IDC WITH 9 NODES INFECTED

I was diagnosed a year ago with IDC in both breasts, large tumors, and 9 positive nodes (though distributed on two sides). A year later, I'm feeling fantastic, have no spread, and am very much alive and intend to stay that way! My doctor doesn't even think I'm at a high risk for recurrence. I know you're worried, but treatments have come a long, long way, and the statistics you see on the Internet are old. Don't even read material that was published prior to 2005. Good luck to you both!

lots and lots of hope.  lots and lots of positive survivors.

Not necessarily. I started out as a stage I. The radiologist saw only two small tumors. Then they did the sentinel node biopsy, which turned into axillary node dissection when the sentinel node was positive. I was then downgraded to stage II. After my bilateral mastectomy, two larger tumors were found, and I was downgraded to stage III. Fortunately, that's where it stopped! Unfortunately, it can take a while to accurately tell where a breast cancer patient actually "falls" along the staging line. The picture becomes more clear over time. I wasn't completely cleared of being a stage IV until my post-chemo CT scan, and that was nine months after my initial diagnosis. I know that's not comforting, but realize that's just my case. I will tell you this: my boyfriend's aunt was diagnosed stage III in the early 1970s. She had a mastectomy and no chemo, radiation, or hormonal treatment. She's in her 80s now, and she's never had a recurrence. Other people who begin their journey as a stage I do have a recurrence (happened to an aunt of mine). Cancer cells can spread via the blood, so just because someone doesn't have nodal involvement, it doesn't mean she hasn't had spread. If the lymph nodes catch the cancer cells, that can mean they did their job of catching the body's impurities.

I'm stage III with 6 nodes involved.  I'm 1/2 way thru chemo.  Will follow with radiation.

 My prognosis is GOOD.  My breast surgeon told me that I'm NOT going to die of breast cancer and I believe her!

 I think most of the stories you read online are the "extremes".  I think stage III is completely livable and I plan on living!

Debbi, you're anything but a scared baby ranter.  You're fighting cancer for cripe's sake!  And you're going to do great with your surgery.  Take it one day at a time, one step at a time.  Don't borrow tomorrow's worries for today. The surgery is scary, but do what you can now to prepare for it and you'll get through it and be healing before you know it.

I had a uni-mast with TRAM recon in Aug, then did chemo til Nov, then had another mast with TE 10 days ago.  I look back now in wonderment at how far I've come.  You do too, I'm sure, and the same will hold true of your surgery.  Chin up, and peace---

Debbi - I had a mastectomy of left breast in July and, though every case must be different, I can tell you I didn't have one moment of pain. Not ever. My anesthetist did a 12-hour pain block which he gave me via a needle into my back before I went under - I didn't even know this was a possiblity till he came out to where I was waiting for the surgery & strongly suggested I should take advantage of the fact that he happened to be there that day & not all anesthetists know how to do it. He was so confident I had to say yes.

My surgery was around 4 pm. I woke up feeling fab. Ate supper as soon as I got back to my room. About 11 pm I had one shot of morphine, not that I needed it, but the nurse offered it so I took it. In the morning discomfort, yes, pain -no. I went home that day & never had to use so much as an advil. The ONLY pain was for 10 seconds when I had my 3-week follow-up with my surgeon & he pulled the drainage tube out of my chest. I could have clobbered him!

I'm not saying this is how it will be, I just want to offer you my story so you don't feel so scared. You, like me, might just be very pleasantly surprised!

Hi lisalisa,

 your post made me go to have a nice sleep tonight. So full of life, very positive, I was delighted by your spirit. I will soon start chemo, tumor size 2cm in right brest, 3/3 nodes, stage II,

After my SLN biopsy, ( 3 weeks ago) + lumpectomy, my underarm started to swell, I will see my MD tomorrow,  funny is, I am not afraid of chemo, I am more scarred of the word RECURRECE, with the node involvement I was told you have to live a lifelong with fear. Hopefully one day I will be having somewhat a normal life with lots of laughter agan, I wish the very best to you, Thanks for sweet pst.

Mamita49