TNB cancer just diagnosed huge 7 cm lymph node.feel hopeless

Hi Sadie,

I’m sorry, the waiting and the unknown between diagnosis, scans, and treatment starting can be a scary and dark time. Like Beesie said, the job of the lymph nodes is to catch and stop things from traveling other places in the body. I know each person/case is unique, but my coworker had a 5cm lymph node (triple positive BC) along with a handful of other nodes with cancer detected on scans and when she did the full CT/PET there was no evidence that it had spread further.

Hello Sadie,

I completely understand your fear, but you most definitely do have hope! My lymph nodes were swollen and hard prior to surgery and like you, I expected the worse. Immediately following my mastectomy my breast surgeon told me that he had needed to remove seven nodes as they were 'full' and 'hardened'. One very worrying week later, my pathology results came back and all seven swollen nodes were clear of cancer. Also, as peregrinelady points out, while TNBC is a scary diagnosis, it usually responds particularly well to chemotherapy.

Don't rely on the internet for accurate information.

hi Sadie. I just joined the group so that I could respond to your message. I too had a lump in my armpit last year. I was diagnosed with TNBC in Nov 2019, my tumor was larger than yours, stage 3b. I was absolutely terrified! I did almost 8 chemo infusions but stopped short of completion as it was not significantly shrinking the tumor. The surgeon recommended that I have it removed ASAP as it was hardening and shifting in shape. They successfully removed the tumor back in April and also had to take out 11 lymph nodes In my right armpit area. I am 5 weeks into radiation treatment and feeling pretty good. They tell me that the tumor was “localized", but I had another scan today and am hoping for great results.
There is some good advice here in that you shouldn't go down the rabbit hole of searching the internet and reading worst case scenarios - you have enough anxiety already! That said, chemo doesn't work for everybody so you have to trust your care team and have faith that they will do all they can for the most positive outcome.

Once the tumor was out of my body, I felt like I had a new lease on life and I could look forward to living again. It's like I was transformed or reborn! The road will be challenging and emotional, by you will come out the other side. Seek out support early on, I faced quite a bit of depression during chemo. I will continue with Xoloda and Keytruda treatment for months to come, so I don't know yet what my future will be health-wise. But I can say that I am in a positive head space now and that is half the battle. I wish you all the best with your treatment and pray for your full recovery! —Diane

Dear Butterflies2020,

Welcome to the BCO community. We are sorry about your diagnosis. We are so glad that you reached out to share your story and join with our members. We will be thinking of you as you head towards your PET scan on Monday. Please stay connected here and keep us posted on how things go for you. Let us know if we can be of assistance as you navigate your way around the boards.

The Mods