Chest wall recurrence, metastatic to axilla lymph nodes

bcsurvivor76

I was just diagnosed with a chest wall recurrence. Had surgery to remove the mass, and 2 weeks after while I was recovering they found 2 lymph nodes that were cancer.

As of now, there is no distant disease.

I just started Halaven yesterday, and will take 3 rounds and be reassessed in June. I am looking to connect with others in this similar situation. Although I do not have distant disease, I can not help but consume myself to wonder when it will happen.

Nanorama

Hi there,

I'm sorry to hear your news.  I think you may find "sisters" with chest wall recurrences on some of the other threads in this forum, and certainly in the Stage IV grouping.  There are a number of women in this community who have beaten back the beast more than once or twice, so take heart.

A dear friend of mine had 2 out of 4 nodes positive... her surgeon gave her a 50/50 chance of being alive at 5 years.  He even wrote that in a letter.  That was 20 years ago. She's fine. The medical establishment is still far from being able to say who will get distant mets and who won't. Even with the newest gene assays, they are still just guessing.  NO one truly understands why some cancers set up shop and proliferate, while others go "dormant" for years, decades, or forever.  

So be kind to yourself and lead a reasonably healthy life. Eat your broccoli, but don't forget the ice cream. Try meditation. Don't stress out more than you have to, but don't beat yourself up if you get stressed out either. Don't stay up late reading cancer boards - get your rest. Go out with friends. Have a good laugh. And visualize your treatment killing off any stray devil cells.  All these things contribute to maintaining your health against any assault. Don't waste your life wondering about distant recurrence; it may very well never happen, and then think of all the time you'll have wasted!! My mom's best friend spent 4 decades in terror of getting the Big C again. She died at age 85 of kidney failure due to her addiction to NSAIDs for her arthritis... the Big C never came back.

None of us get out of this world alive. As Abe Lincoln said, it's not the years in your life; it's the life in your years. Be glad you have no distant disease and enjoy every day. Lots of luck to you. we all need luck! 

bcsurvivor76

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. Your words are so encouraging, and I appreciate the time you took to comfort me during a difficult, overwhelming time.

Josiekat

Hi BCsurvivor-

I find that after each piece of news I get, time and perspective are the only things that help me get by. After I heard the words inoperable for two of my nodes, I focused on that for a while. Now, it's just another piece of the crazy train puzzle.

Feel good and enjoy the remainder of the weekend.

Thinking about you.

Jo

finmb

hi there!  I'm in a similar situation.  I was re-diagnosed after 7 years, with cancer in 9 out of 9 lymph nodes.  As far as the PET scan showed, there is no chest wall or distance disease but I too worry about if/when that will happen.   I just started cytoxon/taxotere on 4/20 with zero problems.  How great would it be to skate like that but I know from experience the effects are cumulative. My cancer was found quite by chance during  an yMRI to check my implants. When I hit 5 years I felt better about not always looking over my shoulder but I think now that will be an every day thing.  I am hoping to beat this but I do know my oncol is" concerned" and I think it's because she's just not sure how many canerous nodes were left behind.  I did A/C and Taxol before with some cardiomyopathy issues, so I'm hoping this C/T will be less toxic to the heart.  I also had a bad reaction to Neulasta last time  so I have to rely on my counts coming back on their own.  They did last time, so hoping I can stay on track this time around too!

I am moving forward, have a good sense of humor and am just going with an attiitude that this is just another bump in the road. This is the LAST time I plan to do this!    Hang in there everyone! 

bcsurvivor76

Thanks Josiekat!  I hope you are doing well..

flnmb, how are you doing now?  Did you have surgery to remove the nodes, or did they just start you on chemotherapy? I assume you are on chemo now, and I hope you are doing well on it.

I am on Halaven right now, and will receive my 2nd treatment tomorrow, if my counts are normal.  They were hit pretty hard on the 1st round, so I think my dose will be changed.

 I will post tomorrow on the feedback I have.  Wish me luck!