6 out of 29 nodes positive, feel like there is no hope?

Kim, the lowest point of my journey with Stage IIIB inflammatory breast cancer was the day I found out I had 16 of 24 positive nodes.  Like you, I felt like there was no hope.  My doctor came up with a new treatment plan that included more chemo and radiation to the lymph nodes as well as the chest.  It certainly wasn't easy, but I'm still here ten years later with no recurrences and no spread.  There's been no evidence of cancer for ten years, and I'm hopeful that there never will be.  Hang in there.  Go for the most aggressive treatment your doctor recommends, and this might be a good time to consider getting a second opinion from a big cancer center if you haven't done that.

Kim, this is definitely serious, but never, never give up hope! Stage IIB is exactly what I had - only one node, but fairly aggressive cancer and a larger tumor. Like Phyllis, here I am - 7 years later - surviving and thriving. And think how very, very far treatment has come since Phyllis and I went through it! What they can do for you is changing and improving monthly. SO many of us have lymph nodes inovlved, and slog through the treatment - surgery, chemo, radiation, hormone therapy perhaps - and just keep putting one foot in front of the other and going on.

You can do this, Kim. You're going to find out how strong you are, and you'll surprise yourself. While you're waiting to start treatment, it's natural to be scared; feel it, recognize it for what it is — fear, an emotion - and try to let it go. You'll have your good and bad days (hours, minutes!). But YOU CAN DO THIS. Stay connected here, OK? We're reaching out to you. Best of luck - PJH