PET shows retro peritoneal nodes

TallnTerrific
TallnTerrific Member Posts: 114
edited September 2015 in Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results

I was recently diagnosed with multi focal or multi centric BC on the left breast. With 2 larger tumors one IDC and the other DCIS. I am ER AND PR positive and HER2 neg. not fun but doable. Then MRI showed multiple satellite tumors around 1 cm each. Now Stage III and tumor area 6x4x3. But lymph nodes look fine. Just moving to Masectomy instead of lumpectomy and higher likelihood of chemo. But they ordered a PET scan to be cautious. Well the PET scan lights up on 3 enlarged retro peritoneal lymph nodes. One nearly 3x the maximum size. Now everything related to the breast cancer is on hold. I am facing biopsy of the hard to reach nodes between my intestines and spine, first by needle and then by laparoscopy if necessary. HOW DOES BREAST GET TO THESE NODES IN MY ABDOMEN. Has anyone one else heard of this. I have had no problems in the abdominal area that would create infection. I have had regular colonoscopy less than 6 years ago. And mammos annually for nearly 30 years. I have immediately addressed any cysts, moles, unfamiliar lumps, but of courses i have dense breasts and there is little help provided by mammos. I am mad and curious if there are others who have seen this unusual combination of clean axillary nodes with mets in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Is the only answer 2 primary cancers

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited September 2015

    TallinTerrific,

    Sorry to hear that your potential diagnosis keeps changing, and possibly for the worse. Once breast cancer is invasive (as opposed to contained in the ducts), the cancer cells can travel anywhere in the body and find a new home. Cancer cells can travel through the blood stream and the lymph system. While they often colonize the nodes in the armpit first, they can go anywhere. Hope your doctors find a good treatment plan for you, no matter the initial diagnosis.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ddw79
    Ddw79 Member Posts: 533
    edited September 2015

    Talln I'm very

    Sorry . This is scary and traumatic . Have you had genetic testing? Sounds to me like you could have two different cancers now I'm no doc so don't listen to me I have double trouble too. I know how bad it i

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TallnTerrific
    TallnTerrific Member Posts: 114
    edited September 2015

    thanks so much for the response. i feel that I have been waiting for a plan and to begin the proces of getting better for such a long time already that some days I think I will scream. Especially when it keeps getting worse. Do you know how effective PET Scans are in accurately detecting cancer

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited September 2015

    PET scans measure important body functions, such as blood flow, oxygen use, and sugar metabolism. They are supposed to pick up on areas of the body where blood flow is high, such as cancer, which needs more nutrients to sustain its rapidly dividing cells. PET scans do produce false positives. I had three PET scans, and all showed increased blood flow in my hip area. But, neither a CT scan or MRI could detect anything unusual in my hip bone, so my medical oncologist has decided that it's a false positive.

    Breast cancer does periodically travel to the retroperitoneal nodes. But, it's rare. These nodes are more likely be affected by other cancers (e.g., ovarian and colorectal). So, who knows.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TallnTerrific
    TallnTerrific Member Posts: 114
    edited September 2015
    Thank you for giving me some hope that there is a chance of a false positive. That is a nice thought. I should know soon.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TallnTerrific
    TallnTerrific Member Posts: 114
    edited September 2015

    dwad yes I have had the testing but still waiting for the result. My mother and her sister are two time BC survivors. My sister and two first cousin had thyroid cancer. There is pancreatic cancer on Bob my father and mother side. Another first cousin had Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic leukemia in my grandfather and an aunt on the other side. There are many other cancers in th extended family like colon lung, renal, brain, esophageal and more breast cancer in my mother's aunts. There is something there--we will find out if It has been discovered .

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TallnTerrific
    TallnTerrific Member Posts: 114
    edited September 2015

    the really crazy thing about it is I don't feel bad until I take medication

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited September 2015

    TallnTerrific,

    I felt very healthy when I was diagnosed with Stage IIIA IDC. I'd been exercising, losing weight, and sleeping well. That's what is weird about breast cancer. Before it becomes very advanced, symptoms may be non-existent or muted. Hope you get some answers soon!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories