Breast cancer spread to lymph node in neck

Dear Sockmonkey and Sallyk,

Have you had a biopsy carried out on the lymph nodes at the base of your neck?  My onc was convinced that the cancer had spread there, as the lymph nodes were unusually enlarged, but a very simple needle biopsy showed that the lump was benign.  I've since noticed that the nodes in my neck are up and down a lot and that this is in fact quite common.

Hugs to you both,

Katie xxx

Hi Sockmoney and Katie,

I have not had a biopsy. I has a US last week and waiting for the results dr said it is 2.2cm. It is where the port went in the vein in my neck. Dr said it is sitting on a chain of nodes and my thyroid. My blood work came back fine just low white cell count. White cell count has been low since chemo.

I'm taking arimidex.

Also dx stage 4 in Jan. In addition to bone mets,I had enlarged nodes in neck and supraclavicular area; Xeloda and Avastin did the trick for me. I chose to go agressive even though one onc said go back on Tamoxifen. I did 2 and half years of it before switching to Aromasin, and obviously the cells survived....Good luck to you!!!!

Hi, ladies,

I have been lurking around on this board because I'm feeling an enlarged node in my neck (throat area on the bc side) and I don't know whether to be concerned.  I don't feel one in the supraclavicular area, so would that make any sense?  I finished treatment (dd ACT X 6) a year ago yesterday and had bilateral mast.  It sounds like maybe the nodes just go up and down sometimes....?

dana

I had bc spread to the lymph nodes in my neck, my lungs and my clavicle and a rib bone--after last pet scan I have affected nodes clear to my diaphram and more activity in lungs I am now on Navalbene and hoping that this will stop the activity and put the lesions into recession. 

This is my 3rd round of chemo, my second was gemzar and taxophere, but during my 4th bout of that we found the new activity so we just quit it.

Then I went to Mayo and got a second opinion, and they sent me back to my oncologist saying he is on the right track and we should start again--so we did.  I take the Navalbene every week, and am getting some side effects, but am getting through it.    Get the biopsy and a scan and find out where you are. 

Thanks, watson,

You pretty much confirmed what I'm thinking...just a swollen node from whatever's in the air; I'll just keep an eye on it and if it's still there when I see the oncologist in January he can check it out.

Yee Haw back atcha!

dana

I have metastatic breast cancer that spread to my lymphatic system, concentrated mostly in my chest, thorax and neck region.  My oncologist has tried various chemo regimes and I am currently on Cycloblastin tablets (Cyclophosphamide).  I had previously been on Xeloda tablets with no effect.  I had a PICC line in for over 6 months, but when they tried to change it last week, they couldn't find a 'good' vein - I've had so much chemo in the past 2 years that all the veins are 'shot'.  Hence I am back on tablets instead of IV.  I've also got a whole lot of surface tumours on the skin covering my entire left breast, neck and shoulders which I am about to have treated with radiotherapy.  So there was no way the onc would authorise a port line to the chest (which would be an alternative to a PICC line).  So I'm feeling a bit cornered in at present.  I've been on treatment of one sort or another since July 2005 and am getting thoroughly sick of it!  Sorry - starting to feel sorry for myself.  Time to think of others.  Best of luck sockmonkey, not sure if my experience is similar to yours, or of any help to you - hope all goes well for you.

Eileen

My surgeon found lump clavicle area during another procedure.  It was scalene node.  I went from NED for 5yrs. to StageIV in one day.  Cancer is in chest, abdomen and liver.

Herceptin every 3 weeks and Arimidex daily.

My biopsy was done two days after finding lump.  I also do not believe in waiting. 

I truly hope yours all negative.  Best to all.

Diane

I have been fighting this for the last 2.5 years, my only site of met. I was given chemo, navelbine and 5 flu that put me in NED for a year. Quality of life was not great. Then it came back I was on haleven put me in NED only six months. Tried taxol, didn't work. Then I was on A/A worked nicely with very decent quality of life for a year. Unfortunately it came back just this week. Meeting my oncologist on Monday looking for new solution. Well, he assured me that I should be around for quite a long time. But I am anxious of my new treatment and quality of life