Skip metastasis?

Options

Hey everybody! I have a couple of palpable lymph nodes in my neck. One has been there for several years and the other a few months. PCP sent me for an ultrasound which shows "multiple areas of decreased echogenicity with slight central increased echogenicity. Largest measures 1.1 x 1.6 x 5.6 cm. Most likely reactive or inflammatory." My MO is sending me for a CT of the neck and chest.

Of course, I go to Dr. Google and learn a little about skip metastasis. Does anybody have any experience with this? Or insight whatsoever? Thanks!


Edit: To clarify what I mean by skip mets: spread to the nodes with a negative sentinel node biopsy.

Comments

  • ParakeetsRule
    ParakeetsRule Member Posts: 571
    edited December 2021

    I'd never heard that particular phrase. But breast cancer can definitely pop up in many parts of the body without following a specific pathway to get there and without leaving a detectable "trail". If that makes sense. A recurrence isn't necessarily going to show up first in the breast or axillary lymph nodes.

  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited December 2021

    I have never heard of that phrase either. Breast cancer definitely has no prescribed path that it follows. Recurrence in the breast is a very different thing than metastatic recurrence. You can become metastatic without a local recurrence. I’m not entirely clear about what you’re asking but I will have to Google skip metastasis as it’s new to me.

  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited December 2021

    yes cancer spreads through blood or lymph fluid. It can go anywhere & then set up home in another location.

    AR, I hope for a benign explanation for your lymph nodes! How soon is your ct?

  • ARmom4
    ARmom4 Member Posts: 163
    edited December 2021

    Thanks moth! My CT is supposed to be this week but I'm still waiting on the call with the actual appointment.

    ParakeetsRule and exbrnxgrl: "Skip Metastasis" is a phrase I found while researching. It refers to node positivity but with a negative sentinel node.

  • ARmom4
    ARmom4 Member Posts: 163
    edited December 2021

    I actually read that article. It's talking about nodes in the axilla. Apparently it can also skip the axillary nodes completely and go to distant nodes. In my case, I'm worried about cervical (neck) nodes.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2021

    I will say before my bone Mets were discovered, I recall the breast surgeon told me it was unusual that there would be spread to axillary nodes when there was no spread to nodes closer to the tumor on the inside of the breast, ie “usually the cancer would travel in this direction before the other direction" little did we know, it had done quite a bit of traveling already This consultation was based on imaging only, since I never did have the surgery we were planning


    I think we would all like to “skip metastasis “ altogether

  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited December 2021

    “I think we would all like to "skip metastasis " altogether

    Actually, when I read the thread title that’s what I was hoping it was about ☹️. Honestly, I know there may be some more typically seen spread patterns but it seems like a lot of bc cells don’t follow them. I had one positive sentinel node and was staged IIB. A few weeks post-op a 2 cm bone met was found by accident. Who knows?

  • ARmom4
    ARmom4 Member Posts: 163
    edited December 2021

    Sorry about the title. Didn't think that one through! I wish everyone could skip metastasis. Sending good vibes to all who are dealing with Stage 4. Hopefully, I won't join you. 💓

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2021

    It’s ok, the worst thing about the title is that it’s giving me the urge to make more bad puns - like “Yes, skip it! The Yelp reviews are awful”


    ok, now I’m sorry

  • ARmom4
    ARmom4 Member Posts: 163
    edited December 2021

    I love the puns! 😆

  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited December 2021

    olma,

    Not only do I love puns but I think humor is an underrated tool for living with bc. I know some think any humor with respect to cancer is verboten but after 10 years I find laughter to be very good medicine.

  • ParakeetsRule
    ParakeetsRule Member Posts: 571
    edited December 2021

    Me and my family laughed our way through so many of my appointments that one of my doctors was concerned I didn't understand the severity of what was going on. I did. Perfectly well. Making jokes and laughing just makes it so much easier to deal with! I'm planning to wear a Santa hat and a ridiculous oversized flashing Christmas light necklace to my oncology appointment tomorrow. Why not? It's fun! Maybe it will help somebody else feel a little fun too.

    I hope it turns out to be nothing, ARmom4!

  • ARmom4
    ARmom4 Member Posts: 163
    edited December 2021

    Thanks ParakeetsRule! My CT was scheduled for Monday the 27th with results on Wednesday. I'll update then.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2021

    ladies, I agree completely, for me a sense of humor is essential! Parakeets what you said reminds me of when my sister would accompany me to my infusion appts early on, we would always have a good time talking and laughing, some of the nurses were fond of us because we would make them laugh, too.

    Also, I love holiday kitsch

    Wishing you good results ARmom!

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited December 2021

    I had never heard the term either. I had a BMX with negative SNBs and clean margins. Two years later they found cancer in a swollen lymph node by my collar bone & I had to have ALND on that side. The MO was very clear it would NOT be called mets - it was called local recurrence. However that's exactly what happened - a rogue micro-met escaped either before or during the original surgery.

  • ARmom4
    ARmom4 Member Posts: 163
    edited December 2021

    I read that spread to supraclavicular nodes is local but spread to the nodes above that are considered mets.

  • ARmom4
    ARmom4 Member Posts: 163
    edited December 2021

    Update:

    The CT scan showed nothing! I don't know what to make of this. I can feel them. Ultrasound showed them. But CT shows nothing? WTH? MO didn't really give a sufficient explanation. He did say we'll scan again in 6 months.

    Also, chest CT showed a 5mm lung nodule, a 1.1cm node in the left axilla, a 1.3cm node in the right, and mild fatty liver. MO didn't even tell me about those. I read it in the report. I think that's why he said we could scan again.

    What do I do? Do I just wait the 6 months? Do I go to my PCP? Ugh! So frustrated.

  • ParakeetsRule
    ParakeetsRule Member Posts: 571
    edited December 2021

    I'd follow up with your oncologist first and get some more information. A lot of times scan reports sound a lot scarier than they really are! And it's totally possible all that is nothing to worry about. A palpable lymph node doesn't necessarily mean anything. I've had one for years in my neck and there are a few others here and there I can feel. Don't quote me on this but I think lung nodules are also common? I have one that even on the PET scan is too small to say if it's cancer or not. If there is concern about your nodes and nodules they can probably do a PET scan for you too. They show more than a CT scan does.

Categories