The Difference Between 1-3 and 4-10 Lymph Node Involvement

marcy4

I was glad to have only 3 lymph nodes involved. My doctor had told me it was doubtful there would be any, but she was wrong. I have not bothered looking at the statstics. I just believe that I will be here for many years to come. I spend a lot of time researching the treatments of what is available and the incrediable advancements being made!  Just look at the changes over the last few years.  I think a positive attitude makes a huge difference.  I do not think about dying. I think about the future and all the great things I want to do and see with my children and my husband.  I try desparately to only show a positive side to my kids so that they see that mom isn't going anywhere.  Sometmes we can get too caught up figuring out numbers and whatnot....Just focus on getting better and always imagine yourself as a survior. That is what I try to do.

Anonymous

Weesa:  You rock my friend !!  I too am not much for watching what I eat, or exercise that much at all. I look at it sort of like I've paid my dues, now let me party on.  I don't however drink alcohol and don't smoke, and I'm hoping to drop 15 pounds over the next year or so.  My tumor was a combination of grades, also.  One piece tested a Grade 1, while another piece tested Grade 3.  As my onc put it, it had many "faces".  All of these faces can kiss my you know what.  There -- I feel better. 

Shelly

kimber3006

Thanks for the laugh, Weesa!

jenn3

I was given statistics when I was diagnosed, but my onc and surgical onc both gave me the positive side of the statistics and were very encouraging.  I can't imagine having my onc tell me something so negative.  However, I felt the need to look up statistics and got a little upset.  Then.........a swim instructor (who is in med school) at the camp my daughter was working at last summer had the nerve to tell her flat out "your mom is going to die".  I was shocked, she complained to the Director and he was fired.  That was about the time I decided to never look at stats again and live my life without looking back.  On a recent follow up I had asked my onc if I should be aware of anything, look out for signs, etc and he said nope, that was what he was there for - he told me to live my life, enjoy each day and follow up with him every 3 months. 

This thread has been wonderful to read - I think we're a supportive group and have managed to encourage each other to keep moving forward and enjoy life.  Weesa - love ya' you gave me the laugh I needed today.

Bugs

Weesa, you're my hero. 

kjlotus

I haven't talked much about prognosis stats with my oncologist. I had 6 positive nodes out of 20...had mastectomy, which showed smaller tumor, 3 cm, than they had originally thought from the MRI - and my surgeon had told me after surgery that the nodes looked very healthy and good (whatever that means) but found later that 3 axillary nodes were also positive (making 6 altogether). I read everything on cancer up until that point - now am a little scared of what i might find as far as prognosis stats.  I believe i am stage 3a now...based on my own investigating...have done 4 cycles of a/c and have just finished my 7th dose of weekly, reduced taxol and herceptin - have 5 more and then done with chemo and onto finishing my reconstruction and radiation...then the 5 year pill, too.  I go along assuming that i will survive this, but lately I have some days where I start to worry - maybe my odds aren't as good as i think...i was a very healthy, never sick kind of gal before i got this diagnosis - anything can happen i guess...i have some friends now whose cancer metastasized recently and this has been difficult to digest (she has ovarian cancer)... anyway - i think chances are we're gonna make it through this still standing.

jdootoo

Thank you, Weesa, for your post! My nodes were just like yours, but I had 6/7 positive... matted, 3cm tumor on one. I am so glad you are feeling good 8 years out! Maybe this means I can continue to drink like a fish, too?!

Big hugs...

Frankie_

Wessa LOL

My GS started out to do a SN removal and ended up taken a cluster of nodes as he saw that they were enlarged and clustered. It ended up being 8 nodes that were removed and ALL 8 were positive. As in jdootoo case 1 node was 3 cm also. This really scares me! I often wonder that more are left inside -since all 8 were cancerous. Maybe I would have felt some what at ease if 8/10, 8+/15, etc...just knowing that other nodes were clear. The way I see it is I could have had 30/30+. I guess I will never know because 8 were taken. I do realize that everyone is different I may have 8 nodes and someone else may have 17 nodes in the auxillary (sp) area. My hope is that if there were more that weren't removed that the chemo and rads got them.

Blarney1828

I had 11 out of 16 nodes positive and a 4cm tumor. My onc said without chemo chance of recurrence is 75%. With chemo and arimidex 15%. Radiation onc said 30% chance of local recurrence without radiation; 5% with. All we can do is everything possible to keep lowering those percentages.

hrf

I had 4/6 nodes positive. Onc said with mx, chemo, rads stats say 70% survival after 10 years. Didn't include Zometa in that so I think with Zometa, stats may be closer to 80% survival after 10 years.

karen1956

Alice.....how are you doing?

My onc always give me stats with saying bilat x%, chemo y%, rads Z%, ooph !% and AI's%   ....each % going up and up to about 80% 5 year survival rate (or is it 10 year)....80% is pretty good...and I'm at 4 years since finishing chemo... and at my last onc appt in May, I was still dancnig with NED....I don't so much look at these numbers, but more its either going to come back or its not.....I do the best to take good care of myself....exercise (walk daily), eat healthy, good weight etc, etc.....thats all I can do.....I do worry about it coming back, but that doesn't rule my life....it takes time, but we get there.....

Texgirl

All I can add to this conversation is that I am 5 1/2 yrs out with stage III BC and had  22 nodes removed  on ax. dissection and all 22 were positive. I had aggressive treatment then and I am happy every day that I did.  On my last check up we both agreed to continue my Aromasin indefinitely....Yes, initially, I was extremely upset with the vast node involvement...BUT ,I have now learned that "it is what it is " and do all that I can to do to promote my continued good health..I keep my wt. below 150..a challenge at times ....frequent gym time...and a good diet. Beyond that ...I don't think of it any more...if you are doing all you can do then you are doing all you can do.....don't become fixated just on numbers and studies..for no matter how good they are,they are  just that..numbers and studies.