Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Suzy asks

Q: Stage IIA lists cancer in the lymph nodes but no identified tumor. How is this treated?

I'm waiting for a diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy of two hard, painless, but movable lumps I found under my armpit. I just finished a diagnostic mammogram/ultrasound four months ago. I do have a single duct that has bled small amounts for the last four years. (Hence the diagnostic mammogram/ultrasound twice before). I check this breast like a HAWK because of the unexplained freaky bleeding. I don't think anything has changed.

So in reading about stage 2A, I was simply curious (while I wait two weeks for MY appointment!!) how a non-identified breast tumor is diagnosed and treated? If my two lumps turn out to be two unstuck, cancer filled lymph nodes and no one can find a lump in my breast...what would (in theory) would be next? Again... I'm already seeking medical help from the breast center here at my local hospital. I'm just curious about that Stage IIA description tonight.

Suzy

Answers (2)

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PJ Hamel

7/23/08 6:00am

Suzy, I'm not quite understanding what you say. Have you been diagnosed with cancer, or are you theorizing "what ifs" at this point, prior to the mammogram, etc.? Please clarify so I can try to help! Thanks -PJH

Suzy

7/23/08 11:37am

I'm theorizing. I have to wait almost two weeks before I get into the breast center. Hopefully by that time the two lumps will be gone!

I've been calming myself by looking at all the possibilities, theorizing and then figuring out how I could/would deal. I just found that IIA description something hard to visualize as a layperson. How does one diagnose breast cancer when a tumor isn't found? And then how would that be treated?

In my case, I've been living with this bloody drip for four years now and even though I know within the diagnostic decision tree of a breast cancer center, not being diagnosed with anything is good news, the constant very small drip keeps me hyper aware. They've never been able to do a galacto-whatever because the amount I get from my breast is so small. I've been told I don't fit the profile of a suspicious bleeding duct because it's so small -- and I believe that intellectually. But other explanations they try to come up with just aren't true either. I don't engage in rough play, etc. etc. When they can't find an answer, they try to figure out how it's me. *I* know it's not me, my behavior, that's causing this.

So finding the two lumps this weekend did really freak me out. And I'm calming myself by looking at Stage II and chanting things like "I can live with a 92% survival average"

I'm 41 with two children, ages 3 and 8.

Does this help?

Suzy

KingFamilyMom

2/20/10 3:24am

Suzy,

I know you posted a while ago, but I would like to know the outcome, if you wouldn't mind sharing. I just had a diagnostic mammo today on my right breast. In Oct '09, I felt a small lump under my armpit - pea-sized, movable, painless. I immediately called my doctor. He felt it, said it did not feel like a typical cancerous lump, told me to take vitamin E and cut out caffeine, and come back in December to recheck. I went back in December, he felt it again. There was no change that we could feel. I insisted on an ultrasound. They could not find it on ultrasound. My OB called and said we should recheck at next annual exam. This was not good enough for me - I am 39 with two children, 2 and 7 - and I know that 6 months can make a difference in treatment.

So, I talked to my internist who said she would schedule an appointment with a breast surgeon for a second opinion. The breast surgeon wanted a diagnostic mammo before I see her. So today I went in for that. They were able to see it on the mammogram. They then did an ultrasound to double check it. The radiologist believes it is a lymph node. When I asked why a lymph node would be swollen for what is now 5 months, he said he sees it all the time. I was a little comforted. He said I should come back in 6 months for another mammo. I meet with the breast surgeon on March 3rd to review all of this.

I came home today a little comforted, then I got online to reassure myself. Well, I too found the staging information that talked about when no tumor is visible in the breast, but presents in the lymph nodes. I am now freaked out, Googling like crazy, and I came across your post. I know this is not something that has been there. I am quite thin, 5'5" and 115 lbs, am very health conscious and do a lot of running for exercise. I wish I was one of those people who could just be fine with the doctor telling me it is probably nothing, but I want to be here for my kids; and I know that time makes a difference if you are diagnosed with breast cancer.

Please let me know if there is anything that you found out that would be helpful. I want to be prepared when I see the breast surgeon. Maybe someone or a doctor you spoke to had help or answers about this. many thanks for any help you can give. I hate not knowing for sure what it is. I am tempted to just ask the breast surgeon to remove it and test it to be sure. Also, because I am 39 with no family history, they would not do a mammogram on the other breast - Ugh!!

thanks for any help you can give!

Susan

Phyllis Johnson

2/20/10 6:02am

Susan, I think a cancerous lymph node would probably have gotten larger over the course of six months. However, I can understand why you are concerned. You could ask whether a fine needle biopsy could give more information about what this is. A biopsy might be easier than completely removing the lump. However, I'm not a doctor, so taking it out completely might be more feasible depending on the location and size. Keep on asking questions until you are satisfied that this lump has been properly diagnosed. Most lumps are benign, but you want to be sure.

Q: Stage IIA lists cancer in the lymph nodes but no identified tumor. How is this treated?

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