Too Many Positive Nodes and Reoccurance

Mary Anne in TX · 07-22-2007, 07:18 PM

Hi!
Mary Jo is so right! If this disease was that predictable, it would surely make it easier on all of us. But it's not! My onc's wife was diagnosed 12 years ago with (I believe) 23 positive nodes and she is going strong now.
Yes, we are more likely to recur, but some of us are so hard headed and determined that we just keep beating those odds. We do the chemo, rads, and scans, and meds and all the rest and we stay vigilant! This remarkable group of warrior women and men are the best source of knowledge and sanity I know!
We're learning together and praying for each other as the oncs and researchers are working to find that "magic bullet"! Ask lots of questions and be your own best advocate.
Keep trusting Him to guide and protect you.
Blessings to you, mary anne

Connie Jean · 07-22-2007, 07:53 PM

I had 20 positive nodes and like you it scares me, as I rarely see anyone that has had that many positive nodes. Like you I have faith in Him for each day He gives me. I was diagnosed 2 years ago, stage IIIc. I had a left radical masetomy with reconstruction. I finished chemo amd radiation March '06. I have been on herceptin for a year and a half. I am NED! No recurrance or mets. With my diagnosis, that is a miracle. My onc would like to see me on Tykerb now, but FDA has only approved it for metastatic cancer. But I am working on getting it approved for me.

Love and prayers,
Connie

Alice · 07-22-2007, 09:21 PM

I don't know about you but, as I see it, you are either 100% no recurrance or 100% recurrance. No one has the crystal ball to know which each of us are. I know that there are factors that indicate which one we might be in, but they are just indicators. Otherwise they might have to put me in the looney bin.
LOL Alice

BonnieR · 07-22-2007, 09:39 PM

You were not being insensitive, don't worry about that. I am new here myself but am finding this a safe place to share concerns and to receive heartfelt support and advice...

saleboat · 07-23-2007, 04:18 AM

Hello,

I know the feeling-- having so many positive nodes was quite a shock. You have some great drugs on your side, drugs that until 2005, most women were not getting with their treatment for early stage breast cancer. For me, I believe that it has made all the difference.

Just wanted to write-in and let you know that yes, you can survive this disease despite many positive nodes.

My best to you.

Jen

Audrey · 07-23-2007, 01:18 PM

Hi Faith in Him, I just wanted to let you know that I had 11+ nodes (with a huge tumor) almost six years ago and am doing fine. I used to separate myself from all the success stories I heard, thinking "Well, she's doing okay, but she only had 4 positive nodes and I have 11!.." nothing could cheer me up. But slowly, time passed and I kept making it through another day without a recurrence. Also, I met my friend, Michele U., on this website, who had something like 32+ nodes and she's doing great 4 years after diagnosis. Meanwhile, my neighbor was diagnosed at Stage 1, er+/her2- with no node involvement and a great prognosis, and where is she today? You guessed it--Stage IV with mets to bones, liver and brain (still doing pretty well, though, on her treatment and successful gamma knife to brain mets). Someone once told me when I was feeling so panicked about recurrence to just relax and pretend I was in water, not struggling for breath but lying back and floating on faith-- it really works for me, hope it helps you, too.

Donna · 07-23-2007, 02:42 PM

It is so hard to take it day by day. Today was the first time I have cried about it in over a year. The point of that: as each day passes all of this "stuff" gets less and less important and urgent. Life goes on.

And Audrey, I love your relaxation image of floating in water! I literally do go to the gym, do my laps and finish it off with a relaxing float in the water.

Best thing to do now is pray, have faith, eat right, get exercise and log into this forum twice a day!

Best to you,

Donna