Were your lymph nodes palpable or not?

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lululani
lululani Member Posts: 15
edited July 2015 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

I'm just wondering . . .  for those of you who had positive lymph nodes, were they palpable?  
 
Most of the ladies I've talked to with positive nodes told me they couldn't feel theirs.  In my case, I felt a mass under my armpit.   It turned out that I was feeling one node 1.5 cent. & another node 2.5 cent. They were very close together and felt like one lump.  I couldn't feel the other 6 nodes.
 
Thanks for your response!
 
Laurel 
 
  
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  • cbm
    cbm Member Posts: 475
    edited October 2010

    Hi, Laurel.  I had one lymph node involved and it was palpable, once it showed up on the mammogram and I knew where to feel for it (way below the armpit in the tail of my left breast)..  My breast tumor, on the other hand, was not palpable nor visible on the mammogram.  I thank God every day for my big honking (2cm) positive lymph node.  I was triple positive, btw.

    Warm regards,

    Cathy 

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited October 2010

    I had a lot of tenderness in the area, but was on crutches at the time and thought I had injured the area because I had slipped and my under arm hit the crutch pretty hard.  In retrospect, it was the tumors which were 3cm and 4cm - the other two nodes were much smaller.  My breast tumor was very tender and I thought it was a cyst......

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  • lululani
    lululani Member Posts: 15
    edited October 2010

    Hi Cathy and Jenn,

    Thanks for your reply.  

    Cathy-I see your primary was "invisible" like mine was.  Did they ever find it?

    Jenn-did you find your bc via your nodes or your tumor?  

    Take care,

    Laurel 

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  • cbm
    cbm Member Posts: 475
    edited October 2010

    Yes--it was inside of (within) and concealed by an existing fibroadenoma and was about two thirds the size of the node.  Missed by 8 or 9 annual mammograms, regular clinical exams, and me.

    I hope your treatment is going well; warm regards, 

    Cathy 

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited October 2010

    Laurel -I did find the tumor in the breast first, but only because I was laid up after surgery and bored.  I didn't react or do anything because I thought it was a cyst.  I waited until my regular mammo which was 2 or 3 months later.

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  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited October 2010

    My breast specialist could tell they were inflamed, I had no clue. I knew my under arms were sore but I had no idea it was from breast cancer.

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  • lululani
    lululani Member Posts: 15
    edited October 2010

    Thank you mrsnjband.  
     
    I've noticed a pattern.  None of our primary tumors were very large.  Wonder if that's typical with nodal involvement.
     
    Warmly, 
    Laurel 
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  • Batesburg
    Batesburg Member Posts: 199
    edited July 2015

    Hello,

    I was just recently diagnosed with TN at age 56. My breast tumor is also considered small- 1 cm, but I do have one palpable lymph node that was positive for cancer. I have just started chemo. Would LOVE to hear how others are doing with a palpable lymph node at diagnosis.

    Janet

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  • RebzAmy
    RebzAmy Member Posts: 322
    edited July 2015

    Janet, I had what felt like a huge lump in my armpit, which is what alerted me to a problem - it felt like the size of an egg and I could feel it growing until i started treatment at which point it started shrinking - 8 years now since diagnosis

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  • Batesburg
    Batesburg Member Posts: 199
    edited July 2015

    Thank you for such a positive reply, Amy!! (assuming that is your first name. I feel mine shrinking already from 2 chemo treatments! I LOVE chemotherapy. :)

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  • Peabrain
    Peabrain Member Posts: 268
    edited July 2015

    Batesburg,

    You are a wild woman! That's great you can feel it shrinking!


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  • Batesburg
    Batesburg Member Posts: 199
    edited July 2015

    Peabrain,

    How are you today? Been thinking of you with your beginning of chemo!

    I loved your post about your chemo experience!

    You are one wild and lovely woman!


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