that you don’t have enough info to determine or that might never even happen. Take care
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My symptoms and diagnosis were very similar to yours. I felt a lump near nipple in early 2017, for years, mammograms and ultrasounds kept clearing me. I had lymph nodes changing shape in armpits showing on CT scans for two years and no one ordered further testing. I was dx early this year with stage iv, de novo, no prior treatment or dx. By the time mine was found it was metastasized to liver as well. Please feel free to reach out individually if you want to go through everything step by step. I am still searching 10 months in for a treatment that works.
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