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
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
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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
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