newly diagnosed worried about lymph node involvement

bcisnofun

Hello - this is my first post on the site.  I was diagnosed 4/29.  I am waiting to be scheduled for a double mastectomy and reconstruction if there is no lymph node involvement.  the cancer we know through the biopsy is in my left breast.  MRI results and ultrasound shows suspicious spots in right as well and I've chosen a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction.  (I know some aren't big fans of taking more than absolutely necessary, but I feel like I need to do it).  Since my diagnosis, I've noticed discomfort in both underarms.  Dr. says you can't feel cancer and not to worry that this means lymph node involvement.  But I can't get over the feeling that it does mean this.  I certainly recognize it could be my mind playing games, but I'm curious if anyone else had any discomfort and did that mean they had lymph node involvement.  I'm also looking for positive stories about people with lymph node involvement and are survivors.  Thank you new friends. 

toomuch

bcisnofun-My sentinal node was positive and more then twice as big as my breast tumor but I never had any axillary discomfort. Waiting for a diagnosis and plan is the hardest part and it's hard to keep our minds from wandering.Once you have a plan it will get better!

dgmlmax

I could have written this main post. I am feeling the same discomfort as well. My dr's don't feel any lumps, and they don't think it has spread. I am scheduled for surgery on Aug. 12th. The pain increased after meeting with the dr's though. My left arm had been hurting for a month before being diagnosed with BC in my left breast. I would really like to know before I go in for surgery, but all of my dr's say the SNB will determine if it is.

Should I make them do some kind of testing before the surgery?

Thanks, Dina

allformy4

I had pain in my underarm, actually it was the discomfort that made me feel around and find the lump under my arm.  My lymph node was also bigger than my tumor (which I felt afterwards).  I noticed that my underarm hurt at the same time of month the following month -at which point I already knew my diagnosis.  Both the sonogram and the PET showed my lymph nodes, and b/c of this they were able to do an aspiration, so I knew I had lymph node involvement b/f my DMX.  SO, can there be pain -I guess so; does it mean you definately have nodes involved, NO.

Good Luck to you!

roxy42

Hi I'm 4 years out node positive doing good.I have one year left I have been on tomox arimidex and now starting aromasin for my last year.I could not take the side affects of arimidex any more had every side affect....I'm 46 feel 90.These drugs are rough.........us node positive ladys can have long lives............take care godbless roxy