Skip metastasis?

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.

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?

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

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!

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!

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.