Large tumor, chances of mets

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Hiphiphoray
Hiphiphoray Member Posts: 18
edited May 2016 in Just Diagnosed

Hi, I'm worried sick. I have just been diagnosed with a large ductal tumour 7cm. Thats all I know at the moment as final results will be back tomorrow. I also know there is lymph node involvement, however my surgeon or I can't feel any enlarged lymph node. Just want to hear from anyone who has had a large ductal tumour and no mets. I have a pet scan tomorrow and it is driving me insane. Please help.

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  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited May 2016

    Hiya - size of tumour does not necessarily indicate mets........and having a lymph node with cáncer in it also does not count as mets, as the underarm lymph área is connected to the breast.  I had 7 out of 14 nodes with cáncer and 5cm plus tumour, albeit lobular, 4 years on there is no evidence of metastases anywhere and I refused chemo, but made other changes to my life.........so please don´t panic or draw premature conclusions......

    Take care

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  • Hiphiphoray
    Hiphiphoray Member Posts: 18
    edited May 2016

    Lily55, thank you for your prompt reply. My mind was running wild.


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  • RebzAmy
    RebzAmy Member Posts: 322
    edited May 2016

    My tumour was 5cm of HER2+ ductal carcinoma with lymph node involved under my arm pit as well. The lymph node was huge and there were several others involved as well. That was almost 9 years ago now. So yes, you can have a large tumour and not have mets. Wishing you well.

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  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited May 2016

    My tumor started out at close to 6cm (I've done chemo first so it's shrunk) and I don't even have lymphnode involvement. I had a PET Scan, Armpit Ultrasound... and I'm clear everywhere else. As the previous poster said - size of tumor doesn't necessarily correlate to cancer having spread.

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  • Hiphiphoray
    Hiphiphoray Member Posts: 18
    edited May 2016

    Thank you, thank you, thank you. I never realised I could be so stressed. Everything pushes me over the edge.


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  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited May 2016

    Hi there. So sorry you have to be here but welcome to the forum. I know you will find it both comforting and informative. The beginning is the worst part of the journey. We have all been there and understand how you feel right now. Although I have not personally experienced having a large tumor my best friend has. She had a 5cc tumor with 6 positive lymph nodes but no distant metastasis. She had a BMX, refused chemo and took an anti hormone for 5 years. That was 15 years ago and she is fine! Good luck and keep us posted....

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  • LM070917
    LM070917 Member Posts: 323
    edited May 2016
    Hey hiphiphoray, I was diagnosed last September at 34 years old with a 8cm tumour in my right breast and 2 lymph nodes involved. I remember being in a state of shock about the size, but I have to say it's not everything and it didn't change my treatment (rads and chemo). I had no mets anywhere else in the body. Since then I have completed my main treatment and now on hormone pills (mine was caused by estrogen overdrive). I radically changed my diet and upped the exercise. I actually feel healthier than before. At time goes on, the size doesn't become such an issue, it's just about getting healthy and beating it. Good luck 😀
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2016

    Hiphiphoray, I too had lymph nodes positive but no mets revealed in my pet scan, but I remember the call I received late evening from my oncologist who said "all clear". Like you, I was hyperventilating with fear. Be sure to read the protocol for preparing for a pet scan as best you can so no false positives manifest themselves. I can't remember, but I think I wasn't supposed to eat any carbs for at least 15 hours before the test since sugars "light up" places in your body that can be misinterpreted.

    I remember every step down this road took me running to the edge of the cliff. You are very normal that way. I took Xanax for a few weeks before I got all the tests and found some things to be thankful for in my dx. Then it was just the journey of treatment and subsequent end.

    Let us know how it goes, okay? We speak your language here. :)

    Claire

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  • Hiphiphoray
    Hiphiphoray Member Posts: 18
    edited May 2016

    Thanks everyone for replying. Fingers crossed. I just want to get through this. It's so scary, I'll let you know my results

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