No Cancer found in breasts

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nurse2b10
nurse2b10 Member Posts: 3
edited October 2019 in Just Diagnosed

I was diagnosed with cancer of an unknown origin in March of this year. The cancer was found in the lymph nodes under one arm. One lymph node was removed and the cancer showed I am positive for HER2 with a +3. I had 12 rounds of intensive chemo and because of the HER2 they have classified it as breasts cancer although the biopsy showed none. I have no tumors though I felt I might have inflammatory breast cancer because of the hardness I saw in one area. I had a double mestectomy three weeks ago. They found no cancer in my breasts. Has this happen to anyone else. Now it's a wait and watch game because we are not positive where the cancer came from that was in my lymph nodes.I will be receiving chemo (hisplating) and radiation under that arm. It's scary.

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  • WC3
    WC3 Member Posts: 1,540
    edited October 2019

    Hi nurse2b10:

    I'm sorry that you've had to join us.

    I believe esophageal cancer can also be HER2 positive but if it's in the lymph nodes typically associated with breast cancer then I would think that it probably is breast cancer, by Occam's razor, but I'm not an expert.

    Sometimes the cancer spreads and then the primary tumor, which may have still been microscopic, disappears. If it remained microscopic it's also possible that the pathologist missed it in thr breast tissue.


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  • GlobalGal
    GlobalGal Member Posts: 63
    edited October 2019

    Dear Nurse2be10,

    Metastatic breast cancer was found in 3 of my neck’s central lymph nodes in March 2019 (following a complete thyroidectomy),but none was found in my breasts. Apparently, there is nothing yet to cut out, or treat with chemo, or radiate. So, I am being treated with an Aromatase Inhibitor. I have a follow up PET scan on 10/29. The waiting and watching is exhausting!

    GlobalGal

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited October 2019

    Cancer cells do not all look the same and the source can be identified. Breast cancer cells look like breast cancer cells under the microscope, not like any other cancer cells. So if your cancer was identified as being breast cancer, then that's what it is.

    Since you had chemo before your bilateral mastectomy, it's very possible that the chemo successfully killed off all the cancer cells in your breast.

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  • nurse2b10
    nurse2b10 Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2019

    Thanks to all the replies. I spoke with my surgeon today and he said some of the reasons that you guys have given me. I feel better about having my breast removed. It's still wait and watch because of the number of lymph nodes that were involved so I'll do radiation and more chemo. Biggest thing is prayer.

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  • Snaffle53
    Snaffle53 Member Posts: 140
    edited October 2019

    I’m pretty much in the same boat. Enlarged lymph node found incidentally with chest CT. It was biopsied. And breast cancer diagnosed. Then mammogram and MRI found no tumor in my breast. I’m on the AC and T regimen. Just started Taxol today. I plan to have a DMX with lymph node removal after chemo followed by radiation. I’m hoping to be very aggressive this round and hope to avoid reccurance. I have TNBC and was simply luck to catch it before stage IV.

    Marily

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  • nurse2b10
    nurse2b10 Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2019

    I'm so sorry. It's scary i know. They have found a lesion in one of my kidneys and are talking about removing the whole kidney. I was okay with losing my breast but losing a kidney is another matter. Cancer sucks. I just have to depend on the Lord to see me through. I will remember you in my prayers.

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