Positive lymph node..... what can I expect next??

annika12

I had a biopsy on friday after finding an enlarged node in my armpit during a mammogram/ultrasound. Today I got the call it's positive. They have not found anything in my breast yet but they told me to make an appointment with a breast surgeon. What can I expect??? Whats next??? I am so scared... need a plan. Sure hope the doctor can see me very soon!!! I am 43 no family history or prior cancer. No pain or other symptoms

coraleliz

I had a palplable lymph node that I was told not to worry about because mamogram/ultrasound didn't show anything. 3 years later, it took a MRI to find the tumor. You'll have answers soon. My guess is they will do a MRI as the next step. Maybe a PET scan.  As far as treatments go, it will depend on your tumor characteristics. Hope you get some answers soon.

new_direction

Hi Annika. I'm sorry you are here, I know exactly what you are going through at the moment. 
The first weeks are really an emotional rollercoaster, you have no choice but to hold on and just go along. I have finished my treatment recently and if I could do things differently I would have tried to panic less in the beginning. I was eating kale and other vegetables plus exercised like crazy - in itself ok but I should have done those things more moderately. Avoid injuries! and prepare emotionally and physically the best you can if you need to go through chemo.

Like coralilez said you will have to go through some scans next. I don't know whats standard your place. I had a chest x-ray, CT scan, MRI of the breasts, bone scintigraphy and blood samples. They do this to find out what stage the breast cancer is and what characteristics it has. When they know these things they will suggest which treatment they think is best for you. Some start out with surgery others start with chemo.

The waiting time is hard... Try to enjoy yourself as much as possible. I don't know IF it would have been possible for me to do things differntly, it's such a shock, but I would have liked to appreciate the time before treatment began more. That was the time when I felt most healthy. I think actually thats the best advice I can give. To try and make the most of every moment you go through. I spent time googling for statistics and information. It gave me no answer anyway. I've felt the best the times when Ive managed to keep calm and unfocused of the disease.

This is not the end, it's just the beginning of something new. You will get through this.
You are in my thoughts and I hope for the best.